Covid-19

[Spider]

36 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

The pandemic has sped up (finally) the end of working in an office five days a week at set times, and thank fuck for that. If I want to work on a saturday afternoon and not a tuesday afternoon then I think as long as the work is done, you should be able to. If I want to work at home, in an office, or by a lakeside in summer - the tech is there, again I should be able to as long as I can complete my job.

Being somewhere because someone tells you with no massive benefit has hopefully ended for many. 

Today, I'm at a virtual conference, working at home and have a lunch meeting with three orgs from scotland. I don't have to leave my house. Fan-fucking-tastic.

Some offices need to be on the 5 day week set up we've always had. I know for a fact that 50% of them would be swinging the lead by 10am if we let them work from home.

Plus, we're a manufacturer, we have deadlines that require folk to push and make sure they are met. Someone sat at home watching cash in the attic and pretending they were on another call can damage a deadline. Trust me.

[Zico]

1 hour ago, Spider said:

We are clearly heading towards some form of restrictions.

they should go back to wearing masks at supermarkets and stuff

but that's about it

they shouldn't have let that one slide in the first place

might've been wise not to call it "freedom day" either

am sure that's part of the reason folk don't think they need a vaccine, because "it's over now"

it's not

[FrancisFogarty]

I only do the occasional shift these days but masks and pinnies are de rigeur and I still do the Lateral Flow test. Problem is reporting your result to Gov.UK.

They ask more questions than the wife, so I don't always record it. They've always been negative by the way.

[Sweep]

restrictions are coming back, but I think it'll predominantly be around mask wearing, and social distancing again in pubs and restaurants

[Not in Crawley]

41 minutes ago, Spider said:

Some offices need to be on the 5 day week set up we've always had. I know for a fact that 50% of them would be swinging the lead by 10am if we let them work from home.

Plus, we're a manufacturer, we have deadlines that require folk to push and make sure they are met. Someone sat at home watching cash in the attic and pretending they were on another call can damage a deadline. Trust me.

Maybe employ more dedicated people? Oddly my current places productivity went up in lockdowns - people appreciated the flexibility and deadlines were actually bettered.

In my new place, one director is currently in France, one is in Greece. I know where I'd rather be working from than some office with a shitty commute.

I hope the 5 day in the office, 9-6 routine dies a death for many. Old school and old hat.

Hybrid is certainly a decent way forward. Working well fir us. In the office 3 days a week, and can split that as a % over two weeks.

[Not in Crawley]

Also as its now lunch, I'm going to have a 30 min kip.

Better than standing in line at Pret.

[Escobarp]

57 minutes ago, Spider said:

Some offices need to be on the 5 day week set up we've always had. I know for a fact that 50% of them would be swinging the lead by 10am if we let them work from home.

Plus, we're a manufacturer, we have deadlines that require folk to push and make sure they are met. Someone sat at home watching cash in the attic and pretending they were on another call can damage a deadline. Trust me.

You clearly don’t get it. It’s that simple. You fucking dinosaur. Get better people 

[Spider]

19 minutes ago, Escobarp said:

You clearly don’t get it. It’s that simple. You fucking dinosaur. Get better people 

Not a very inclusive approach is it.

Maybe some people thrive in a setting where they have deadlines and people constantly giving them a “kick”.?

I’m happy in either setting, and having worked in both I can tell you for sure that the office is more productive.

Not sure Ian Evatt would be popular if he was zooming the team at half time from a villa in France and telling them to score more goals.

 

[bolton_blondie]

I could have worked from home from being 28 weeks pregnant but I didn't because I know for a fact I'd do fuck all other than tick a few referrals and send a couple of emails. Then sleep and eat for the rest of it. I'd rather be working. But that's me. 

[Escobarp]

7 minutes ago, Spider said:

Not a very inclusive approach is it.

Maybe some people thrive in a setting where they have deadlines and people constantly giving them a “kick”.?

I’m happy in either setting, and having worked in both I can tell you for sure that the office is more productive.

Not sure Ian Evatt would be popular if he was zooming the team at half time from a villa in France and telling them to score more goals.

 

Just sack all your staff and get a load of trannies off canal st. 
 

i would of course agree that for most the office/workplace is more productive. I’m home based but have no choice but to actually work as I couldn’t get away with it. Being a self starter is essential. Or no vans would be cleaned. 

[Not in Crawley]

1 hour ago, Escobarp said:

You clearly don’t get it. It’s that simple. You fucking dinosaur. Get better people 

Now, now esco. We both know that's not what I was saying, you little literal tinker, you.

In certain jobs there can and should be more flexibility. 

As I say, hybrid is working dandy-o for my current place and there are lots of flexible working arrangements out there.

And lets not pretend that time wasting isn't done just because you are under one roof. 

Its not office working I'm set against, its presentism. 

[Spider]

4 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

Now, now esco. We both know that's not what I was saying, you little literal tinker, you.

In certain jobs there can and should be more flexibility. 

As I say, hybrid is working dandy-o for my current place and there are lots of flexible working arrangements out there.

And lets not pretend that time wasting isn't done just because you are under one roof. 

Its not office working I'm set against, its presentism. 

I like to know I have the full attention of people I’m paying a wage to for the time they are contracted.

Because you have to remember that the majority of employment contracts are time-specific still.

if you’re paid to work 9-5, I’m ok with a slightly draconian approach of “you’re on my fucking time”

[Not in Crawley]

I think you might also miss out on decent people without flexibility. I'm not a massive fan of 'I own you for these hours' - a contract is a two way thing.

