How to encourage a return to the office?

VonLuck

I believe the general consensus is that people will just do what suit their lifestyle and that no amount of encouragement will convince them to work one way or the other, unless mandated from upper management.

Flyonawall

OP simply put you need to put your views to management. They probably agree with you, the points you make are very valid and it's true across a lot of businesses sectors. Few enough businesses are actually suited to a 100% remote environment . The issue is that people are in dreamland and need to be shaken out of it. The delusion is just laughable from some people. The only way of doing that is mandating one day a week and then two days week. By all means flexible start and finish times to help with traffic etc.

BhoyRayzor

Right now I am in my house at 9 and 5 with WFH so the only real incentive if required to be in the office would need to be the same. So working hours would include commute time, clock in before I leave at 9 and when I get home at 5. The cost of commuting, with the price of petrol now, is another factor but employer can't cover that and if only 1 day a week would be okay.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118121224#Comment_118121224

There are only a few sectors where a company without a physical base will pass the tests applied by larger customers or suppliers.

Even as a prospective employee, if I Google a company and cannot find a physical address, I'd be worried they will disappear with wages unpaid, and quite likely tax deducted but not handed over to Revenue.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118126145#Comment_118126145

Cos having a physical location has prevented that from happening since the dawn of time...... Oh wait, no it hasn't 🙄

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118126145#Comment_118126145

I deal with our ISO standards at work. We're now essentially a virtual company with all staff working remotely. We're audited by BSI multiple times a year, and the guy I dealt with last was telling me so many companies are now mostly or fully virtual and it's not really having any major negative impact. I'm in IT, so it's a sector that's quite easy to have WFH though.

Patsy167

First step OP would be to find out what staff want. They may be agreeable to 1-day per week to begin which would be a start

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118126582#Comment_118126582

Doesn't prevent it, but it reduced the chances. At very least the employee has somewhere they know they can likely find you,or at least find your stuff.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118128544#Comment_118128544

Has to be your second weakest or third weakest argument against WFH, not sure, maybe second, have to think about it

martingriff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118120507#Comment_118120507

Do you have different people writing these posts. Aren't you the one who talked about shaming people who could not make a meeting by scheduling meeting at bad timing.

Should we talk about you posts in the working from home thread or the thread where someone's private medical stuff was shared to people. Quiet frankly if you dowork in the job you say you do I would hate to be given you

niallers1

The company I work for has seen productivity and profits increase quarter on quarter for the past 20 months when all staff were WFH.

They recently opened up the office to people wanting to return. 40 people out of nearly 900 decided to come into the office.

WFH is here to stay. Employers need to accept that or will be left with the likes of Mrs OBumble running their company into the ground.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118115506#Comment_118115506

Many are opting to drive rather then use public transport while case numbers are high.

solidasarock

I think flexibility and commitment to that flexibility is what companies need to do.

During lockdown there where times we needed to get into our office but simply couldn't, or it was such a hassle we would put it off and find work around.

Now things are more open but we are still in this weird limbo where we are WFH but its still "temporary" even though its been nearly 2 years.

We just tried to return to the office day per week since September and it was just called off and we are back to full WFH again.

For me personally, as a increasingly less young, young professional I just want them to commit one way or another. If we are basically full WFH then lets lock it down, you can downsize the office and we can have limited people in if they need to go to a office. If you want to drive everyone back into the office full time then let me know so I can find a new job now. And most importantly for me if I only need to go into Dublin 1/2 days a week then I want to move and get a place that allows me to do that but isnt in the butt crack of the commuter belt.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118129047#Comment_118129047

Or they're now travelling from places where public transport is not an option.

solidasarock

We did 1 day a week in the office and I took the bus the first week and then havent touched one again.

Between unmasked school kids during rush hour and the bus being jammed to standing room only I have been driving ever since.

fits

i moved to current job this year. I only applied for it because of wfh being possible. I live too far away to commute every day.

they started a hybrid return to office and my team were asked to do 3 days a week. I requested two. But this has been postponed for now. Even two days is exhausting. that said I do like getting into office

if a full return to office were mandated I’d have no choice but to resign. I physically can’t do it.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118130344#Comment_118130344

passed a major crash on the motorway during the week, wouldnt surprise me if it was someone doing regular long commutes, single vehicle crash, this is nuts that we re sending people to work, with long commutes

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118130371#Comment_118130371

We aren't sending them.

They are choosing to take jobs a long way from home.

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118130371#Comment_118130371

Ah that's a bit of a stretch now isn't it ?

It could have been anything.

Did you think the same pre COVID when you saw or heard of of a motorway crash ?

I doubt it.

Backstreet Moyes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118131214#Comment_118131214

Does everyone have the option to have a job close to where they live?

No so they need to travel to work away from home.

Thankfully the option to wfh now gives them the option not to travel.

Patsy167

Interesting how quickly things seem to be reverting back to the mean - "Three out of four jobs advertised in the UK still do not offer any kind of flexible work options, according to an annual survey of over five million ads."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59211233

Pawwed Rig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118139720#Comment_118139720

What percentage are unsuited to wfh such as hospitality industry. Also there would be lots of jobs that do not mention it but will allow it during the on boarding negotiations