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Is this the way of the future

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By *orwegian Blue OP   Man
over a year ago

Iceland, but Aldi is closer..

With our cities empty of workers as many are working from home and many businesses now wanting to adopt more flexible working with staff attending the offices less regularly, many offices will reduce in size and office space will become vacant.

Recently, outside of Liverpool street station, a new restaurant and bar complex has opened which has taken over a huge section of what was formerly office space..

Containing several bars, restaurants, delicatessen and food stores, its a mega complex dedicated to the tastes and flavours of Italy..

The city of London corporation are also looking to convert the vacant office space into housing with a plan to add 1500 new homes in rhe city by the end of the century..

This seems to be the tip of the iceberg and will be replicated in every city across the country.

It also means that how we work will change, allowing more free time as the daily commute may become the twice a week commute.

This type of change should have a positive impact to many peoples lives; journeys to and from work will be easier and additional housing may impact prices and stop the unsustainable rise that is preventing the younger generation getting a place of their own.

How do you feel about this happening? Do you feel it will benefit or do you see negatives to the change?

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By *ap d agde coupleCouple
over a year ago

Broadstairs

How long before the company’s outsource your working from home job ? especially if it’s not that skilled to much cheaper countries ?

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By *spotpleasurerMan
over a year ago

Norwich

No doubt we will see more people working from home, or a mix of home/workplace. There are many jobs that do not require you to be physically present on site everyday.

Your specific example is a bit funny. If more people work from home, there will be reduced clientele to enjoy a 'mega complex dedicated to the tastes and flavours of Italy'.

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town

"we" humans esp Brits aren't very good when we have options and choices. We are much better with "rules" to follow...

Work... Rest... Play

Look how long it's taken us to work out what to wear to work when someone said smart casual?

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By *orwegian Blue OP   Man
over a year ago

Iceland, but Aldi is closer..


"How long before the company’s outsource your working from home job ? especially if it’s not that skilled to much cheaper countries ? "

They could do that anyway and many companies do. Accountancy is one example where a skilled job can be outsourced.

Just because you are made to work in an office, that is not going to stop outsourcing of your work if thats the way the business decides to head.

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By *orwegian Blue OP   Man
over a year ago

Iceland, but Aldi is closer..


""we" humans esp Brits aren't very good when we have options and choices. We are much better with "rules" to follow...

Work... Rest... Play

Look how long it's taken us to work out what to wear to work when someone said smart casual? "

Smart casual.. isn't that a suit and shirt but with your tie removed?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"How long before the company’s outsource your working from home job ? especially if it’s not that skilled to much cheaper countries ? "

call centre workers for example have always been remote from their customer , and yet we were never fully outsourced there , because many businesses know their customers value the service received from UK based employees, with english as a first language, more familiar with dialects etc that make for easier communication

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


""we" humans esp Brits aren't very good when we have options and choices. We are much better with "rules" to follow...

Work... Rest... Play

Look how long it's taken us to work out what to wear to work when someone said smart casual? "

i agree with this to an extent... my work sent out an email today saying they are not putting out a framework as it doesn’t really for with our “live your best life ethos” (dont start me on the use of an old teen meme label for our ethos lol)

really i’ve read it as its going to be a free for all and a bit of an inconsistent riot, but when you come to complain we will say it’s your own fault as you were left as teams to decide what worked for you

stupid really since teams and employees don’t actually work in isolation , so if the aim of the office is to get together with folk that want a different timetable to you then what is the point at all really

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By *pursChick aka ShortieWoman
over a year ago

On a mooch

It will happen more and more, businesses that relied on those 5 day a week office workers will suffer, a lot will fold.

The capital can’t sell or rent the properties available now, will just end up a ghost town.

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By *uenevereWoman
over a year ago

Scunthorpe

I think that many businesses are embracing the opportunity to save money and reduce office space and associated costs.

Working from home doesn't suit everyone and will mean even fewer people in town and cities centres. Sadly, although it may be a better work life balance for many, it will fuel an even swifter decline of town centres.

I would prefer to return to the office if it meant going back to normal. Unfortunately, my employer is one of those using this as a way to save money and reduce office space. Desks will be available but on a first come first served hot desk basis, not with my team...

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By *ee And MikeCouple
over a year ago

Cannock

I work in construction and we are looking at a lot of schemes that will be converting offices into residential.

A couple of things people are missing here though. Firstly, offices has been supported by the businesses around them, coffee shops, bars, restaurants, even dry cleaners. If those businesses fail, they won’t need accountants, car finance, insurance, etc, so all those businesses that have now relocated to working from home, won’t need as many staff. Secondly, with businesses closing their offices, paying less business rates, local authorities will have less income, that means cuts to services and cuts to jobs.

When Furlough ends in October, don’t be surprised to see a rush of redundancies when business cut their cloth accordingly once they re-assess their financial position.

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town


""we" humans esp Brits aren't very good when we have options and choices. We are much better with "rules" to follow...

Work... Rest... Play

Look how long it's taken us to work out what to wear to work when someone said smart casual?

Smart casual.. isn't that a suit and shirt but with your tie removed?

