How to encourage a return to the office?

.42.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058215884/how-to-encourage-a-return-to-the-office

It will be simple for your company when they have followed guidelines or all restrictions are lifted

the will send out a communication to all staff giving a date to return to office.

everyone will have to return to the office.

anyone not returning will face disciplinary action against them.

Im pretty confident they will be around Q2/Q3 2022 for most companies

Chris_5339762

Well when it comes to the health service, after the cyberattack they killed off remote access for security reasons... fair enough... but it isn't back yet.

So all companies have to do is just say "security reasons" and block external IT access. Then everyone has to come in. Might piss people off, but the company as a whole generally doesn't care.

A-Trak

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118102650#Comment_118102650

Wow wee,

Advising scheduling appointments with your peers specifically at times they can't attend so you can "Shame them."

How about be a decent person and schedule the meeting in line with people's calendars.

If a peer /team member, not a direct manager, schedules a meeting, who does that and who accepts? Hard decline, send a mail.

"Stay at home Sammies" Jesus Christ. And you talk about influencing hires.

Your workplace sounds lovely.

job seeker

If I was requested to return to the office, I'd probably leave like many other staff have already!

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/surge-in-resignations-as-employees-defy-bosses-on-return-to-office-1.4700869

I can only imagine the thought of having to deal with office politics again to be stomach turning to say the least..

Furze99

He who pays the piper calls the tune. And that's how it will be ultimately for most employees when this has all settled down.

Employees may think they are in a position of power as they can perhaps switch employers. May work for some, but there'll be plenty others who are expendable and can be replaced with staff that fit the business model.

I'm at the other end - you're only as good as your last customer. Employees should remember they're only as good as their last employer....

Pawwed Rig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118104223#Comment_118104223

It is different but people move jobs all the time. There are plenty of opportunities in this country. If my job didn't allow wfh I would be moving fairly quickly. Retention of staff is a massive issue so wfh will be offered to people to stop them leaving

Wildly Boaring

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118104223#Comment_118104223

My whole company has been offered new contracts with place of employment now changed to blended or home.

My next door neighbour does similar work. Same.

And the fella 2 doors down wasnt home till 19:30 pre pandemic to deal with 2 other countries has obviously been told he will never have to return to an office.

Obviously there are jobs that need hands on. I for one am on building sites 2 or 3 days a week.

But the old fogies praying to get back in and bore us with tales of their weekend on the golf course need to realise it's all changed.

Most of us will not take a 9 to 5 in the office with commute again.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118102650#Comment_118102650

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118102812#Comment_118102812

• "Alternative facts" - Check
• Personal attacks - Check
• Dismissive attitude - Check
• Lack of empathy - Check
• Promotion of bullying and harassment - Check
• Victimisation and targeting of others with different circumstances - Check
• Encouraging discrimination in hiring practices - Check

wes

The question that needs to be asked is how your company can better adapt to the new way of doing things. Trying to drag unwilling people back into the office, will just result in them leaving for jobs that allow them the flexibility they want, and you might not be able to get new staff to replace those who leave, considering we have had a pandemic where a lot of people have died and many are suffering long term illness, which has shrunk the labour pool, and a lot of people who don't want to be dragged into the office.

Also, in regards to the social stuff, for a lot people that stuff is torture, and they hate it. People do not necessarily want to socialize with people in the office.

VonLuck

What I find interesting is the number of people who have no interest in socialising with their colleagues. Personally, I have my own social life and do not need to rely on my workplace to go for a drink or do some activity at the weekend, but at the same time I enjoy the odd after work event where you get to chat with them without it being all about some deadline you have to make.

There'd be nothing worse for me than to work for a company where the idea of having a casual conversation with a colleague is seen as a chore. That's not a good work environment in my opinion. Now, if you're an introvert then that's understandable as most have little desire to engage with anyone, let alone work colleagues.

If you get on with work colleagues you tend to be happier and more productive. You might dispute the latter, but I know for certain that you'll get more information and help from someone that you're friendly with than someone you dread having a conversation with!

oceanman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118106483#Comment_118106483

until they realise that you are probably using them to further your own ends!

Cdemess

All this talk of free breakfast and lunch, I’m in the wrong industry all together.

storker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118106483#Comment_118106483

@VonLuck "If you get on with work colleagues you tend to be happier and more productive. "

In may indeed be true that you tend to be happier in such a scenario, put you're assuming that one-size-fits-all in this regard. Some people are more productive when they're left alone to work in peace. You appear to be under the impression that your colleagues are happy to be available to answer your questions on demand. I suspect that with a significant proportion of them if you scratch the surface they'd tell you that regular interruptions are (a) annoying because (b) they are disruptive to concentration and thus productivity.

VonLuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118107191#Comment_118107191

I don't know what industry you're in, but I'm not sure how many people can work effectively in complete isolation. You learn so much from the experience of others. Do you think a graduate fresh out of college would progress as well WFH 24/7 compared to another grad who is physically beside his/her manager and is able to ask questions whenever they need to?

Sure the manager may see this as an interruption, but which is worse: being interrupted to have to answer a simple question or not being interrupted and then being presented with a problem down the line which could have been avoided by answering said question?

Frank Bullitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118102650#Comment_118102650

The gift that keeps on giving.

This post would be funny were it not purely evil and sinister. Your (failing) quest against WFH is laughable at this stage, and thankfully you are in the minority when it comes to it.

If an employer were to do what you suggested, they would have a skeleton staff or go out of business in no time.

bokale

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118102650#Comment_118102650

Christ.

I've seen your posts in other wfh threads but you really let the mask slip here.

