WFH - Flexible working updates (London)
Discussion
ooid said:
Sorry if there was any other thread on this, just wanted to see an update on people, ideally in London.
What is your industry ?
How many days do you still work from home (or you are basically allowed to) ?
Any updates for future change?
Thanks!
Surprised this didn't get more comments. I'm actually based in Manchester but will add comments about me and various family members.What is your industry ?
How many days do you still work from home (or you are basically allowed to) ?
Any updates for future change?
Thanks!
Me
Finance - Media sector
3-4 days per month (meetings and 1-to-1s)
No changes
Other family members
Lawyer (Manchester)
2 days per week in the office, plus Court attendances
No changes (its all about billable hours)
Actuary (based in London, living in Manchester)
1 day per month
No change
Auditor - PWC (Manchester)
1 day per week office
Keeps hearing rumblings of 3 days mandatory
Investment Banking (London)
5 days per week in the office
Not actually mandated but it seems a very old fashioned culture
No change being proposed
While not London directly, my company does have a office in London as well as several others
The company is fully hybrid for white collar staff, there is no minimum time in the office per week etc,
The company actively encourages you to WFH and it’s gone so well that the regional offices have downsized massively, since Covid, my office used to be 2 floors of a 2 floor 4 wing building, and has slowly gotten smaller, it’s just moved to a office with 17 desks with around 250 people reporting to that office.
I WFH 100% of the time, and doubt that will change, my actual team is spread all across the UK so not exactly like I would ever get team collaboration working from home.
This is a global building controls and systems company.
Partner - aerospace industry, 3 days a week in the office since covid “ended” no changes planned. Office on the manufacturing site so no chance of a downsizing to save money.
Family - awarding body - fully remote since covid with office closed, only office now in Leeds (she’s in south wales) with no changed planned
The company is fully hybrid for white collar staff, there is no minimum time in the office per week etc,
The company actively encourages you to WFH and it’s gone so well that the regional offices have downsized massively, since Covid, my office used to be 2 floors of a 2 floor 4 wing building, and has slowly gotten smaller, it’s just moved to a office with 17 desks with around 250 people reporting to that office.
I WFH 100% of the time, and doubt that will change, my actual team is spread all across the UK so not exactly like I would ever get team collaboration working from home.
This is a global building controls and systems company.
Partner - aerospace industry, 3 days a week in the office since covid “ended” no changes planned. Office on the manufacturing site so no chance of a downsizing to save money.
Family - awarding body - fully remote since covid with office closed, only office now in Leeds (she’s in south wales) with no changed planned
I'm based in Edinburgh but we have the same policy in our London office as well.
Officially we are expected to be in the office (or visiting a client if relevant) 3 days per week with 2 days from home. Unofficially, as long as we do 2 days in the office, no one really minds.
The painful part is if anyone is off on an office day due to illness, they are expected to make it up by doing an extra day the following week which I don't agree with. There have been occasions where I've had a dodgy stomach or sniffles and perfectly able to work alone while not wanting to pass anything on. I see it as a choice between working or being off sick whereas the powers above view it as choosing to WFH instead of in the office.
This is in the financial sector and is unlikely to become more restrictive in the near future due to a significant downsizing of office space in the company meaning more days in the office would be impossible.
Officially we are expected to be in the office (or visiting a client if relevant) 3 days per week with 2 days from home. Unofficially, as long as we do 2 days in the office, no one really minds.
The painful part is if anyone is off on an office day due to illness, they are expected to make it up by doing an extra day the following week which I don't agree with. There have been occasions where I've had a dodgy stomach or sniffles and perfectly able to work alone while not wanting to pass anything on. I see it as a choice between working or being off sick whereas the powers above view it as choosing to WFH instead of in the office.
This is in the financial sector and is unlikely to become more restrictive in the near future due to a significant downsizing of office space in the company meaning more days in the office would be impossible.
During Covid when I joined the green tech company I work for we were all 100% WFH. They said they offer flexible working conditions when I took the job.
Post lockdown they want us all to do five days a month in the London office but I’ve moved to Saddleworth so I’m not going to London. My manager knows I will WFH or quit so I WFH 100% of the time.
Post lockdown they want us all to do five days a month in the London office but I’ve moved to Saddleworth so I’m not going to London. My manager knows I will WFH or quit so I WFH 100% of the time.
IT Person - Techie and Team Lead
Business based policy since COVID, core business days are Tues-Thurs please use the office the most on those days, Mon and Fri are optional. My bit of the org is very relaxed I average twice a month but can go to any one of the offices I chose (except the ones I need to get on a plane for) Typically I go to one of the northern offices as we have a lot of the team there and I will spend two days having meetings and it being worth everyones time being there. Once a year I do 1-2-1s with my team who are spread across the country, we either meet at their aligned office or somewhere halfway between them and me. Feel pretty fortunate to work for a pretty forward company who understands work is what we do, not where we are! Truth is we don't have enough seats in the office if everyone turned up at once, some offices are expanding but even so we are just too big now as we expanded massively since 2020. Offices are busy and have a good vibe on the core days but can be very noisy if some teams are having campaigns or events. I can work from home an office or anywhere in the UK I have an internet connection. I can get away with working from my laptop for 80-90% of what I do, when its really required I have a travel USB-C monitor
Wife - IT admin
Perm WFH contract due to disability and her place being hot desk only so they can't meet her OT requirements. However she does have to be at home and her job requires 3 screens so it's not really practical for her to work elsewhere.
