Remote working

[vetran]

This is a big factor for my client. They were reaching the limits of their office through steady growth but now can avoid having to move for the foreseeable.


As things mature post-pandemic, we should hopefully see it permeate even agents' heads that advertising WFH and non-WFH accurately will make them do a better job for their clients.

you mean Hybrid with 1 day a month WFH is misleading?

 

[Whorty]

Remote working existed before the pandemic.

It saves companies money on office space.

Indeed - I've been doing it since 2007 to varying degrees, with the last 4 years mostly WFH and very rarely going into an office.

 

[SueEllen]

Indeed - I've been doing it since 2007 to varying degrees, with the last 4 years mostly WFH and very rarely going into an office.

My best hybrid pre-pandemic was a large company who didn't have enough desks, so people sat in the canteen or the kitchens to work.

 

[NickFitz]

The thing I've noticed is that the management types - delivery manager, product owner and so on - like getting back to the office, even if it's just for one meeting every couple of weeks: not because they want to be able to control everyone (though there will be some like that) but, I think, because those who work in such roles tend to be the kind of people who like being with other people for its own sake.

Developers like myself, on the other hand, tend to be perfectly happy to stay at home sat at the computer and communicate with others over video or chat. No need for actual human contact when you have the Internet

 

[vetran]

2 months and only 3 days in the office at current.

There is lots of benefit working from home but meeting your colleagues and socialising is useful too.

We do get together for big meetings about future planning.

 

[TheDude]

London, NY and Bay area firms are not going to continue paying top rates/salaries if the person on the end of an internet connection in (say) Surrey is producing similar quality work to the guy in Warsaw or Sofia.

 

[vetran]

London, NY and Bay area firms are not going to continue paying top rates/salaries if the person on the end of an internet connection in (say) Surrey is producing similar quality work to the guy in Warsaw or Sofia.

Welcome to globalisation and of course automation - ship up or starve. Its all changing and assuming we the west rule the world is old hat.

 

[d000hg]

The thing I've noticed is that the management types - delivery manager, product owner and so on - like getting back to the office, even if it's just for one meeting every couple of weeks: not because they want to be able to control everyone (though there will be some like that) but, I think, because those who work in such roles tend to be the kind of people who like being with other people for its own sake.

Developers like myself, on the other hand, tend to be perfectly happy to stay at home sat at the computer and communicate with others over video or chat. No need for actual human contact when you have the Internet

Though it depends on your living situation. If you are living in a small house or flat with kids or housemates or a partner, it might be a relief to get into the office. When we were all 'home schooling' especially, I'd frequently be in Teams meetings where you could other people having their own meetings or doing schoolwork since they had to share the kitchen table, as many didn't choose a home with an office in mind.

Hence the desire for larger houses I guess, and surges in country living.

 

[SueEllen]

London, NY and Bay area firms are not going to continue paying top rates/salaries if the person on the end of an internet connection in (say) Surrey is producing similar quality work to the guy in Warsaw or Sofia.

One of the things you have ignored is that there is currently a global shortage in IT professionals in certain areas. Also some companies due to security and regulation requirements can only use staff based in particular countries.

So you may as a company want to employ/use someone in Warsaw or Sofia rather than the UK or US, but if you are trying to get someone in a skills shortage area you won't have much of a choice.

 

[d000hg]

One of the things you have ignored is that there is currently a global shortage in IT professionals in certain areas. Also some companies due to security and regulation requirements can only use staff based in particular countries.

So you may as a company want to employ/use someone in Warsaw or Sofia rather than the UK or US, but if you are trying to get someone in a skills shortage area you won't have much of a choice.

You don't need to go overseas. You switch to Newcastle instead of London, or anywhere that's not The Bay in USA.