Should civil servants work from home? | LBC

This clip was taken from Iain Dale's show on Monday April 25th.
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[@Nathan-zg4vh]

"Get back to work plebs. What's the point in me swanning around looking important if there is nobody here to see me"

[@nUmBskulLL]

Absolutely nailed it.

[@7ookee]

There are issues around middle managers becoming obsolete when it's proven that most of them are not needed when motivated people can be work from home unsupervised and un bullied

[@masquarra]

Hear!

[@fricozoid1]

You never heard of a phone?

[@JamesE88]

We wouldn’t want office workers moving out of their overpriced flats in the city because landlords would lose their weekly rent chèque.

[@moc7323]

They would just rent to tourists

[@jaywyse4720]

Correct. That’s what it comes down to!

[@apostolisparga]

A 'property entrepreneur' advocating for packing soulless drones back into the office? Ground breaking!

[@redf7209]

he's hardly an appropriate person to ask about this.

[@VeeSeven700]

The Venn diagram of people who own very expensive office space and people who have influence in the Tory party is just a circle.

[@curatedxkris71]

Russell Berk here, preaching about culture in offices and meeting face to face with people to get work done. ... from home. ... on Zoom.

[@nathanielnewman-beckett7851]

Berk indeed

[@derekjc777]

Thereby proving coming into the office is not required…

[@troymclaughlin772]

Depending on the industry but most professionals don’t need to work in an office. Everything can be completed from home especially when you look at the EU, Asia and the US. We have more and more remote positions being created.

[@luke2346luke]

I really despise the phrase "return to work". People have been working. Also, rich coming from Jacob Rees-Mogg- he hasn't attended 77% of parliamentary debates.

[@markwelch3564]

...despite having a house 5 minutes walk away 🤔

[@claudiafigueiredo4979]

Exactly

[@derekjc777]

He’s so busy he has time to visit the empty offices of the civil service and leave notes! Waste of space, money and time! And you can collaborate efficiently using Zoom (Skype or Teams), without people taking over. In fact it has been easier for less extravert staff to make their points because the discussion is likely to take turns. If you can’t wait until it’s your turn because you forget your own idea too quickly, you should either takes notes, send a text chat or improve your memory! Coming into work is not required.

[@pyroyergen5986]

"get back to work and do your job" says the man who tried getting The Sun readers to do his job for him in finding brexit benefits.

[@toriesout8692]

The public sector is not paid more than the private sector. That is a complete lie.

[@matthewsmith2787]

Unless your the CEO of the local council

[@Ess666]

you did the interview remotely without needing the guests in the studio

[@alexatkin]

Precisely!

[@glossypeacock7552]

Yes ... Iain Dale might as well have been sat in a call centre in Warsaw mightn't he? Rent and wages a quarter of the current cost, and, of course, no "London weighting allowance". Be careful what you wish for! Just saying!

[@infidelcastro5129]

How dare the workers expect a modicum of control over their own lives.

[@RobertBrown-fy3ej]

It can save money working from home for both employee and employer, some companies have been moving this way for years.

[@LoveProWrestling]

When someone is trying to force you to do something just because they say so....thats exactly the sort of bullying controlling micro management we have been free from for the last two years. It doesnt add anything to our workday and never has.

[@yorewhyworry7217]

When did public sector workers 'refuse' to go back to the office??

[@yorewhyworry7217]

Why is this guy at home....telling everyone to go back to the office!? SMDH

[@TheDarkhorse1947]

I have a close family friend who has worked from home all thru covid and home schooled for a period of that time as well. In the mean time her department has down sized their offices because they were paying so much rent with no income coming in. Now they have 80 staff but only 6 desks, so they take turns at going into the office.

[@connordolan4597]

Man really said the civil service is less efficient because they take sick leave and strike to avoid exploitation like it was a bad thing. Tories mate, hilarious.

[@silverlinings3946]

Tells you all you need to know.

[@glossypeacock7552]

Errrr - but true, and unless you work in the Public Sector, you're paying for it! Liberals .... even more hilarious! Just saying!

[@50043211]

Lets ignore the social component for a minute. If their task has nothing to do with public office hours, why not? I neither see the benefit nor necessity for a clerk to be at the office when all his tasks can be done from home. Same goes with any other office job with limited interaction regarding colleagues or customers.

[@jezlawrence720]

Jrms whole point is about efficient use of office space, not productivity or deliverables. The most efficient thing, if productivity and deliverables are being met, is to sell off the offices and converting them to backfill the housing crisis.

[@connordolan4597]

Which would be the logical thing. Of course, JRM is an Oxford grad and should know this - so why doesn't he? Why doesn't a man lobbied by private landlords do such a thing? Why doesn't a party with wealthy multiple home owning, renters want the housing market to deflate?

