Will Those Who Have Insisted On Continuing To Work From Home Be Having Second Thoughts In The Winter?

[dave50]

After all, they will have to keep the heating on all day at home.

[New Judge]

//This level of home working was forced on the population because of Covid, it was a necessary evil//

Actually, it wasn't - something that is now becoming increasing evident. But that's another story. My experience of all the organisations I have had dealings with have shown me that whilst WFH may have been all jolly and fine for the employees, it has been absolutely disastrous for customers and users - especially when government departments are involved. As yet another anecdotal illustration, I have recently been selected to take part in a "Lifestyle and Spending" survey run by the ONS. An interview of about 90mins is involved and these used to take place at the participants home. Now they're run over the phone. When my turn came, the interviewer could not hear me because he neighbour was power washing his patio and I could not hear him because he was speaking from his conservatory and it sounded like he was talking inside a large bell. I'm now waiting for the interviewer to arrange a call where we might both be able to converse properly.

[MissTerious]

You can now buy heated desks jno!!! And you can save on clothing by wrapping yourself up in fleecy clothes. And homemade lunches and coffee breaks cost very little. And no travel costs or travel time!

Amazon.com User Recommendation

[Peter Pedant]

tail wagging dog innit

I have togo into work as I doan wanna heat the house - yeah right

[jno]

I know, Miss T (though I hadn't seen a heated desk before). But I was thinking of the OP - do you work at the office and expect the employer to keep you warm, or do they send you home to work so they save on energy?

Nice to see John Lewis helping staff out. My employers were good but not that good.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/31/john-lewis-offers-staff-free-food-over-christmas-to-help-with-cost-of-living

[Untitled]

it is fairly obvious that some jobs which require direct interaction with customers or service users are not best conducted from home… do the majority of WFH jobs require this? i don’t know but i doubt it…

nobody is arguing for all jobs that can possibly be done from home to do so all the time… WFH seems to reap the largest benefits when it is part time and optional. One useful thing about covid is that it demonstrated how many jobs actually can be done remotely - and done better!

[emmie]

my experiences of people working from home was dire, trying to sort something out with the hospital only to find the receptionists/others mail box full every time i tried to get through. Same with the council and other outlets. Time people got back to work.

[Untitled]

people are at work

[emmie]

not going on the fact i have been told that these crucial jobs, people were working from home, when i finally got through to several people, what i heard was a baby crying, dogs barking and all manner of noise that you wouldn't have if they were in the workplace.

[1ozzy]

Would heating your home be cheaper and more comfortable than commuting to work every day?

[emmie]

probably it would, for many the cost of the commute is at an all time high.

[Redhelen72]

Just because they are at home doesn’t mean they are not working!
My MIL has a similar mentality with my situation, she thinks it will be nice when I start working again!!! Apart from the last few months I haven’t stopped working just my place of work has changed!

[emmie]

i didn't say there weren't working, but council / hospitals should be staffed at work, where they meet members of the public, also getting through on a phone line when mail box is full is no joke.

[youngmafbog]

£12,548 (no travel card) per annum for the train.

I think I will pay for the heating, even in my big house thanks.

Besides my contract states WFH as there is limited space so I'm not sure how I insisted.

[roadman]

with the increased bills i would not want to be working at home using all that electricity

[Redhelen72]

I know you are frustrated Emmie but most staff that work in the council or hospital you would never see face to face.
They spend their entire working days sat in front of a computer so where does it matter where they work?
Things move on along with technology so it stands to reason that how we work moves in.
Covid just hurried that up

[ZebuSanctuary]

@Rh72... Not for one moment would I accuse a WFH employee of not working! However there is a certain school of thought amongst executives in some corporations, that remote working undermines spontaneous idea generation and erodes the culture of the organisation.

It's inevitable I guess, that when working alone, over a period of time, eventually employees begin to develop and operate in an autonomy of their own making.

[nero2024]

ive seen very little on these comments about the camaraderie when working in the "office" one member said it was distracting to me its the chat in break times and maybe the drinks after work ,people make good friends at work face to face

[New Judge]

//...people are at work//

Very nearly! :-)