Work from home - becoming permanent

[Cius]

So I work for a big 4 bank (would rather not say which one at this point). Our executives just announced they are selling a large number of campus buildings (some may be leased back) and that post covid they envision only 40% of staff working from a campus site on any given day. So 60% of staff on any given day working from home. Keeping in mind that many staff (especially in the branch network) have to work on site so for the rest of us they seem to think we will work from home 4 out of 5 days by my math.

Honestly surprised, but happy to hear. There was always noise during this time of us shifting in that direction post covid but they are now selling buildings and making a big commitment to that. They will also create spaces you essentially book as a team for collaboration etc. Its greener, saves hours in traffic, and has been working well for us. We are about to deliver one of the biggest and most difficult projects I have ever worked on and it actually worked with all of us being remote. If we could deliver this we can deliver anything. I still do want office days to socialize with colleagues and do lunches etc. I also think brainstorming and knowledge sharing happens better in person, but I can definitely live with this.

So anyone else who has a company that has made permanent commitments to flexi work even post covid?

 

[MaisonP]

Yes same here, although the company I work for is small (+-75 employees, IT sector)

They are even updating our company policy to allow for people to work from abroad as well. Nothing has been cast in stone as yet, but we are waiting for the updated policy.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Also at one of the big 4 and pretty much the same. Been WFH since the first lockdown. The preference is actually for us to work from home unless necessary - the 40% thing has been positioned as an "at most" scenario.

The reason for this is likely that productivity has skyrocketed. When this was raised pre-covid, it was usually shot down by the old farts with trust issues...

 

[duckgray]

pretty much the same has been communicated to us (just not about the buildings yet).

i'm quite happy about this. more sleep and comfy clothes all day. that's a win.

 

[Cray]

I work for a big corporate too, we are going to be at the office at most two days a week.

 

[werfie]

Yup, our IT corporate too. All office leases given up. Permanent WFH, also with this collaboration spaces idea.

 

[R13...]

I wonder if this isn't going to cause a glut of office space which will screw up commercial property investment. And these corporate offices aren't suited for development to residential due to location. Suppose they could be rethought.

 

[backstreetboy]

Not here. Busy building a new office space.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

 

[Nerhzelok]

Productivity goes up but people exhaust themselves (sometimes without even realizing it).

Take care of yourselves, okes. Work from home is great, but it does have its downsides on your health if you don't set those boundaries.

Peace, love and chicken wings.

 

[3WA]

We are about to deliver one of the biggest and most difficult projects I have ever worked on and it actually worked with all of us being remote. If we could deliver this we can deliver anything

Tell me you work for FNB and are about to deliver Apple Pay

 

[UrBaN963]

So I work for a big 4 bank (would rather not say which one at this point). Our executives just announced they are selling a large number of campus buildings (some may be leased back) and that post covid they envision only 40% of staff working from a campus site on any given day. So 60% of staff on any given day working from home. Keeping in mind that many staff (especially in the branch network) have to work on site so for the rest of us they seem to think we will work from home 4 out of 5 days by my math.

Honestly surprised, but happy to hear. There was always noise during this time of us shifting in that direction post covid but they are now selling buildings and making a big commitment to that. They will also create spaces you essentially book as a team for collaboration etc. Its greener, saves hours in traffic, and has been working well for us. We are about to deliver one of the biggest and most difficult projects I have ever worked on and it actually worked with all of us being remote. If we could deliver this we can deliver anything. I still do want office days to socialize with colleagues and do lunches etc. I also think brainstorming and knowledge sharing happens better in person, but I can definitely live with this.

So anyone else who has a company that has made permanent commitments to flexi work even post covid?

Exactly the same situation here. Occasional War room or planning sessions occur face to face, but we're all operating from home just fine.

Was this ENCR/ENDO by any chance?

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Productivity goes up but people exhaust themselves (sometimes without even realizing it).

Take care of yourselves, okes. Work from home is great, but it does have its downsides on your health if you don't set those boundaries.

Peace, love and chicken wings.

I've had this happen.

Learnt that like anything, it's important to establish boundaries. Book a lunch hour out in your calendar, shut down at 4-5 etc.

If enough people do this, the message will eventually get across that you can't cram people's diaries with meetings for every arb thing. They need time to work as well, so meetings need to be strictly if it's important enough to warrant one...

 

[KingMikel]

I also work for a bank.

We've been instructed to WFH, but we can work at the office if we wish. I prefer the latter because there are too many distractions at home. Also, I like having a R1bn building to myself and a handful of others.

 

[minkukel]

Client where I'm based also going WFH and converting some of the offices into storage space. For me WFH is excellent because I don't care much for human interaction and I don't have any disturbances at home.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

This is all excellent news to hear.
Less traffic for me everyday

 

[starmage]

Work for an insurance company - WFH is now our normal -- head office being revamped to contain mostly meeting rooms/locations with video conference facilities. We have already been told there will be a small number of desks available, but you will have to book/reserve a desk before hand on a daily basis.

 

[JohnStarr]

So I work for a big 4 bank (would rather not say which one at this point). Our executives just announced they are selling a large number of campus buildings (some may be leased back) and that post covid they envision only 40% of staff working from a campus site on any given day. So 60% of staff on any given day working from home. Keeping in mind that many staff (especially in the branch network) have to work on site so for the rest of us they seem to think we will work from home 4 out of 5 days by my math.

Honestly surprised, but happy to hear. There was always noise during this time of us shifting in that direction post covid but they are now selling buildings and making a big commitment to that. They will also create spaces you essentially book as a team for collaboration etc. Its greener, saves hours in traffic, and has been working well for us. We are about to deliver one of the biggest and most difficult projects I have ever worked on and it actually worked with all of us being remote. If we could deliver this we can deliver anything. I still do want office days to socialize with colleagues and do lunches etc. I also think brainstorming and knowledge sharing happens better in person, but I can definitely live with this.

So anyone else who has a company that has made permanent commitments to flexi work even post covid?

Not yet, but I hope so. It makes sense...I could then even look at setting up an office of sorts to do this.
My wife is allowed to WFH which is awesome.

 

[Cius]

Not yet, but I hope so. It makes sense...I could then even look at setting up an office of sorts to do this.
My wife is allowed to WFH which is awesome.

Yep. As part of the announcement we had today they said they are looking at support for WFH in terms of tech and stuff. They specifically mentioned allowing us an ergonomic chair (which is awesome), and that they will subsidize our internet connection somewhat and allow a second screen where needed from the office. So a pragmatic approach. That is all gonna be a lot cheaper than the cost of maintaining all those addiotional buildings etc. Cleaning costs savings alone will probably subsidize all they spend on the above.

@Pineapple Smurf : Totally with you on the traffic. I worked in Sandton and traffic was a royal mess. With this many more people remoting in I am guessing traffic will be significantly reduced which will be great for the days I do work at the office.

 

[Tman543]

Same at another big ICT company. Only 20% of staff will be at the office. They are planning to sell/cancel leases at few office spaces. They intend to have a common space/hot desks at certain sites if WFH not possible.