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Work From Home - lack of flexibility


Petal71

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Im in a similar position. We had been doing 1 to 2 days a week work from home in my department for nearly 2 years before Covid. I had only just returned from ML a week before Covid sent everyone to WFH.

Ive enjoyed lots of aspects of WFH in 2020, especially now having a kid to look after and doing the daycare run.

Today they told us from 1 Feb they will allow 50% in the office, but you dont have to attend. I really dont want to go back to the office, but while I hope they might allow us the flexibility to chose I assume at some point they will order us back to at least pre-Covid levels and Im really dreading it.

Its terrible to admit but everytime we get an outbreak I think at least we have a few more months before we have to go back.

I just hope they give us plenty of notice, none of my work clothes fit anymore.


Im so sorry to hear your management have taken away all flexibility. Its a shame they have chosen that. Unfortunately I dont think anything can be done in that case, though certainly worth asking at least. I do worry how many managers will overreact to all this WFH and go 100% the other way when they can.

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I think gov depts have little flexibility. I have been doing a fair bit with Fed govt lately, and the were told they must be back in the office from nov something I think. I know quite a few of the guys I was working with were working on ways to fight it.

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My employer expects everyone back in the office in March. We have never done work from home until covid hit, and they don’t want to continue. Some workplaces will just never like people working from home.

They offer a bit of flexibility in working hours but not much. People just have to make it work.



Just ask for it though. “don’t ask, don’t get” that’s my motto. And be firm about it, you have met your targets, you have always worked from home, you still need to work from home, exactly like you did pre covid. End of story. They can either say yes or no. Don’t be too nice about it or they will definitely say no.

If they say no, then ask for other flexibility like an early start and finish or a shorter day that you make up for in the evenings. Negotiate.

If they still say no then maybe you need a new job.

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WFH used to be the exception rather than the rule at my workplace before COVID and it had to be really fought for but there was no consistency in who got it or why. But when COVID hit, suddenly pretty much everyone was WFH and very few people were in the office more than once or twice a week at most. Some people still haven't been back in the office since March last year. But now management are saying that 2 days a week in the office is preferred but still not really forced just yet from what I can gather. There has been some talk about maintaining some level of WFH and more flexibility moving forward even past the COVID situation so it will be interesting to see how it pans out.


In most workplaces, COVID has shown that WFH can be done and is manageable so hopefully there will be more understanding from now. However it also may have thrown up some issues in some workplaces where it wasn't as workable so in those cases, the management may be able to argue that its not reasonable.


As PP said, you can always ask and make sure that you provide clear reasonings such as meeting the targets while WFH, being more productive from home due to shorter commutes, better work/life balance with children etc etc. Your work may be able to look at sharing desks if there are multiple people in the same situation, so you and another person could alternate days in work and days at home and both use the same desk if paying for office space is an issue. Not having set days would make that harder though.

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We are asked to return to work from 1st of feb but have only 50% of the team in and manage people’s expectations as well as desk spaces.


For my team, I have allowed them the flexibility to choose what days they would like to be in and I work around them. I manage two separate teams so they are on fortnightly schedule while I’ll come in every week on the days each team choose to come in.


I don’t expect anyone to come in full time unless they want to but I honestly will not approve anyone WFH full time unless they are deemed at risk or have family members who are in the high risk category.


I’ve been extremely understanding and will continue to do so but I can’t deny that I am sick of every conversation turning into 1 hour phone call and the constant meetings. Technology is great but as someone who manages so many deliverable and have a small team, not having that face to face contact has its disadvantages.


When COVID is over, I expect that we will allow people to WFH but it would be on significantly reduced terms.

Edited by Emissary
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Vitsraya - I hope they at least allow you the pre-COVID WFH days... It sucks that they don't want to encourage employees to have work-life balance.

Edited by Petal71
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We had to hot desk and WFH as we ran out of desk space.


I dont get the argument that its better to be in the office for socialisation, better communication etc. If you're having too many meetings, thats really about setting better boundaries, asking for agendas, etc. Being in the office shouldnt have much of an impact on that. I love not having to find a meeting room now, there were never any available. And with everyone doing some days from home you never had the whole team anyways. Even if we go back to the office I will still hold all my meetings virtually.

