Should office staff return to the office?

Guffy

So we have been working from home for the last 3 weeks, very little difference than what we can do in the office. Have to say I'm definitely enjoying it but that's besides the point.

If restrictions are lifted this week should we go back into the office on tue or would it be reasonable to request to stay working from home?.

barry181091

Guffy wrote: »

So we have been working from home for the last 3 weeks, very little difference than what we can do in the office. Have to say I'm definitely enjoying it but that's besides the point.

If restrictions are lifted this week should we go back into the office on tue or would it be reasonable to request to stay working from home?.

I highly doubt restrictions will be lifted to the level of recommending mass amounts of people going back to work to be honest. My place is presuming another month of this roughly.

If you or a family member is high risk, I think requesting to stay working from home is perfectly reasonable. If you just want a change of working style, it may be a tougher sell. If you can demonstrate how your productivity has been the same/better and how you have been more flexible, I imagine this would go a long way to convincing an employer.

In the end they may propose a 3/2 type split to wfh/office, which could be the best of both worlds.

Remember, it is always easier to work from home when all of your team/colleagues are also in the same position. When it is just you and everyone else is in the office, you specifically have to make much more effort in communicating effectively and you run the risk of work/opportunities being passed over you for someone that is in eye line. Nothing to do with malice but just human nature of the easiest path (I.E A quick chat with Mary across the desk vs explaining over Skype to Guffy at home).

Snotty

I work for a large multi-national and senior management said realistically they cannot see us back in office (fully) till October or November.
Basically work is being completed and theres been no big issues having 40k employees working from home so why would we open up the offices and risk people getting sick.

Mc Love

Wow October?

Manach

So far, the employer reckons June at the earliest for us.

ELM327

My team worked from home one or two days a week anyway so I don't see much change in our interactions.
Perhaps after this we will see more wfh as people will have invested in home office setups.

yosser hughes

Why are there so many people thinking the restrictions are about to be lifted? Where are you getting this impression from?
We have seen nothing yet. Such is the delay in testing and results we don't really know where we are.

ELM327

I dont think they will be lifted for some time.
The US hasnt peaked, the UK hasnt peaked, Ireland is somewhat "flattening the curve" on a log scale but using more accurate linear methods we are not.

Mc Love

Company I work for havent said when they will be lifting restrictions but when they do, there will be a phased return to the office for all staff.

Snotty

End goal will be to have a huge amount of the population tested, maybe even 80%, till then it wont be back to normal, but some restrictions might be relaxed but not for another few weeks at least. At that time I would think unless your work cannot be complete unless in the office, guidelines will be to WFH

mayo londoner

"Workers, like those who work on their own, as well as other workers who can keep a 2 metre distance from others can return to work."

This is what is suggested for phase 2. Do you think many offices will chance their arm opening up on the 8th June? Wording is a bit loose in my opinion. Company I'm working for seem to be really pushing hard for a return to office, that'll be the end of WFH for good with them no doubt

Humour Me

My employer has also suggested we won’t be back full time until October. Numbers of each floor in the office will be restricted due to social distancing requirements so it’s unlikely that the full team will be together in the office until then.

Major issue is having social distancing between desks in the open plan office. They reckon that 60% of desks will need to be blocked off to maintain distances.

Sad Professor

According to the plan, anyone who can work from home is to continue to do so right up until the end of phase 5. This probably encompasses the majority of office workers for most if not all of their work.