Working From Home Megathread

Infoanon · 21-06-2021 10:26am

JohnK wrote: »

From that link in the section Under consideration for August you have the following text: There are uncertainties and these will continue to be closely monitored by Government over the coming weeks. People should continue to work from home unless necessary to attend in person.

Additionally if you go gov.ie and look under current restrictions it will link to the HSE page ie work from home where possible

Citizens advice website also.has information.

nearzero · 21-06-2021 10:37am

JohnK wrote: »

From that link in the section Under consideration for August you have the following text: There are uncertainties and these will continue to be closely monitored by Government over the coming weeks. People should continue to work from home unless necessary to attend in person.

Thank you so much! I couldnt see it anywhere!

21-06-2021 10:53am

JTMan wrote: »

A few nuggets from a Sunday Times article (paywall) on the WFH tug-of-war ...

Another survey on WFH attitudes in the UK ...

Deloitte are letting their UK staff make their own mind up as to where and when to work ...

In terms of London, still very few people going into the office ...

Big return expected in September (that reminds me of last year!) ...

NY times reporting over the weekend that “the Partnership for New York City, a business advocacy group, predicts that only 62 percent of office workers will return, mostly three days a week.”

It’ll be a fundamental change in the city....difficult to predict how it all plays out, but shows that those wanting full time return are outliers. The overwhelming majority of large employers will be a 2 or 3 day a week hybrid model

It’ll be a massive impact on the city, and hard to not feel for neighbourhood businesses which wont survive

silverharp · 21-06-2021 10:59am

Deleted User wrote: »

NY times reporting over the weekend that “the Partnership for New York City, a business advocacy group, predicts that only 62 percent of office workers will return, mostly three days a week.”

It’ll be a fundamental change in the city....difficult to predict how it all plays out, but shows that those wanting full time return are outliers. The overwhelming majority of large employers will be a 2 or 3 day a week hybrid model

It’ll be a massive impact on the city, and hard to not feel for neighbourhood businesses which wont survive

there is always a business churn in a big city, less commuting will mean better transport and people will spend any savings on other things, better food for example, people's health can improve if they take advantage of it

Infoanon · 21-06-2021 11:13am

Deleted User wrote: »

It’ll be a massive impact on the city, and hard to not feel for neighbourhood businesses which wont survive

Businesses however outside the city centre are flourishing as 'buy local' takes hold so there will be winners and losers , hopefully the local businesses will have a much lower churn rate.

sekond · 21-06-2021 12:04pm

Deleted User wrote: »

It’ll be a massive impact on the city, and hard to not feel for neighbourhood businesses which wont survive

I've been thinking about this, and I suspect on a hybrid model I might be likely to spent more money when I'm at the office/in the city centre - in the sense of, less likely to use the work canteen or bring lunch with me and more likely to make plans to go out for lunch to meet people who are also around that day, more likely to plan to go shopping when I'm in the city also. I could go weeks usually without going into the shops near my office, but I can certainly see myself thinking "I'm only in the city centre 2 days this week, what do I need in the shops".

Mrs OBumble · 21-06-2021 12:17pm

Sultan of Bling wrote: »

I'm depressed just thinking about having to return to the office. The atmosphere in my workplace was toxic pre-lockdown. I'm dreading seeing some people again.

So have you been using the time to look for a new job?

I really don't get why anyone hangs around in a place where they hate their colleagues.

nearzero · 21-06-2021 2:27pm

Sultan of Bling wrote: »

I imagine it will all depend on the figures when indoor hospitality resumes.

I'm depressed just thinking about having to return to the office. The atmosphere in my workplace was toxic pre-lockdown. I'm dreading seeing some people again.

I get you... I'm the same, they are telling me its all changed but when they wont even entertain actually following the Government guidelines in relation to the return, I cannot see much else has changed.