Ugh.

miamee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118102650#Comment_118102650

You are assuming that anyone else would be of the same mindset as you and would 'shame' a co-worker for picking their kids up from school. Flexibility benefits everyone so long as people don't take the pi$$. Most people, employers included, are happy to be flexible and allow the same flexibility for others.

miamee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118107949#Comment_118107949

I agree with you re graduates. A family member works for one of the big 5 accounting firms in Dublin and has to mentor newer entrants on the graduate programme. They are finding it very difficult compared to doing it in person. It's much easier to ask a person a question when they are sitting beside you rather than scheduling a call or meeting to have something explained to you and it is just taking a lot longer for them to get their heads around things.

oceanman

i guess the only downside of remote working is that anyone with the same skill set can do your job, from anywhere in the world.

something employers may start looking at into the future.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118103792#Comment_118103792

again, we dont actually live on this magical planet where employees can just wonder from one job to another at ease, but it certainly sounds like a lovely planet, wherever it is!

people truly have had enough of our current working conditions, some employers are in for an awful shock over the coming months, as they struggle to fill positions, covid is rapidly changing things, and if some employers dont keep up, it ll be bye bye business

some businesses wont survive moving into the new year, for various reasons, pandemic supports for both employers and employees should have never been withdrawn fully, as time is needed for this re-adjustment, the last thing we need now is a whole pile of businesses going bust

storker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118107949#Comment_118107949

Yes you're absolutely right. Isolation. If only someone would invent some form of communication software that could pass messages asynchronously and even synchronously with accompanying sound and video, and if someone else would invent an distributed network that would allow such traffic to be easily carried, then nobody would need to work in isolation. Until then, asking people question in person face to face is obviously the most efficient way of getting information. I wish those inventor guys would pull their fingers out.

Flinty997

What ye are talking about is mentoring. Some people/places do it most places don't.

The other is remote working some people are better able to mange this than others. I say places with good management seem to manage this better. Though some people just refuse to engage with it. They just really dislike it.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118108361#Comment_118108361

Its often not that simple.

VonLuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118108516#Comment_118108516

Alright, no need for the sarcasm. Having meetings or calls with people over Zoom or Teams is not the same, no matter how you try and sell it. They are scheduled discussions or calls with a specific purpose. I can tell you that I have gotten way more out of an in-person meeting than any call online. There's an intangible benefit from being face to face. I think it's because it's much easier to speak up when you're around a table, or you can have a break-out conversation with someone at the end of the meeting to focus in on a certain point. A lot of the time on video calls people don't bother doing this, or are apprehensive about speaking.

The same goes for random questions you have during the day. When I was working from home and I had a small query for a manager, I would not want to pester him with messages or calls. In an office setting I can just turn my head and ask him. He does the same thing. I have much more interaction with him in an office setting. Results in a lot less wasting time trying to figure out something on your own.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118109068#Comment_118109068

Everyone should have a 'mentor'. Is that not a common thing? I'm not talking about something formal, but even a line manager that you go to when you're stuck or not sure of something. It's impossible to know everything in your job, no matter your level of experience.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118106483#Comment_118106483

This - the amount of people that I have spent 1/2/3 years of sitting just 20 feet away from them every single day, in various different jobs; and yet if I passed them in the street now I would just about say hello and thats it.

Backstreet Moyes

I must be the complete opposite I find it much easier to communicate especially with online chatting.

In the office you are in a meeting room or talking to somebody at your desk and it's based on your memory to know what you need to do.

Then you also have people who don't have the confidence to ask questions in person who find it easier to do it online, you also have some people who are not very helpful because they hate being disturbed when you call to the desk I have noticed these type of people are more helpful online when they respond when they are not under pressure.

When your using online messaging you have it in front of you exactly what you need to do so it is much clearer.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118111009#Comment_118111009

all good in theory - but if someone doesnt want to return to the office, and your argument is well we need to return because of mentoring - you'll be met with 'Is that all you've got'.

I am back in the office - I heard all this baloney on zoom calls about how we needed to be back in the office because you get more done in person, mentoring all this nonsense. Its all nonsense, managers using excuses because they want to have a 'reason' to bring people back.

Now that we are back, the only thing people talk about is how miserable it is to be back.

You are asking people to do a two hour commute per day, just because one guy has an opinion that it might be better to ask questions in person than on a zoom call?

ted1

less engagement?

what type of IT system have you in place. we migrated to MS teams and engagement shot up. we can video chat or call anyone within the organisation from our laptops, which is often more efficient that emails. I've more in person conversations from home than i ever had in the office.

VonLuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118111031#Comment_118111031

Productivity? I wouldn't say so. Deadlines don't move. The quality of work on the other hand has decreased resulting in more work trying to fix the problems it caused.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118111052#Comment_118111052

You can have both. I've been in the office and have messaged people on our messaging system instead of going to their desk. I know you're going to say "what's the point in being in the office then". You'd only message when you don't need engagement from someone and it's something innocuous.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118111061#Comment_118111061

That's the thing. People don't see the value in it which is a problem. It sounds like you work in a bad environment because anyone I've spoken to who has returned to the office is pretty happy to be there and delighted to get out of the home to break up the week and to actually talk with their team. And this isn't just upper management. This is at all levels with varying life commitments and commutes.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118111064#Comment_118111064

Don't get the reference.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118111112#Comment_118111112

Do you talk with people outside you team (that is if yo work on teams)? When you work from home you tend to be in a bubble and not know what's going on in other teams or departments. I've no reason to talk to anyone outside my team when I work from home, but I have had casual work related conversations with other teams when in the office and have discovered things that I would never have otherwise.

bokale

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118111758#Comment_118111758

We ran sessions across teams pre covid anyway. These have continued throughout covid.

It's good practice to see how other teams are doing things. Knowledge share. Problems each team have integrating with each other.