Bosses want workers back by Labor Day. They're not going in without a fight

[brooklynite]

Washington Post

When the emails first started piling into Latitia Jackson’s inbox about heading back to the office after Labor Day, she and her colleagues figured it wouldn’t really happen.

The Jacksonville, Fla., bank where Jackson, 47, works had pushed back its return-to-office plans many times over the past two years. But now the day is fast approaching, and Jackson is reluctant to trade her jeans and T-shirt for office attire. Nor is she looking forward to being surrounded by people, having grown used to the quiet of her apartment. Coming back on a hybrid schedule helps a little, but it still feels like a downgrade when she’s been happier and more productive working from home.

“I feel like I’m being punished,” Jackson said. “It’s been working so well and now you’re making me go back when I’m doing the exact same job there that I’m doing from home.”

This time last year, companies big and small were gearing up for a push to bring workers back to offices after Labor Day. The same thing is happening now. But this time, the bosses really mean it — probably — which could set companies up for clashes with their workers, experts say.

[nycbos]

1. Good.

For cities to recover calling people back to the office is essential.

[ret5hd]

2. Maybe cities need to rethink their "business model".

[uponit7771]

7. +1,

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. Recover how?

[obamanut2012]

4. lol what

[uponit7771]

6. Good for who? People of color and women prefer working from home (link)

https://www.axios.com/2022/02/22/unequal-return-office-hybrid-women-people-of-color

52% of women say they enjoy working remotely and would like to do so in the long term, compared with 41% of men. Just 15% of women say working in person allows for more camaraderie among colleagues, compared with 25% of men.⁸

and

"It's output over office politics," says John Gerzema, CEO of the Harris Poll. "It's the theater of the office that is often alienating women workers, workers of color, women of color."

[Johnny2X2X]

5. There's a happy medium in here.

Right now a lot of places are doing hybrid models. I am and love it. Monday and Friday WFH, Tuesday Arthur Thursday at the office. Some people chose full WFH though and that’s fine too.

It takes good managers to do WFH right. And the nature of the work matters too.

But with the completion for skilled workers right now, most employers aren’t pushing the issue too hard.

[uponit7771]

8. +1!!!, "Some people chose full WFH though and that's fine too" There's a segment of US population...

... that is not fine with WFH full because office settings is where they dominated.

Now that setting is taking out of the picture and people have to be more objective the privileged aren't liking it IMHO.

I've heard it over and over and over again, what about comradery etc ... what, that was mostly for men

https://www.axios.com/2022/02/22/unequal-return-office-hybrid-women-people-of-color

52% of women say they enjoy working remotely and would like to do so in the long term, compared with 41% of men. Just 15% of women say working in person allows for more camaraderie among colleagues, compared with 25% of men.⁸