Its quite flippant for some people to say 'just get another job' - sometimes its just not that easy, there can be alot of factors to getting another job and some industries have taken a massive hit in the last year or so and there isnt just job available.

average_runner · 21-06-2021 2:42pm

Infoanon wrote: »

Businesses however outside the city centre are flourishing as 'buy local' takes hold so there will be winners and losers , hopefully the local businesses will have a much lower churn rate.

I love the fact that local business are doing so well, just a better quality of service outside the city.

Sultan of Bling · 21-06-2021 2:51pm

Mrs OBumble wrote:

So have you been using the time to look for a new job?

Mrs OBumble wrote:

I really don't get why anyone hangs around in a place where they hate their colleagues.

I haven't to be honest.

I like the work. It's just that small cohort of people you get with every job.

I've loved the job since March 2020 and not having to see or hear them apart from the weekly teams meeting.

You cant beat that feeling of serenity when you click to leave the meeting knowing it will be 7 whole days before you have to hear from them again.

Turtwig · 21-06-2021 2:51pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I really don't get why anyone hangs around in a place where they hate their colleagues.

This is surely one of the easiest things to understand? Assuming a person dislikes their job. They may fear loss of other personal circumstances that they're currently satisfied with. Getting another job that provides the same, similar or better personal situation as before is not easy. Normally there is an element of risk involved. Risk that is not without adverse consequences.

Changing job is only part of the picture. It could mean seriously uprooting the individual's life and possibly that of their family.

(There is also the possibility that despite extensive searching no jobs are available within a desirable location.)

Sultan of Bling · 21-06-2021 2:56pm

color_girl wrote:

I get you... I'm the same, they are telling me its all changed but when they wont even entertain actually following the Government guidelines in relation to the return, I cannot see much else has changed.

color_girl wrote:

Its quite flippant for some people to say 'just get another job' - sometimes its just not that easy, there can be alot of factors to getting another job and some industries have taken a massive hit in the last year or so and there isnt just job available.

My job have done trojan work around the office for the eventual return to be fair to them.

My gripe is with the perennial whingers in my office who no matter what trouble and expense my employer goes too, they still complain.

honirelandboy · 22-06-2021 6:15pm

Working from home and a four day working week. I could get used to that

rte.ie/news/business/2021/0622/1229588-four-day-work-week-ireland/

Mrs OBumble · 23-06-2021 1:25am

Turtwig wrote: »

This is surely one of the easiest things to understand? Assuming a person dislikes their job. They may fear loss of other personal circumstances that they're currently satisfied with. Getting another job that provides the same, similar or better personal situation as before is not easy. Normally there is an element of risk involved. Risk that is not without adverse consequences.

Changing job is only part of the picture. It could mean seriously uprooting the individual's life and possibly that of their family.

(There is also the possibility that despite extensive searching no jobs are available within a desirable location.)

Earlier in this thread, a few people objected to the suggestion that (after Covid) their jobs could be unilaterally changed from 100% office based to either hybrid or fully remote. We were told pretty briskly to either get over it, or get another job. I'm not seeing that this is any different.

Posters seemed to think that with working from home removing the tyranny of location, getting another job would easy, because you can work for anywhere in the country without having to set foot outside the front door.

Cluedo Monopoly · 23-06-2021 8:52am

A friend of mine is working in a large Irish company in Dublin. Experienced IT professional. They got told last week that they will be expected back in the office in September. 1 day a week WFH will be allowed. He told me he already has 2 interviews lined up and will 100% leave as a result and he will not be the only one. Some companies are going to learn harsh lessons if they are not flexible.

23-06-2021 9:22am

Cluedo Monopoly wrote: »

A friend of mine is working in a large Irish company in Dublin. Experienced IT professional. They got told last week that they will be expected back in the office in September. 1 day a week WFH will be allowed. He told me he already has 2 interviews lined up and will 100% leave as a result and he will not be the only one. Some companies are going to learn harsh lessons if they are not flexible.