"

Yes but is it a white or coloured shirt or polo shirt? 2 or 3 buttons undone... Tab collars or Oxford? Can you wear chinos? And don't start me on footwear

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By *oved Up 2Couple
over a year ago

nottingham

We have already been told there will only be one day per week when we're all expected to be in so we can have our weekly meeting face to face, do 1-2-1s etc. Pre-Covid my role was about 50/50 office and out and about delivering training. I work longer hours at home and appreciate the flexibility. I'd be dreading daily commutes in rush hour so the one day per week works well for me

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By *mmabluTV/TS
over a year ago

upton wirral


""we" humans esp Brits aren't very good when we have options and choices. We are much better with "rules" to follow...

Work... Rest... Play

Look how long it's taken us to work out what to wear to work when someone said smart casual? "

We hhate rules read these forums to prove my point all the ignorant protests in recent months we are a lawless bunch overall

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By *orwegian Blue OP   Man
over a year ago

Iceland, but Aldi is closer..


"I think that many businesses are embracing the opportunity to save money and reduce office space and associated costs.

Working from home doesn't suit everyone and will mean even fewer people in town and cities centres. Sadly, although it may be a better work life balance for many, it will fuel an even swifter decline of town centres.

I would prefer to return to the office if it meant going back to normal. Unfortunately, my employer is one of those using this as a way to save money and reduce office space. Desks will be available but on a first come first served hot desk basis, not with my team... "

Many businesses are also seeing it as an opportunity to increase headcount, reintroduce roles that were the nice to have but were got rid of to save money.

If it means a greater increase in productivity because staff are not as stretched and they are better supported in their role, it leads to better retention and simpler succession planning.

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By *icplshropsCouple
over a year ago

Rock


""we" humans esp Brits aren't very good when we have options and choices. We are much better with "rules" to follow...

Work... Rest... Play

Look how long it's taken us to work out what to wear to work when someone said smart casual?

Smart casual.. isn't that a suit and shirt but with your tie removed?

"

We have 'business casual' - perhaps someone here can explain to me what that is...

Mr Bicpl

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


""we" humans esp Brits aren't very good when we have options and choices. We are much better with "rules" to follow...

Work... Rest... Play

Look how long it's taken us to work out what to wear to work when someone said smart casual?

Smart casual.. isn't that a suit and shirt but with your tie removed?

We have 'business casual' - perhaps someone here can explain to me what that is...

Mr Bicpl"

when i was in the office it was something semi smart and professional but you didnt need to be suited and booted idea

we then moved to dress for your day about a year before pandemic , so you could choose to be business casual or dress down in jeans depending on the audience of any meetings or whatever you had that day

now i am at home dress for my day is keep my jammies on and maybe chuck a jumper over for a video call

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By *irldnCouple
over a year ago

Brighton


""we" humans esp Brits aren't very good when we have options and choices. We are much better with "rules" to follow...

Work... Rest... Play

Look how long it's taken us to work out what to wear to work when someone said smart casual?

Smart casual.. isn't that a suit and shirt but with your tie removed?

"

Took me years but figured it was chinos and open neck shirt rather than suit and tie!

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By *ob198XaMan
over a year ago

teleford


"How long before the company’s outsource your working from home job ? especially if it’s not that skilled to much cheaper countries ?

call centre workers for example have always been remote from their customer , and yet we were never fully outsourced there , because many businesses know their customers value the service received from UK based employees, with english as a first language, more familiar with dialects etc that make for easier communication

"

Once upon a time no call centre work was outsourced... just because companies have not fully outsourced overseas yet it doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t. Anyone who no longer needs to commute to their London office probably is no longer needed to be paid London wages..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"How long before the company’s outsource your working from home job ? especially if it’s not that skilled to much cheaper countries ?

call centre workers for example have always been remote from their customer , and yet we were never fully outsourced there , because many businesses know their customers value the service received from UK based employees, with english as a first language, more familiar with dialects etc that make for easier communication

Once upon a time no call centre work was outsourced... just because companies have not fully outsourced overseas yet it doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t. Anyone who no longer needs to commute to their London office probably is no longer needed to be paid London wages..

"

once upon a time is a fairly long time ago , my point was it was already possible and business’s chose not to, and as others have mentioned even office jobs were outsourceable before

maybe people that don’t need to commute to london centre anymore will move away from london, reducing the exorbitant house prices there and the younger generation that pay through the nose to rent a pokey room in london might eventually be able to afford property in the area they grew up in ... its all swings and roundabouts

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It’s a win win for everyone. For the business they know have a far bigger talent pool to work with. They can get the best person (s) for the jobs they need instead of looking for the best person in the local area. Now they can look at getting the best person for the job.

For workers, they now have more freedom and more money in their pockets. Travel costs are the biggest outlay of any workers costs. Then food, drink and after work drinks.

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By *irldnCouple
over a year ago

Brighton

Expect to see the media lamenting the “lazy british office workers who don’t want to go back into the office” or some such variant.

Then remember the same billionaire owners of those papers are also the same people who either own or have significant investment in city centre office space.

They only care about the rental value of their portfolio.

The landlords and councils need to get creative. Re-establish city centre communities. Repurpose offices into homes. Firms will still want offices but on a smaller scale. People can live close enough to walk to work (good for environment) and those people will need shops, cafes, schools, GPs etc creating local employment.

As for offshore outsourcing. Absolutely yes that is a threat but nothing new and isn’t something presentism will stop (all down to bean counters). Ironically Covid has demonstrated the fragility of offshoring to places like India. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some repatriation of some jobs/skillsets.

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