The post-festive return to work in the dark days of January is never easy, but this new year is shaping up to be tougher than usual for UK workers. Not only must they brave days of severe cold and ice, but many face the end of post-pandemic hybrid working.
A range of big employers are hauling their teams back to the office, with Amazon issuing the strictest mandate, demanding staff attend in person five days a week.
Such orders are provoking fresh battles between employees and their bosses, who believe staff need to be brought together to foster collaboration, creativity and a sense of belonging.
While the luxury of being able to work remotely is not possible for all jobs, it has increasingly become viewed as a right in the almost five years since Covid lockdowns forced staff to carry out their roles from their dining tables, spare bedrooms or sheds at the bottom of the garden, with many arguing they are just as productive at home.
This stuff sorta cracks me up. The titles always sound like this is the way we are going but every company that does not need workers in office who are not encumbered with real estate are embracing the fuck out of wfh and even some with it are doing it to remain competitive with talent. There will be more and more going that way as they can get out of or finish contracts or sell off real estate as that is what makes economic sense. Smart ones to me will look to have more smaller office spread out near good transit setup for customer presentation. kitchenette combined with a large meeting room and several break out meeting rooms with good wireless and AV equipment. then local employees can go in and use them when they have need so they don’t have to work out of a loud coffee shop.