[@nUmBskulLL]

Great point, well made

[@richardgough1393]

Spot on m8

[@tangerinestorm]

@D C even more reason to get rid of those.offices. We the tax payer should be represented not the landlord.

[@tangerinestorm]

@D C there are lots of ways to improve the situation closing tax loopholes, simplifying taxation. One progressive tax based on income regardless of source. Simple Digital taxation for the self employed and businesses payable and repayable monthly instead of yearly. Reduce costs on buildings and old infrastructure, remove management structures that don't need to be there within the civil service and particularly Whitehall. Move out of London to cheapest location in the country and use remote working where possible. There are plenty of ways to save and maybe we should increase taxes too at least until we pay down to national debt. Then we can consider reducing taxes starting with VAT. We paying more in interest than we take in Vat a ridiculous state of affairs.

[@graemetimoney7002]

It's difficult to have discussions on Zoom ,says a man having a discussion on Zoom.

[@JasonChinniansoulmod1]

Iain Dale defending face 2 face while on a Zoom call with his guests. The irony is hilariously laughable 🤣🤣🤣. The pressure is being applied by commercial landlords, with their huge portfolios, who want their pound of flesh and slice bits off for JRM as a backhanded thank you.

[@redf7209]

its local businesses that were parasitic to the lunch business created by the offices. They've realised where their money came from after years of supporting tory public sector pay freezes.

[@Walt_G]

Your second guest is out of touch, civil servants don't earn more than their private sector equivalents (civil service wages have dropped massively over the last 12 years, )there is very little industrial action in the civil service, and hybrid homeworkers take less sickness. Also most Civil Servants don't take part in "brainstorming sessions" , most of the work is fairly repetitive.

[@testudohorsfieldii7052]

It always amazes me in this Country how we automatically assume it should be a race to the bottom. Public sector has better working rights than the private sector, well let's abolish those rights so civil servants are equally as downtrodden as private sector staff. How about we do it the other way round, next time as a private sector worker you get shafted by the company you work for, rather than trying to drag everyone else down how about demanding better working rights for yourself? Maybe even don't vote for the party that wants to rights for working people? Mad I know.

[@SlowhandGreg]

I think there missing a point the labour market is tight and if you work from home you can work anywhere in the country. My mate has just got a job in Southampton he lives and works from home in Leeds southern salaries means he's just had a 1/3 pay rise. He's expected in the office couple times a year for social reasons more than anything to do with work

[@MrDeadhead1952]

Surprise, Surpise the property magnate thinks people should be filling his properties.

[@jussih3414]

The professor knows what she's talking about. The man doesn't, and doesn't care about people, either. He just wants to collect rent.

[@mlawlor472]

Looks like the government is not competitive with the private sector that offers work remote.

[@msdhlego]

There was a hint at another issue. When Russel Berk mentioned that he could work wherever because he was his own boss. The bosses object to everyone else having that same perk of disappearing from view. Except in their case they are not accountable for their output whilst the rest of us are.

[@silverlinings3946]

That's exactly the point. The boss who can work from home "because he's his own boss", worried about his workers finding better paid jobs in public sector. So he wants to regulate public sector now.

[@electragaming4140]

“Russell Quirk - Property Entrepeneur”

[@matthewsmith2787]

My neighbours have worked from home since March 2020, and have so far never been back to the office.

[@rorykeegan1895]

JRM is a very petty Boss. He's also stuck in the 19th Century when it comes to productivity.

[@derekjc777]

Correction: 18th Century!

[@garymarshall9705]

Russel Berk is aptly name ranting on about staff working in the office when he works from home, as a tax payer I want an efficient civil service I don't care where they work I also want reduced commuting to reduce CO2 emisions not making landlords in big cities rich.

[@dmkrugermusic]

This is a class war pure and simple. Have the decency to have some class solidarity and don't side with the rich ok?

[@SlowhandGreg]

Remote working was already coming in due to various reasons its just accelerated because everyone upgraded their systems during covid to keep working

[@cobbler40]

If you run a business with WFH and it works. Why would you want to pay for expensive office space. It doesn’t make business sense.

[@glossypeacock7552]

If you can run a business remotely and it works ..... why wouldn't you "off-shore" it for around a quarter of the cost? No office costs, no personnel issues. Be careful what you wish for! Just saying!

[@Paul2377]

For me, it's about productivity. If you can categorically prove that working from home makes them less efficient then it makes sense to return to the office, but if they work just as effectively from home, then why not?

[@testudohorsfieldii7052]

💯 , if you aren't losing productivity then what's the problem?

[@glossypeacock7552]

... but in proving that a civil servant is as efficient working from home as they are in the office, you've also proven that their job might as well be out-sourced to Mumbai at probably a quarter of the cost. Be careful what you wish for! Just saying!

