311 posts
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Post by olliebean on Oct 10, 2021 15:10:55 GMT
The Government tends to listen to the Mail so I fully expect some dramatic policy designed to limit working from home to be proposed by them this autumn to please then and get good headlines. Yes, let's abrogate the use of any technology that has been developed since the 1940s. |
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952 posts
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Post by vdcni on Oct 10, 2021 15:25:16 GMT
When technology in the workplace benefits the ruling class then the workers get called luddites. When it doesn't then we get labeled as lazy and worse.
The problem is for the government is that the vast majority of businesses seem to be fine with hybrid working or in some cases full working from home.
I thought this goverment is happy to leave things up to the market.
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Post by hairspray57 on Oct 10, 2021 15:33:41 GMT
When technology in the workplace benefits the ruling class then the workers get called luddites. When it doesn't then we get labeled as lazy and worse. The problem is for the government is that the vast majority of businesses seem to be fine with hybrid working or in some cases full working from home. I thought this goverment is happy to leave things up to the market. I think any restrictions on home working will more target be the public sector and then the semi public sector (Private companies who have government contracts or funding etc.) |
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Post by londonpostie on Oct 10, 2021 15:38:50 GMT
I'd be amazed if any Gov did very much at all for 2 years on this. After that, I imagine there will be a period of nudging, then incentivising. No one anywhere has a clue how things will shake out.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2021 16:10:10 GMT
The commercial landlords must be piling the pressure on. Given the government has still imposed restrictions on commercial landlords recovering rents I don't think this is much to do with them at all. |
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Post by hairspray57 on Oct 10, 2021 17:15:58 GMT
The commercial landlords must be piling the pressure on. Given the government has still imposed restrictions on commercial landlords recovering rents I don't think this is much to do with them at all. They might be thinking for the long term. |
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Post by hairspray57 on Oct 10, 2021 17:16:52 GMT
I'd be amazed if any Gov did very much at all for 2 years on this. After that, I imagine there will be a period of nudging, then incentivising. No one anywhere has a clue how things will shake out. The pressure from Tory backbenchers and some of the press is growing - not sure they will be able to hold off for too long. |
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Post by hairspray57 on Oct 10, 2021 17:52:31 GMT
Will the theatre industry suffer if free lateral flow testing gets axed. I have my siubts as I don’t think many people bother with them at all unless offered through work.
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Post by sph on Oct 10, 2021 18:02:00 GMT
Will the theatre industry suffer if free lateral flow testing gets axed. I have my siubts as I don’t think many people bother with them at all unless offered through work. I doubt it. I expect producers will provide testing kits for cast members still and audiences will be asked if they are vaccinated or have symptoms. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2021 18:32:41 GMT
Given the government has still imposed restrictions on commercial landlords recovering rents I don't think this is much to do with them at all. They might be thinking for the long term. Most want viable businesses, doesn't hugely matter what those businesses are. If retail isn't going to be viable in future they'll be looking at what will, not wasting time on getting the government to push something customers don't want. |
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7,207 posts
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Post by Jon on Oct 10, 2021 20:19:54 GMT
I'm honestly not bothered about hybrid working or WFH. The workplace has always evolved to suit the times and trying to force people to go back to the office full time is not going to work.