I would absolutely leave if I were required in the office 5 days a week (though would have done so had that been the case for me at any point in the last 10 years). Luckily we’ve been told out permanent arrangement is for 2 days in the office, though can do more if we wish

You are right that some companies are going to have to cop on to this

Infoanon · 23-06-2021 10:05am

I was pleasantly surprised when a Recruiter(agency owner) made it clear that wfh or a hybrid is now a basic requirement in a job spec (noting not all roles can be done remotely).
Additionally adding that companies that don't adapt are going to have staff retention issues.(sooner rather than later ).

Separately a report out in the UK has found a high % of employees will change jobs if remote working or a hybrid is not offered with a staggering 75% ,while happy in their current role,will move if wfh/hybrid is discontinued.

23-06-2021 10:10am

Infoanon wrote: »

I was pleasantly surprised when a Recruiter(agency owner) made it clear that wfh or a hybrid is now a basic requirement in a job spec (noting not all roles can be done remotely).
Additionally adding that companies that don't adapt are going to have staff retention issues.(sooner rather than later ).

Separately a report out in the UK has found a high % of employees will change jobs if remote working or a hybrid is not offered with a staggering 75% ,while happy in their current role,will move if wfh/hybrid is discontinued.

It would be a deal breaker for me as well. I am never going full-time back in the office again. Covid has changed my attitude. From now on there will be options in IT for hybrid or WFH for a lot of people.

23-06-2021 11:03am

honirelandboy wrote: »

Doesn't work like that for a lot of people and you know that. You put your own spin on everything. Where I work we've had around 20 people leave as new employers are offering three days WFH and two days in Dublin. The people who left are now getting Dublin salaries but have to commute 90 minutes each way twice a week .

It is always going to be difficult for people in the back Arse of Mayo or Galway or somewhere to move with a mortgage or kids if a company is offering the same and they'll have to find fully remote work.

If I were one of those people I would do that commute once and stay in a hotel or Airbnb for a night each week. Take the opportunity to either socialise with work colleagues for that night, or else pull a late one to get ahead of the work and mean a more relaxed time on the WFH day.

Sounds like a good arrangement to me

JDD · 23-06-2021 1:50pm

Its funny the way you can vacillate between being happy out WFH and then having some longing to return to the office.

By nature I am not a self motivator. I was never the student that mapped out their study and got on with it, I was always the crammer at the last minute, or happy to study away as long as I was with a group of friends doing the same thing.

I have always been easily distracted and a terrible procrastinator. Being in the office - as much of a pain as the commute was - did help with this. Being surrounded by colleagues that were working away helped me to concentrate too. Casual chats with my boss led to agreement on timings and next steps.

WFH I found very difficult at the start. I put it down to home schooling and having the kids home all the time. I basically got no work done for three months. Once the kids were back in school I got more efficient, but only for a relatively short period. While I was now undisturbed I found that I missed the regular interaction with work. I am a long time in my job, and know it backwards, so I am expected (not unreasonably) to just get on with it. The whole WFH trust thing - they don't need to be monitoring me etc etc. But my extrovert self feels very isolated, and isolation turns to a lack of motivation.

I raised this with my boss last November. He was really understanding, and by chance a project I was working on was ramping up towards conclusion. I had very regular contact with him during that period and I churned out the work like there was no tomorrow. That efficiency last well into Q1 but I found now that I am slowing down again. His other projects - ones that I am not involved in - are consuming all of his time, and as a result I could go two or three weeks without properly linking in with anyone from work except over email. It just doesn't work for me.

So despite loving seeing my kids more, and being able to keep on top of house stuff, and saving money, I am looking forward to the hybrid return to the office in September.

It may just how I feel today, but if someone were to offer me full time WFH, or a full time return to the office, I think I would choose the office. I never thought I'd say that, but there we go.

uli84 · 23-06-2021 1:53pm

What’s the big deal? Surely everyone was fine working from the office before? Why do people think work should be conducted from home?

