Reform UK's chronicles

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Are you happy to pay increased taxes to pay for the offices?

You have a point there.

Most WFH employers, offer allowances to offset home energy costs and will provide ergonomic seating etc.

For this to work to everyone's benefit:

1. Employer needs to find a way of increasing productivity;

2. Sound thinking needs to be applied to collaboration and activities of the moment;

3. Employer needs to decide on an HQ strategy. Downsize? What happens when/if the WFH fad passes?

Public services are an important case. HMRC doesn't provide telephone contact across the summer. That's because of WFH. How can that be justified?

Also, what about the current young people? WFH would stunt their social skills.

It needs careful thought.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

our council has adequate office space which was opened in 1941,it hasn't gone anywhere

There will be increased maintenance and utility costs if all that space is re-used again.

Would you be prepared to pay for this?

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

our council has adequate office space which was opened in 1941,it hasn't gone anywhere

My council (Wokingham) is about to downsize and take over the previous Waitrose/M&S/Armed Forces Charity premises and rebuild them.
Seems financially risky to me because although they'll make a nett capital receipt, the project will go well over budget as all such projects do.

Then what about people who don't wish to WFH? Fired if they refuse?

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

My council (Wokingham) is about to downsize and take over the previous Waitrose/M&S/Armed Forces Charity premises and rebuild them.
Seems financially risky to me because although they'll make a nett capital receipt, the project will go well over budget as all such projects do.

Then what about people who don't wish to WFH? Fired if they refuse?

They should take all steps possible to ensure it does not go over budget. Not all do, we just tend to hear of the ones that go significantly over budget.

I assume they've worked out who wants to work remotely and who wants/has to work on site and this is included in their calculations. It's not possible for everyone to work from home as they may not be fortunate enough to have appropriate space to do so.

---------- Post added at 11:08 ---------- Previous post was at 11:05 ----------

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Public services are an important case. HMRC doesn't provide telephone contact across the summer. That's because of WFH. How can that be justified?

That's because of poor management or underfunding. Plenty of telephone contact services overseas or managed by people from their homes in the UK that operate in all seasons.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

on the subject of council workers WFH there's no I in team, and as i am paying the wages out of my taxes i want my workforce in the office.

And if it makes no difference to the service you get, but increases worker happiness and productivity are you still going to stick to that mindset?

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

My council (Wokingham) is about to downsize and take over the previous Waitrose/M&S/Armed Forces Charity premises and rebuild them.
Seems financially risky to me because although they'll make a nett capital receipt, the project will go well over budget as all such projects do.

Then what about people who don't wish to WFH? Fired if they refuse?

a person should always be able to distance home life from work life you can't do that if your home is your place of work

[Russ]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

a person should always be able to distance home life from work life you can't do that if your home is your place of work

Would I be right in assuming you have never ever worked from home?

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Russ

Would I be right in assuming you have never ever worked from home?

Are you "working" at this time?

[Russ]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

Are you "working" at this time?

Im off yesterday and today.

Would I be right in assuming you have never ever worked from home?

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

You have a point there.

Most WFH employers, offer allowances to offset home energy costs and will provide ergonomic seating etc.

For this to work to everyone's benefit:

1. Employer needs to find a way of increasing productivity;

2. Sound thinking needs to be applied to collaboration and activities of the moment;

3. Employer needs to decide on an HQ strategy. Downsize? What happens when/if the WFH fad passes?

Public services are an important case. HMRC doesn't provide telephone contact across the summer. That's because of WFH. How can that be justified?

Also, what about the current young people? WFH would stunt their social skills.

It needs careful thought.

A) No evidence that this was because of WFH
B) Spring/Summer self-assessment telephone support closedown never happened, as it was cancelled

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68616330

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Russ

Im off yesterday and today.

Would I be right in assuming you have never ever worked from home?

i started work life as a heavy plate fabricator/welder, then spent 10 years as a BT Cable jointer-then 10 years as a contract cable jointer/fibre splicer all over the UK, worked for Eriksson ,then NTL/virgin media for 17 years as a network engineer
you can't do any of that from home.
it's not about me working from home it's about council workers not being in the office that i object to, and as an old manager once told me at VM "you don't come to work to be happy"

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

i started work life as a heavy plate fabricator/welder, then spent 10 years as a BT Cable jointer-then 10 years as a contract cable jointer/fibre splicer all over the UK, worked for Eriksson ,then NTL/virgin media for 17 years as a network engineer
you can't do any of that from home.
it's not about me working from home it's about council workers not being in the office that i object to, and as an old manager once told me at VM "you don't come to work to be happy"

Why do you want one rule for the public sector and another for the private sector?

Originally Posted by papa smurf

i started work life as a heavy plate fabricator/welder, then spent 10 years as a BT Cable jointer-then 10 years as a contract cable jointer/fibre splicer all over the UK, worked for Eriksson ,then NTL/virgin media for 17 years as a network engineer
you can't do any of that from home.
it's not about me working from home it's about council workers not being in the office that i object to, and as an old manager once told me at VM "you don't come to work to be happy"

Sounds Scottish.

That said, arguing that people who could effectively work from home shouldn’t be allowed to do so just because you couldn’t, is a bit churlish.

I could work from the office at my church but it would cost my employer money as the space would need heated and lit just for me to be there. It’s the same issue on a grander scale for large employers. There are costs associated with having people in an office. If they’re happier and at least as productive working from home, and the employer is saving money on facilities maintenance, everybody wins.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

i started work life as a heavy plate fabricator/welder, then spent 10 years as a BT Cable jointer-then 10 years as a contract cable jointer/fibre splicer all over the UK, worked for Eriksson ,then NTL/virgin media for 17 years as a network engineer
you can't do any of that from home.
it's not about me working from home it's about council workers not being in the office that i object to, and as an old manager once told me at VM "you don't come to work to be happy"

Thank you.

So you have zero basis for asserting…

a person should always be able to distance home life from work life you can't do that if your home is your place of work

Funnily enough i manage it and have done for 5 years. Once my shift is over i leave my work laptop in another room.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Chris

Sounds Scottish.

That said, arguing that people who could effectively work from home shouldn’t be allowed to do so just because you couldn’t, is a bit churlish.

I could work from the office at my church but it would cost my employer money as the space would need heated and lit just for me to be there. It’s the same issue on a grander scale for large employers. There are costs associated with having people in an office. If they’re happier and at least as productive working from home, and the employer is saving money on facilities maintenance, everybody wins.

That's not what i said.

---------- Post added at 12:24 ---------- Previous post was at 12:20 ----------

Originally Posted by Russ

Thank you.

So you have zero basis for asserting…



Funnily enough i manage it and have done for 5 years. Once my shift is over i leave my work laptop in another room.

Actually i spent 25 years of my working life on call so i know what it's like not to be able to have a home life, callout was not optional