Is Remote Working Hurting Productivity?
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Is remote work really hurting productivity, or is it the future?
Lord Stuart Rose argues it’s contributing to the UK’s decline, citing distractions and a lack of team cohesion. Others say it offers flexibility and work-life balance. Could a hybrid model be the solution?


Working from home has the most negative effect on productivity, whether it’s from yourself or any company that has its employees working from home.

Nothing to do with working from home. No one who works in Production works from home and never have. Any Business who Produces products have reduced their Work Force in the face of Rising Wages and Government Taxes and National Insurance.
This is a Distraction Tactic from the Stupid Chancellor's Disastrous Budget Outcome.
WHY is it ONLY BRITISH Businesses who are experiencing this alleged Decline??

Those against working from home are the Trump supporter type and want everything back about 100 years. I agree it's being used as a distraction tactic

Ooh dont get me started on that one! But basically yes I believe it is hurting productivity!

The arguement is so loaded against the people who do it . So lets say when covid basically ordered people to work from home if possible . Once the restrictions were eased and it was highlighted that people were still working from home did they suddenly become workshy lazy and not doing there work ? No my brother now works from home for about 80% of his job and he then working in the insurance industry goes to customers at there premises and I would say that takes up about 15% of his job and the other 5% is mainly for meetings and now if he was taking the Michael his boss and I am sure other bosses up and down the country if the person wasn't doing his job he/she would be given the proverbial Sir Alan Sugar "Your Fired " .
I have another friend who works as an estate agent and the rents to office buildings plummeted and the moaners are the people who own the buildings who cannot now rent out there expensive offices .

stuartsmith544 exactly spot on, my firm had an expensive refurbishment late 2021 and don’t really like the fact so many WFH and that’s the real reason as through covid our turnover was better than 2019! They even sent a survey round asking how staff wanted to work and just ignored the survey results and went ahead with the refurbishment anywayyou also can’t guarantee parking at the office so that’s another pain that’s disappeared. I don’t think employers get that being able to turn up and park your car does matter

Subject already discussed at length www.latestdeals.co.uk/chat/remote-workers-paid-more

Biggest issue working from home is a lack of communication with colleagues,. Anything you need is an e mail or phone call rather than just asking or having a brainstorming session with a group of colleagues to solve a problem . You also miss out on the social interaction of being with your colleagues , although I suppose with some colleagues that may be a plus.

Mango4 I agree totally with your comments having worked all my life in an office environment. I accept working from home can be valuable in some circumstances as required but certainly not on a long term basis. A close colleague of mine worked from home 2 days a week and as a result anybody with queries in the office came to me meaning that he got off very lightly and my time was distracted as a result.

I’m more productive at home and work full time at home. It’s quiet and I can concentrate. I really don’t need to hear everyone phone conversations or discussing the football results. If I go into the office you can basically write the day off from actually doing any real work and the work has still got to be done!

If its done properly WFH can be very productive. the hybrid model works best for me personally and its the days I work from home that I get the the most done as the office days are filled with meetings and networking etc. Best of both worlds. Works when there is genuine respect between workers and bosses like we have. Thats the important thing and contributes to productivity far more than where you actually do your work

I know loads of people who are not productive when working from home. But I and some others are productive and may even be duped into doing more work as a result of not being able to switch off working when at home, which can also be bad. But is wfh the future? For most companies, yes, so no point trying to go back to the old ways

Lord Stuart Rose probably has office rental income declining and it’s his productivity being hurt so wants everyone back in an office.

Productivity is only a small part of the WFH issue . No doubt it's cheaper and more convenient for staff (no commute costs , or time spent commuting , flexible hours , no childcare costs etc etc ) . It is also cheaper for companies as they need less or no expensive office real estate and can pay lower wages .
However many large organisations have realised their staff (and hence the company ) are suffering from a lack of personal development due to home working .
WFH is probably OK for more routine jobs (eg a modern equivalent of a typing pool ) but for jobs that require talent and initiative where do staff get "off the record" advice and how can their latent skills be noticed and nurtured ?
It doesn't take a genius to realise that the first jobs to be taken over by AI will be those which at present are WFH , in fact it is already happening in many companies .
Obviously with less opportunity to hear "Office rumours" those remote working will be the last to know their role is about to disappear and AI put in its place.
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