Working From Home Megathread

People should exactly focus on their over success over a business.

My loyalty to the business is the same as theirs is to me, in other words if the company fell on hard times I would be cut right there, so I will naturally look out for my own interests. That isn't me saying I do not care about the company, but I put my own needs first, always. As should everyone.

I can’t speak for other companies but where I work the WFH policy is more or less based on how important to the business you are and how much clout you have.

We have plenty of staff who are more or less told they have to be in 5 days a week and at the same time have a number of fully remote or hybrid staff who’s skills are in demand and either only accepted the job if it’s remote/hybrid or already worked here before covid but top management don’t want to risk annoying so are allowed work remotely/hybrid (I’d fit in this bracket - generally I do a hybrid as there is some aspects of my job that do require attendance).

We would be quite stuck for the higher skilled roles without allowing this also I must add, being in the South East it has allowed us to hire in the dublin pool of talent even if they don’t want to leave Dublin.

Personally I don’t agree with the policy as I think everyone should have at least some hybrid option but I am left alone to do what I want so won’t be making any noises about it.

Except that actual research bares out the fact that blended working increases productivity?

And, well: https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/0203/1272759-working-from-home-toxic-workplace-slackers-bullies-self-promoters/

Thankfully, promotion of blended working is now government policy, anyway, so it doesn't really matter what the kow-towers think. And the reality, even if Cyrus doesn't want to admit it, is it's damned hard to recruit good people for "office" work where blended working isn't an option.

You do not employ a lot of people! No way Jose

Return to office mandates don't work, study suggests:

While some executives say employees are unproductive and ineffective at home, a study from the University of Pittsburgh suggests it is return-to-office mandates that don’t work. An analysis of S&P 500 firms that implemented in-office attendance requirements found that the mandates did not boost financial performance or value, which remained on par with that of companies allowing virtual work. However, researchers did observe “significant declines in employees’ job satisfaction” — perhaps explaining why 80% of employers who forced a return to offices later expressed regret over the decision.

https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/rto-mandates-dont-work-study-6571002/

Hey, remember, it's team-building and good communication for us all to be forced into the office. Nothing like those water cooler conversations. "Traffic was murder today." "It's been terrible since the schools were back." "Pain in the f'n arse, I'm losing 15 hours a week stuck in traffic. Why are they bringing us back anyway." "You know what Bee is like, if she can't see you, she doesn't trust you're working..." "But I get more done at home, anyway - I don't have Cee just hanging around my desk for a chat." "Try telling that to the CFO who signed off on a new office lease right at the start of Covid. Gotta justify that expense somehow..." "Would he not be better off worrying about the delays to the project?" "Sure what can he do, Dee and Eff are gone, I was on glassdoor myself yesterday, a few CVs gone in..."

I really don't think it is.

For some of us working remotely is the only viable option. I live in the north west and left a major employer (with a no rehire policy) during Covid for a contract job based 3.5+ hrs drive away.

Big push with the client to RTO and redution on contractors, was told at end of 2nd contract that I could change to full time but would be required to comply with any ‘blended work’ changes. Realistically this wasn’t an option with mortgage, wife (her own stable career) , kids etc.

Really struggling to find anything, I had a good record with previous employer (and the previous company they acquired TUPE’d) . Applied for roles with them where I’m hitting 90% of the requirements but I’m not even getting short listed.

I am getting interest with recruiters for in office/ Hybrid roles but the logistics of these would not be viable.

Seems like there is huge competition for WFH focused/ fully remote roles. I am getting interviews but just not nailing them.

Sad thing is that if I could get something local or commutable that I’d be happy to go into an onsite / in office focused role.

Irish Times commercial property supplement advertorials would certainly paint a particular picture... even if the actual editorial staff and management board of the Irish Times are all delighted to have blended working.

Some of the reaction would remind you of the discussion around residential property back in 2007. A drop of nearly 16% in one year is a collapse. And that's a time when employment is very strong.