Antares35 · 23-06-2021 1:58pm

uli84 wrote: »

Why do people think work should be conducted from home?

Read the thread maybe?

23-06-2021 1:59pm

uli84 wrote: »

What’s the big deal? Surely everyone was fine working from the office before? Why do people think work should be conducted from home?

Not everyone. Many, especially in large firms, have been spitting their time between the office and home for many years. This is just the rest of the business world catching up with the 21st century

All Covid has done is accelerate an inevitable trend. One of the positives to come out of this whole thing

Turtwig · 23-06-2021 2:34pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Earlier in this thread, a few people objected to the suggestion that (after Covid) their jobs could be unilaterally changed from 100% office based to either hybrid or fully remote. We were told pretty briskly to either get over it, or get another job. I'm not seeing that this is any different.

Posters seemed to think that with working from home removing the tyranny of location, getting another job would easy, because you can work for anywhere in the country without having to set foot outside the front door.

I don't understand your post here at all.

You stated you did not understand why people stay in jobs they hate their colleagues. I generalised that to explain why SOME people can find alternative employment difficult.

You then with reply with other posters stated X. Which has no relevance to the statement you originally made.

I'll humour this one. Other posters may not be locked in by circumstances. They may easily be able to job hop. The point is not everyone can. It's very easy to understand why.

Do you understand why job hopping isn't possible for everyone? Do you also understand that some people can readily job hop?

nc6000 · 23-06-2021 2:51pm

uli84 wrote: »

What’s the big deal? Surely everyone was fine working from the office before? Why do people think work should be conducted from home?

I guess a lot of people may have seen how pointless the time and expense of commuting to and from the office can be, especially so if you're mainly dealing with people based elsewhere.

Bot1 · 23-06-2021 3:25pm

Some of my most productive days at work in the past have been where I go into work sit in my office, talk to no one and I'm not disturbed by anyone.

Now, why can't I do the same from home, except I get to see my kids in the morning and not sit in traffic for an hour subjecting myself to NOx pollution and indeed contributing to NOx pollution and climate change?

Brian CivilEng · 23-06-2021 3:27pm

Bot1 wrote: »

Some of my most productive days at work in the past have been where I go into work sit in my office, talk to no one and I'm not disturbed by anyone.

Now, why can't I do the same from home, except I get to see my kids in the morning and not sit in traffic for an hour subjecting myself to NOx pollution and indeed contributing to NOx pollution and climate change?

That is the question! I would have thought I'd be very suited to working from home. I am not.

Bot1 · 23-06-2021 3:28pm

Brian CivilEng wrote: »

That is the question! I would have thought I'd be very suited to working from home. I am not.

Not everyone is.

I am and what's more important is my work is suited to WFH.

Flexible working is what is needed.

Two of my team members can't wait to go back to office.

PokeHerKing · 23-06-2021 5:30pm

I was on a company connect today listening to a senior manager say how they can't wait to get back to the office because then they'll be able to disconnect from the job so much easier, as they can just drop everything and leave the office. They obviously dont know where the off button on the computer is :rolleyes:

Listening to these cool-aid drinking automatons tie themselves in knots pushing this rediculous narrative that the office is instrumental to work would be hilarious if it didn't have a direct impact on my personal wellness, to coin a work phrase.

When the dust settles on this whole pandemic I will 100% be moving to an employer offering a wfh/hybrid model. I'm just fearful there won't be as many of these companies as people think.

23-06-2021 6:59pm

My own experience is that I have a near perfect home office, separate room, proper work desk, chair and fast internet so WFH is bliss.
But I do find the issue of blur is a very real one, I sometimes do extra here and there but on the other hand I do home stuff during quiet times, so it works out well in that respect.
I also go to the site quite often to do tasks that require a physical presense.

If this is allowed to coniunue indefinitly, I will be very happy.

As the book title says there are 50 shades of WFH and flexibility is the key for all involved to find a shade that works well for both.

Working From Home Megathread

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