Honestly they can make me be in the office 7.5hrs a day, but they cant make me be productive. I get more done at home and am more willing to do extra hours when Im saving 2hrs a day traveling back and forth. When Im in the office most of my day is wasted going downstairs for coffee and catching up with co-workers. I get bored easily and am constantly interupting my co-workers to chat, which I dont do while WFH. I also have anxiety and I dont miss worrying about how I look, how I sound, am I talking to much, do I smell, am I too loud, are people judging how many times I get water, go to the toilet, what I eat, how many snacks I have, am I at my desk too much, too little, my nervous ticks, do they think Im leaving too early.... its just so stressful. At home there is none of that. I can just focus on doing my job. Plus if daycare calls I can be there in 10mins, not 1hr+.

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Spidey_Senses

I think you would have a lot better chance asking for set days to work at home then 'ad-hoc'. Partly because it would seem less open to taking advantage of (I am certainly not saying you are) and partly because it saves others time if they know where you will be on any given day. Makes you feel like more part of the team.


I will add that it could be that management have to appear to be fair. There may be others who want to WFH now. Why they cant give everybody some small concession I dont know.

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I havent read all responses but if you had WFH entitlement pre covid, you should be able to return to those. They legally cant take them away from you.


However as you a a contractor I suppose they can just not renew your contract.

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Days where you haven’t had enough sleep (and ugh, BEEN THERE) it shouldn’t really be part of your base discussion.

Base chat should be: pre-covid I always worked Mon & Tues from home, I’d like to lock that in again please, especially now we all know how effective WFH can be.

THEN as a separate issue, on sleepless days, call in and offer to either work from home or take it as a sick day as they prefer. If you’re too tired to get to work safely, then it’s not an option to travel in.

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Days where you haven’t had enough sleep (and ugh, BEEN THERE) it shouldn’t really be part of your base discussion.

Base chat should be: pre-covid I always worked Mon & Tues from home, I’d like to lock that in again please, especially now we all know how effective WFH can be.

THEN as a separate issue, on sleepless days, call in and offer to either work from home or take it as a sick day as they prefer. If you’re too tired to get to work safely, then it’s not an option to travel in.

 

Completely agree with this. Do NOT mention needing to work from home on days you are too tired to drive. They will (probably correctly) cine back and say "if you are too tired to drive you are too tired to work effectively".

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Completely agree with this. Do NOT mention needing to work from home on days you are too tired to drive. They will (probably correctly) cine back and say "if you are too tired to drive you are too tired to work effectively".

 

Agree with this. In my workplace the automatic response to "I'm too tired to commute to work" (and I totally empathise by the way, I have a fatigue-related health condition and know how hard it is) probably wouldn't be "okay, WFH" but more likely "okay, so I assume you'll be taking sick leave or LWOP today". I would be framing it as 'this was my arrangement pre-COVID as agreed with former-manager, I would like to return to this arrangement starting on xyz' etc.


Good luck, I hope you're able to get some flexibility.

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We are asked to return to work from 1st of feb but have only 50% of the team in and manage people’s expectations as well as desk spaces.


For my team, I have allowed them the flexibility to choose what days they would like to be in and I work around them. I manage two separate teams so they are on fortnightly schedule while I’ll come in every week on the days each team choose to come in.


I don’t expect anyone to come in full time unless they want to but I honestly will not approve anyone WFH full time unless they are deemed at risk or have family members who are in the high risk category.


I’ve been extremely understanding and will continue to do so but I can’t deny that I am sick of every conversation turning into 1 hour phone call and the constant meetings. Technology is great but as someone who manages so many deliverable and have a small team, not having that face to face contact has its disadvantages.


When COVID is over, I expect that we will allow people to WFH but it would be on significantly reduced terms.

 

Wow are you my old boss?


You do realise that this being you condition is discriminatory?


"WFH full time unless they are deemed at risk or have family members who are in the high risk category."

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I’d be a little careful about the bad night of sleep thing. If you can’t drive are you ok to work? I wouldn’t want them doubting your ability to do your job.

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We are asked to return to work from 1st of feb but have only 50% of the team in and manage people’s expectations as well as desk spaces.


For my team, I have allowed them the flexibility to choose what days they would like to be in and I work around them. I manage two separate teams so they are on fortnightly schedule while I’ll come in every week on the days each team choose to come in.


I don’t expect anyone to come in full time unless they want to but I honestly will not approve anyone WFH full time unless they are deemed at risk or have family members who are in the high risk category.


I’ve been extremely understanding and will continue to do so but I can’t deny that I am sick of every conversation turning into 1 hour phone call and the constant meetings. Technology is great but as someone who manages so many deliverable and have a small team, not having that face to face contact has its disadvantages.


When COVID is over, I expect that we will allow people to WFH but it would be on significantly reduced terms.

 

Wow are you my old boss?


You do realise that this being you condition is discriminatory?