Business based policy since COVID, core business days are Tues-Thurs please use the office the most on those days, Mon and Fri are optional. My bit of the org is very relaxed I average twice a month but can go to any one of the offices I chose (except the ones I need to get on a plane for) Typically I go to one of the northern offices as we have a lot of the team there and I will spend two days having meetings and it being worth everyones time being there. Once a year I do 1-2-1s with my team who are spread across the country, we either meet at their aligned office or somewhere halfway between them and me. Feel pretty fortunate to work for a pretty forward company who understands work is what we do, not where we are! Truth is we don't have enough seats in the office if everyone turned up at once, some offices are expanding but even so we are just too big now as we expanded massively since 2020. Offices are busy and have a good vibe on the core days but can be very noisy if some teams are having campaigns or events. I can work from home an office or anywhere in the UK I have an internet connection. I can get away with working from my laptop for 80-90% of what I do, when its really required I have a travel USB-C monitor
Wife - IT admin
Perm WFH contract due to disability and her place being hot desk only so they can't meet her OT requirements. However she does have to be at home and her job requires 3 screens so it's not really practical for her to work elsewhere.
London finance/media, company is part of an American corporation: everyone has been hybrid (2 days per week in office) since Covid, but UK CEO is keen to get everyone back in the building and has increased it to 3 days from this month. He claims our competitors and clients are now full-time back in office (I’m not convinced). He’s one of these CEOs who personally monitors the attendance data from the turnstiles (you’d think he has more important things to spend his time on).
However, local managers have some discretion and my boss seems to like me a lot, so he’s now offered me a full WFH deal, but with the chance to come in when it suits me. Best of both worlds, really.
However, local managers have some discretion and my boss seems to like me a lot, so he’s now offered me a full WFH deal, but with the chance to come in when it suits me. Best of both worlds, really.
2 days a week, into the west end. Asset management sector.
Based on peer conversations it’s consistent with other companies.
As mentioned above, the local train operator had reduced the number of carriages on commuter trains from 12 to 8, to mitigate less travellers. So some unlucky people are back to standing.
Based on peer conversations it’s consistent with other companies.
As mentioned above, the local train operator had reduced the number of carriages on commuter trains from 12 to 8, to mitigate less travellers. So some unlucky people are back to standing.
I work for an Olde English FS company.
I work at home 5 days a week with sessions in person when required for big corporate sessions or if I have a project related need I'll go in.
We have consolidated offices across the UK.
One thing related to this I think would be really handy if government made it mandatory to publish the working policy on job adverts.
I work at home 5 days a week with sessions in person when required for big corporate sessions or if I have a project related need I'll go in.
We have consolidated offices across the UK.
One thing related to this I think would be really handy if government made it mandatory to publish the working policy on job adverts.
London and regions, we are a minimum of three, more for Directors.
It would be more, but for the downsizing of the office spaces.
Basically, the graduates don’t learn quickly enough without enough reference points and business development is slow when people aren’t in cities often enough.
Medium UK owned pan Europe business.
It would be more, but for the downsizing of the office spaces.
Basically, the graduates don’t learn quickly enough without enough reference points and business development is slow when people aren’t in cities often enough.
Medium UK owned pan Europe business.
I am in the office a couple of times a month, the same as before Covid.
My wife was in the office full time before Covid and her team have been moving back to that this year. She is supposed to be back in 3 days a week but they don't have enough space for the team after they sub let one of the buildings. Not sure what they are going to do as they were told they all had to be in the office full time in January but only have desk / office space for half of them.
My wife was in the office full time before Covid and her team have been moving back to that this year. She is supposed to be back in 3 days a week but they don't have enough space for the team after they sub let one of the buildings. Not sure what they are going to do as they were told they all had to be in the office full time in January but only have desk / office space for half of them.
Henry Cat said:
Had a coffee today with a pall of mine . He works at a large Insurance company in London. 1000 or so employees. His news everyone back 5 days transition from now until April. So 4 months to sort out you child and dog care and your back to work.
Which insurance company is that? No brokers that large so assume an insurer? Civil service (London and UK wide) have been told to be in 3 days week. Any of those 3 days can also be site visits, where applicable.
The IT lot are also using IP addresses to log building occupancy. They say it isn't logging individuals, just total numbers of people. There is also hotdesk booking on a system and some people have started booking desks but not going in to actually use them, to make it look like they were in the office.
I don't think the civil service policy is being strictly enforced, especially with the new government who favour a more relaxed approach.
The IT lot are also using IP addresses to log building occupancy. They say it isn't logging individuals, just total numbers of people. There is also hotdesk booking on a system and some people have started booking desks but not going in to actually use them, to make it look like they were in the office.
I don't think the civil service policy is being strictly enforced, especially with the new government who favour a more relaxed approach.
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