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36 posts
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Post by greenice on Oct 11, 2021 9:16:22 GMT
I'm honestly not bothered about hybrid working or WFH. The workplace has always evolved to suit the times and trying to force people to go back to the office full time is not going to work. Quite, even before the pandemic, in my area of the public sector, organisations have been in offices with maximum desk space on any one day for around 65% of their total work force. In practice this meant that some people were in 3 days a week, others all the time and a third group hardly at all, depending on circumstances. |
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Post by hairspray57 on Oct 11, 2021 14:53:25 GMT
They might be thinking for the long term. Most want viable businesses, doesn't hugely matter what those businesses are. If retail isn't going to be viable in future they'll be looking at what will, not wasting time on getting the government to push something customers don't want. I think a lot of people would support taxes that make it no less affordable to shop online than it would in a retail shop. There is quite a lot of anger at how shops are closing simply because online is cheaper because for many people shopping is the main activity other than work they leave their house for on a week to week basis. Activities like the theatre are occasional treats at best for the majority. |
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7,207 posts
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Post by Jon on Oct 11, 2021 15:14:26 GMT
Most want viable businesses, doesn't hugely matter what those businesses are. If retail isn't going to be viable in future they'll be looking at what will, not wasting time on getting the government to push something customers don't want. I think a lot of people would support taxes that make it no less affordable to shop online than it would in a retail shop. There is quite a lot of anger at how shops are closing simply because online is cheaper because for many people shopping is the main activity other than work they leave their house for on a week to week basis. Activities like the theatre are occasional treats at best for the majority. The high street has changed throughout the last 100 years, you cannot force people to go out and shop in actual shops if they don't want to plus it's a bit of a push to say the majority of people only go out to work and go shopping, that's simply not true.... |
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Post by hairspray57 on Oct 11, 2021 15:20:38 GMT
I think a lot of people would support taxes that make it no less affordable to shop online than it would in a retail shop. There is quite a lot of anger at how shops are closing simply because online is cheaper because for many people shopping is the main activity other than work they leave their house for on a week to week basis. Activities like the theatre are occasional treats at best for the majority. The high street has changed throughout the last 100 years, you cannot force people to go out and shop in actual shops if they don't want to plus it's a bit of a push to say the majority of people only go out to work and go shopping, that's simply not true.... In the circles I am in it is. I know a lot of people who do not have any regular hobbies outside of their house. |
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7,207 posts
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Post by Jon on Oct 11, 2021 15:25:53 GMT
In the circles I am in it is. I know a lot of people who do not have any regular hobbies outside of their house. You cannot say that your circle of people reflects the wider population in the same way I can't say my circle of family and friends reflects the wider population. |
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Post by hairspray57 on Oct 12, 2021 8:35:32 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2021 9:08:15 GMT
It's amazing how many of those who are opposed to working from home are convinced that it means people who work from home are lazy and spend all their time slacking off. Those of us who actually do it know otherwise. We are getting on and doing what they say can't be done.
I guess The Sun knows what to expect if Charlie Mullins ever asks to work from home.
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Post by hairspray57 on Oct 12, 2021 9:14:22 GMT
It's amazing how many of those who are opposed to working from home are convinced that it means people who work from home are lazy and spend all their time slacking off. Those of us who actually do it know otherwise. We are getting on and doing what they say can't be done. I guess The Sun knows what to expect if Charlie Mullins ever asks to work from home. The Sun through are starting to influence the non working from home section of the workforce to demand working from Home be punished |
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7,207 posts
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Post by Jon on Oct 12, 2021 11:46:45 GMT
The Sun through are starting to influence the non working from home section of the workforce to demand working from Home be punished You really need to stop reading the tabloids and social media.... |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2021 11:49:46 GMT
It's amazing how many of those who are opposed to working from home are convinced that it means people who work from home are lazy and spend all their time slacking off. Those of us who actually do it know otherwise. We are getting on and doing what they say can't be done. I guess The Sun knows what to expect if Charlie Mullins ever asks to work from home. The Sun through are starting to influence the non working from home section of the workforce to demand working from Home be punished Why are you so terrified of the idea of working from home? You seem desperate to cling to any hope that it might disappear even though millions of people are doing it very successfully. I can understand that it's not for everybody but you seem to want to deny people any choice in the matter, even to the extent of implying that people who don't have offices to go to should be deprived of the jobs they already have.
Many people who work from home find that it's a boon for both their home life and their work life. Employees like it because less commuting means they have more free time and more money, and less stress makes them better and happier workers. Employers like it because they get a boost in staff morale for zero ongoing cost. It's opened up all sorts of opportunities for the disabled and parents with young children. There are economic benefits, there are environmental benefits, there are social benefits, there are health benefits. The only downside is that a minuscule number of businesses that have been built around the 20th century way of doing things may need to adapt, but the world had to adapt to the workforce moving into offices so it can certainly adapt to it moving out again.
So what's got you so upset?
