Reform UK's chronicles

[Russ]

The company I work for has become much more productive since bringing in hybrid working. Keep them at home if it suits them.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Russ

The company I work for has become much more productive since bringing in hybrid working. Keep them at home if it suits them.

The private sector can do as it pleases but i expect my council workers to be in the office, if they aren't happy with that they can always look elsewhere for employment

[Sirius]

I have been hybrid working for 2 years now. Monday and Thursday in the office the rest at home. The reality is i can work just as well from home as i can in the office.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

The private sector can do as it pleases but i expect my council workers to be in the office, if they aren't happy with that they can always look elsewhere for employment

If they’re not public-facing they don’t need to be in the office.

Meanwhile...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9ekx3mz4yo

David Wimble, who was elected councillor for Romney Marsh with 64% of the vote, said: "We need to be realistic about what we can and can't do."

Appearing on Politics South East, he said: "I think the biggest worry is that they will expect to go in and make changes straight away and all of the panel here today know that's just not possible."

He added: "Somebody stopped me today and said 'when are you going to stop the boats then?'. This is the county council."

Some Reform UK leaflets delivered in Kent did feature national party messaging, including a pledge to "stop the boats".

When challenged about this promise, Mr Wimble said he focused his campaign purely on local issues and on "the things that we can do".

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

The private sector can do as it pleases but i expect my council workers to be in the office, if they aren't happy with that they can always look elsewhere for employment

Surely, we want government and council staff to operate as efficiently as the private sector? Requiring staff to be in all the time who don't need to, just adds to the real estate costs and acts as a deterrent to good employees working there.

---------- Post added at 10:34 ---------- Previous post was at 10:31 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

Meanwhile...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9ekx3mz4yo

Being in power at the moment is somewhat of a poisoned chalice, be it at local or national level. It's easier to change things when you have money to do so.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Surely, we want government and council staff to operate as efficiently as the private sector? Requiring staff to be in all the time who don't need to, just adds to the real estate costs and acts as a deterrent to good employees working there.

---------- Post added at 10:34 ---------- Previous post was at 10:31 ----------



Being in power at the moment is somewhat of a poisoned chalice, be it at local or national level. It's easier to change things when you have money to do so.

Or the lawful authority and ability.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Russ

If they’re not public-facing they don’t need to be in the office.

An observation: Those against hybrid working on this forum seem not to be working.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

An observation: Those against hybrid working on this forum seem not to be working.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

An observation: Those against hybrid working on this forum seem not to be working.

I work from home because my work is sedentary and my head office is in Brussels. All interactions with customers are done online, like Teams and GoogleWhatsit.

But I still believe that the ability to interact from minute to minute with people in the office, with managers, etc, leads to better outcomes. For example, you need a recommendation or decision from one or two people. But they're out at a garden centre, or Waitrose or summat and you have to await the opportunity for speaking to them (and maybe not in the same timeframe as you need it). Bleedin' obvious, really.

[Russ]

In which case if they’re in Waitrose they’re not working are they? It’s like wanting the opinion of a colleague but they’re currently on a different floor. Daft example.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Russ

In which case if they’re in Waitrose they’re not working are they? It’s like wanting the opinion of a colleague but they’re currently on a different floor. Daft example.

Skiving probably

[Russ]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

Skiving probably

For those of us who work from home we have software that monitors our productivity to ensure we don’t “skive to Waitrose*.

Unless public-facing there are few if any reasons to not work from home if required.

[mrmistoffelees]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

I work from home because my work is sedentary and my head office is in Brussels. All interactions with customers are done online, like Teams and GoogleWhatsit.

But I still believe that the ability to interact from minute to minute with people in the office, with managers, etc, leads to better outcomes. For example, you need a recommendation or decision from one or two people. But they're out at a garden centre, or Waitrose or summat and you have to await the opportunity for speaking to them (and maybe not in the same timeframe as you need it). Bleedin' obvious, really.

You can believe what you want , however many studies on both sides of the pond show that remote working doesn’t inhibit collaboration or productivity in any degree whatsoever.

If a role can be done remotely and companies are insisting that it needs to be done in office then you have one of two issues

1.legacy real estate costs
2. Trust between leadership and teams

My team (of over sixty) are all fully remote apart from five staff whose specific role requires them to be in an office. Those that are remote have the option to go to an office should they wish.

There is no loss of collaboration or productivity

I don’t care what hours they work so long the work is delivered to the required standard and on time. I don’t care if they need to take their dog to the vet or go and take their car to the garage. I know if the shit hits the fan the team are there to engage and support however needed.

TLR it’s the quality of the work and its delivery on time , regardless of if that’s internal to the business or to my external customers that counts, not having a bum on a seat in an office working core hours.

[Sephiroth]

All this WFH theory is spouting pure ignorance.

Let's say I'm sitting in the office on a three desk pod arrangement. My neighbour is on a call with his colleagues and I overhear something that impinges on my project, I can immediately react (as appropriate) rather than either be out of the loop entirely, or find out somewhat later (if at all).

As I said, bleedin' obvious.