Still, every business is different, I just hope the pandemic flushes out some of the more archane working practices that actually usually suit an even decreasing number of people.

Lets not forgot 9-5 was a construction helped to protect workers against the onslaught of the industrial revolution but within increasing internationalism, huge leaps in tech is it not outmoded as a concept. Most professionals don't work in the same way and they work across timeframes and even timezones. The world of work has changed since the 18th century when the 8 hour work day was brought in.

Advancements in tech mean not only remote working but that jobs that even ten years ago can be accomplished in a fraction of the time so you can do more but you can also claim time back for your employees. Creating a better working environment, and wages don't have to drop because the work is still being done.

There are also other ways to look at hybrid. So Summer Hours for example - if a sector is quiter during certain period (it doesn't have to be summer) reduce hours. My last two places of work shut at 2pm on fridays during July and August. Work is still done and deadlines met.

Or shared paternity leave so both sets of parents get 6 months.

Not only this but only something like 6% of workers actually work a traditional 9-5 day, and it will become less, Gen Z and Gen A will not be looking for the same things as Boomers or Gen Z. They value working for themselves and see no reason to be told to be somewhere when they can do it quicker and better elsewhere and also work on side projects.

[Escobarp]

SiL (not even two peas on an ironing board sadly) is up the duff again. Her fella is getting 9 months full pay mat leave as that’s company policy. Mental 

[Not in Crawley]

2 minutes ago, Escobarp said:

SiL (not even two peas on an ironing board sadly) is up the duff again. Her fella is getting 9 months full pay mat leave as that’s company policy. Mental 

That's healtly and normal.

Anyway, I remeber reading this in the summer - its a great piece about flexibile working - and is nicely balanced showing why places like Google are not adopting flexible working (although their muli-billion pound new office that is taking 5 years to build at KC has nowt to do with it.....)https://www.standard.co.uk/tech/hybrid-working-new-nine-to-five-b939481.html

[bolton_blondie]

6 minutes ago, Escobarp said:

SiL (not even two peas on an ironing board sadly) is up the duff again. Her fella is getting 9 months full pay mat leave as that’s company policy. Mental 

Fuck that 😳

[Escobarp]

2 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

That's healtly and normal.

Anyway, I remeber reading this in the summer - its a great piece about flexibile working - and is nicely balanced showing why places like Google are not adopting flexible working (although their muli-billion pound new office that is taking 5 years to build at KC has nowt to do with it.....)https://www.standard.co.uk/tech/hybrid-working-new-nine-to-five-b939481.html

I think it’s only fair tbh and think it’s a great policy. I just think it’s mental how far certain companies have come and yet still some others only pay mothers stat mat pay. 

[mickbrown]

1 hour ago, Spider said:

Not a very inclusive approach is it.

Maybe some people thrive in a setting where they have deadlines and people constantly giving them a “kick”.?

I’m happy in either setting, and having worked in both I can tell you for sure that the office is more productive.

Not sure Ian Evatt would be popular if he was zooming the team at half time from a villa in France and telling them to score more goals.

 

Not sure I'd describe meeting deadlines because you've some manager crawling up your arse as thriving.

[Not in Crawley]

1 minute ago, Escobarp said:

I think it’s only fair tbh and think it’s a great policy. I just think it’s mental how far certain companies have come and yet still some others only pay mothers stat mat pay. 

Yeah - my old place was fantastic and if me and the other half had a child it would have really helped finanically as we could have done half and half and therefore not dropping to stat mat pay at any time.

That is a big help to a lot parents - looking after a new born is hard enough, really hard when you are worried about money as well.

[Escobarp]

Just now, Not in Crawley said:

Yeah - my old place was fantastic and if me and the other half had a child it would have really helped finanically as we could have done half and half and therefore not dropping to stat mat pay at any time.

That is a big help to a lot parents - looking after a new born is hard enough, really hard when you are worried about money as well.

Sadly these sort of progressive companies tend to be ones with a higher paid more skilled workforce I would imagine so those who can least afford to support a new born won’t benefit. Sweeping generalization I know it may seem but I trust the intent of the post is clear. 

[radcliffe white]

We crack on as we are

 

[Not in Crawley]

1 minute ago, Escobarp said:

Sadly these sort of progressive companies tend to be ones with a higher paid more skilled workforce I would imagine so those who can least afford to support a new born won’t benefit. Sweeping generalization I know it may seem but I trust the intent of the post is clear. 

I don't think that is a generalisation, to attract good people, people have to offer good benefits as well. Its a competition to get the best people in, and its not always about wage. If its a difference between 50 or 55k but they'll get a raft of decent benefits on 50 and the culture is more suited to their lifesyel/time of life then the choice is easy.

In a recent survey young graduates value workplace environment, the values of the company and benefits over just salary. They come out with huge debt, home owning in't on the agenda in the way it was - nor is starting a family. What people want from work has changed, esp if they can choose.

We would have benefitted as I already have 3 kids - so every penny counts!!

[Spider]

I’d still like to see train drivers working from home

[waffer cup 07]

1 hour ago, radcliffe white said:

We crack on as we are

 

Over 52,000 new cases today, what's wrong in the UK. Javid might as well have used the same phrase yesterday. 

[Not in Crawley]

13 minutes ago, Spider said:

I’d still like to see train drivers working from home

or bin men, builders, roofers, nurses, doctors etc etc etc etc

Office workers, my friend, office workers....