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8,175 posts
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Post by alece10 on Oct 12, 2021 11:52:56 GMT
I have been working from home 1 day a week for several months now and work very hard. In fact, I probably work harder at home as I don't get any interruptions that I constantly get in the office and I don't want to give anyone the opportunity to say I am slacking.
However, working in the public sector, they have to make it fair and let all colleagues work from home 1 day a week as well. But many of them do a role that you really can't do from home so they end up doing nothing or very little at all. It's very annoying but you can't say anything as it's considered discrimination.
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7,207 posts
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Post by Jon on Oct 12, 2021 12:14:07 GMT
The Sun through are starting to influence the non working from home section of the workforce to demand working from Home be punished Why are you so terrified of the idea of working from home? You seem desperate to cling to any hope that it might disappear even though millions of people are doing it very successfully. I can understand that it's not for everybody but you seem to want to deny people any choice in the matter, even to the extent of implying that people who don't have offices to go to should be deprived of the jobs they already have. Many people who work from home find that it's a boon for both their home life and their work life. Employees like it because less commuting means they have more free time and more money, and less stress makes them better and happier workers. Employers like it because they get a boost in staff morale for zero ongoing cost. It's opened up all sorts of opportunities for the disabled and parents with young children. There are economic benefits, there are environmental benefits, there are social benefits, there are health benefits. The only downside is that a minuscule number of businesses that have been built around the 20th century way of doing things may need to adapt, but the world had to adapt to the workforce moving into offices so it can certainly adapt to it moving out again. So what's got you so upset?
Places like Canary Wharf and the City of London will likely adapt so they are a thriving places seven days a week while the West End will still be busy because well it's a go to destination for a night out whether it be the theatre, clubbing, socialising etc. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2021 13:04:17 GMT
Why are you so terrified of the idea of working from home? You seem desperate to cling to any hope that it might disappear even though millions of people are doing it very successfully. I can understand that it's not for everybody but you seem to want to deny people any choice in the matter, even to the extent of implying that people who don't have offices to go to should be deprived of the jobs they already have. Many people who work from home find that it's a boon for both their home life and their work life. Employees like it because less commuting means they have more free time and more money, and less stress makes them better and happier workers. Employers like it because they get a boost in staff morale for zero ongoing cost. It's opened up all sorts of opportunities for the disabled and parents with young children. There are economic benefits, there are environmental benefits, there are social benefits, there are health benefits. The only downside is that a minuscule number of businesses that have been built around the 20th century way of doing things may need to adapt, but the world had to adapt to the workforce moving into offices so it can certainly adapt to it moving out again. So what's got you so upset?
Places like Canary Wharf and the City of London will likely adapt so they are a thriving places seven days a week while the West End will still be busy because well it's a go to destination for a night out whether it be the theatre, clubbing, socialising etc. They have and are, that whole process started pre-pandemic really. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 12, 2021 14:34:13 GMT
I do wish the default in so many of discussions around the topic of home working was not that all workers have this as option.
For most of my working life I was in retail (along with millions of others) and we simply don't have that option let alone choice. The same goes for many other sectors in our economy. These millions of jobs can't be reconfigured to make working from home an option.
The option to work from home could be described as a privilege as it is only available to certain groups.
Now I also appreciate that it comes with costs and benefits for those who can work from home. And it can certainly cut some costs for employers.
But it does create issues. My housemate is being encouraged to return to the office at least 2 days per week. However a large part of her job is delivering training courses. These are being delivered virtually for understandable reasons. She does work in a shared office and thus it isn't appropriate for her to do the training from her regular workspace. This means that any day she is training, she can't go into the office as there are no rooms available for her as a virtual teaching space. So she is being told to return to the office but is also been prevented from doing so. This means she is missing out on in person contact with the rest of her who are able to use the offices as usual. So she is being excluded from regular interaction with her team which is not good for inclusion and communication.
Yes this is an atypical case but it does highlight the complexities around this whole area.
The workplace is more than a space from which to work. It is also a social environment. It is a place where casual conversations can lead to important ones. It is where many people meet the love of their life.
Work is a complicated and difficult area to navigate. But it is too simplistic to think that everyone can work from home. It is not an option for millions of workers and so can never be a universal right.
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