"WFH full time unless they are deemed at risk or have family members who are in the high risk category."

 

Discriminatory based on what exactly? Flexible working arrangement have always been based on the need of the person and the ability for the business being able to accomodate it. The business at the end of the day has to approved it so unless I, and the layers above me, feel that the reason is adequate to grant a full time WFH arrangement without impacting productivity greatly then we most likely won’t.


We actually have an official flexible working arrangement policy. If someone have a real need to WFH permanently and full time then they can go through that process and we will assess it and accommodate if possible. I will not be just allowing people to WFH full time without a proper assessment under the policy and handled through the appropriate channels.


It is no different to any other flexible arrangement requests.

Edited by Emissary
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That was my thought too, but didnt want to be rude. The only people at my workplace against WFH permanently seem to be blokes (who dont want to be at home, assuming because of partner/kids, and always say they prefer the social aspect of working in an office) and middle age or older women in a middle management position who claim they cant know whats happening in their team.... e.g. micromanagers. I loathe working for that type. I feel bad saying it as a women, but I prefer male bosses because they usually arent so controlling and treat me like an adult who can get the job done without their constant input and oversight.

 

Maybe you don’t need to be handheld but other people might.


My comments were based on my current team and doesn’t bear any relations to how I think other people should be managed. I know people who WFH and it works for them and their team, great for them.


My team members range from fresh out of uni to people who have been in the company for 40 years so my comment is based on how I’m managing my team and the different personalities and needs within it.


I am not a micro manager and I do not need my team in full time but it doesn’t mean that I don’t value face to face contact and see it being something that benefits my team. Some teams need it. Other team don’t. Even people within my team acknowledges that it’s good to be in a couple of days a fortnight to regroup as a team.

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We had to nominate 2 days per week (same days each week) to work from the office beginning February. Our organisation has grown substantially during Covid so we will have to hot desk (not enough desks for everyone) which I'm not entirely happy about.


I asked my manager to formalise this arrangement for the next 12 months so I can have some stability to organise after school care, activities etc. They agreed.


I'd definitely frame your request in terms of returning to your prior arrangement of set days working from the office/home and your caring responsibilities.

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I just assumed we'd be able to do this ongoing now they had seen the tech worked and the productivity was still high.

 

It seems to me that some workplaces having had no control over working from now now feel a compulsion to have greater control if reducing days working from home from those agreed even before Covid.


I mean we've all proved it worked! We're going to be allowed to work so many hours in a month. I would run out by the third week.


Not that i think necessarily that everyone should have free reign but the strings seem to be pulling tighter if there is an assumption you can't work the days you previously did at home and everyone back at work full time.

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I don’t think many workplaces will learn via the ramifications of Covid that working from home in many cases is more productive than having bums on sears in offices.

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We all got the "have to be back in the office" directive last year for our section.


I could do my work anywhere, and considering I work in a team where two members are in very different parts of the state and we were as efficient (if not more) AND the only people allowed to work from home now are the two higher bosses I do get a bit antsy when one of those big bosses mentions how much more efficient it is and how some teams (which isn't ours) were shirking.


I therefore get no flexibility - unless I am isolating because of a Covid test or it is at a government directive, I am not allowed to work from home.


Oh, but I am allowed to take the laptop home if I have leave but they may need me to log in to a meeting. Hmmm.

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I've been working from home since August (federal govt). I work in a department who LOVE statistics. Well, statistics are showing that since we were all sent home to work, productivity has gone way up and unplanned absences have gone way down. But we are being managed back into the office from next month.


I have no desire to go back to the office, none at all. And with the huge reduction in unplanned absences and the increase in productivity I'm completely at a loss as to why we're being made to.


It's not about "too many meetings", we have one 15 minute meeting a day, and a catchup with the team leader once or twice a month.


I love the "unsocial" aspect of working from home, the dress-up days for footy, Melbourne Cup, Christmas etc do absolutely nothing for me and I never participate. I don't eat much of the food on the days they bring in truckloads of free food for us. I'm not about "team building" exercises, committees created so someone can justify their higher salary. I just want to do my work and do it well. And I'm doing it better than ever at home.

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I WFH a day a week pre-covid and the discussion with my boss has been more like ‘of course I’ll be going back to the same arrangement as before’ like it’s a given. Everything else is going back to the old arrangement, so why wouldn’t this.


My manager hasn’t pushed back on this. Though he fully supported the arrangement pre-covid and looking to make it a thing for the whole team post-return to work (he personally wants more days at home than the office but senior leadership won’t go for that IMO).

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