[@testudohorsfieldii7052]

@@glossypeacock7552 you can't be a civil servant and be a citizen of another Country where you live and work

[@glossypeacock7552]

@@testudohorsfieldii7052 If you are correct, and I have absolutely no reason to doubt, it is a mere proposal, vote and enactment away with an eighty seat majority. "Simples"! Just saying!

[@testudohorsfieldii7052]

@@glossypeacock7552 why would MPs, who represent their constituents vote for that?

[@bigtastyforlife9367]

Where is the evidence civil servants are refusing to go back to the office?

[@MrDeadhead1952]

The property entrepreneur seems to have been on a different planet for the last twenty years when the majority of businesses have had flexible working and home working as part of their working mix with no impact on their business profitability. The issue here is clearly a problem of management and not with staff. And as to working creatively on zoom, most international companies have been doing it across continents since the advent of remote conferencing.

[@simontemplar404]

Agree, my global manufacturing jobs used remote conferencing for the last twenty years.

[@dwinter666]

"I choose hybrid working but i want you plebs in my rented properties so i can get fat off you"

[@anthonyjflanagan2754]

surely stayink at home eases congestion and fuel use, as well as power reduction at the office

[@iamhudzilla]

‘Public sector are paid more than private sector’ Urm… what?

[@thecommonsensechannel6268]

I have a friend in the civil service when they negotiated they pay deal (before covid) it was agreed they would be allowed to work 2 days a week from home. They had to sacrifice other terms and conditions for that (ps it was the first pay rise over 1% they had received for 10 years)

[@thecommonsensechannel6268]

Pps the productivity went up over covid with people working at home - remember not all civil servants work in Whitehall they work everywhere including teachers, nurses, HMRC job centres anyone who is paid the government is classed as a civil servant

[@leefoster8015]

@@thecommonsensechannel6268 Ppps, incorrect, not all public sector workers are civil servants (teachers and nurses).

[@Bob10009]

Tell me about it. I still remember Cameron saying “we’re all in this together”, then freezing my pay whilst MPs had a bumper pay rise. Every single pay rise since has been well below inflation - so, a pay cut every year since 2010…..now check out how much MPs salaries have gone up in the same period. Would JRM carry on after 12 years of pay cuts ??

[@leefoster8015]

@@Bob10009 JRM couldn't care less about his MP salary. He makes hundreds of times as much using his position to enrich his investment business. This is just another example of it. Keeping commercial real estate relevant.

[@glossypeacock7552]

@@thecommonsensechannel6268 Hmmm - trying to work out exactly what your point is? Teachers .... well that worked out well for the kids didn't it? Nurses .... well that worked out well for about 6.1 million patients didn't it? Job Centres .... everyone was furloughed! Have you not heard of the massive DVLA and passport backlogs due to "working from home"? Do you know what the weird thing about "common sense" is ..... it really ain't that common! Just saying!

[@lazytitan6217]

It’s utterly untrue to suggest that civil servants are working from home 5 days a week and refusing to come back into the office.

[@Bob10009]

I know otherwise I’m afraid but its a minority. Flexible or hybrid working is the future.

[@grantmck9659]

That thumbnail has Iain dale looking very Baron Harkonnen. 😂😂😂

[@Gargamel616]

A surprisingly interesting and balanced debate, I must say.

[@magnusbuckus3266]

2yrs of praise over increased efficiency wfh but then demand working from the office. Lots of people use the dvla as an example... They worked from the office and had some of the highest levels of covid so lots of people off hence the delays.

[@richie6218]

I'd like to know how much time JRM spends in the office doing his minesterial work or does he have to split his time between several offices to cover any other work he may have.

[@alexatkin]

Depends, does sleeping count? ;)

[@hereitsanightmare]

Man working from own home, provides opinion that other people cannot work from home.

[@dj331]

Property entrepreneur doesn’t agree with home working. I can’t think why.

[@lanaz375]

When I was working from home, i had control of my office space, how it was set up, and setup supporting props to assist with my job role. Working from the office I had no such control. It's a hotswapping desk environment, and it's a case of what you see is what you get.

[@kitbag9033]

I imagine the vast majority of civil servants were working from home throughout the pandemic whilst the private sector greedily gobbled up all the furlough payments and watched daytime TV for two years.

[@whiteweewee5961]

if productivity doesnt drop, I dont care where the person works. the problem is that some council/ civil services are getting delayed. for example, i have submitted some plans to the council... it normally takes 5-6 weeks to approve; but due to people working from home, the plans are still to be validated - 5 weeks after i have submitted.

[@MrMistoffelees]

They're not telling you the truth about the reason for the delays. Councils have lost two years worth of staff turnover without recruiting replacements - it's not that the staff aren't in the office, it's that they don't exist.

[@whiteweewee5961]

@@MrMistoffelees the stats will show that during the 2 year lock down, attrition has been at its lowest for years. people wouldnt leave their jobs with so much uncertainty... unless they were made redundant, but i dont think councils laid of many people over the last two years

[@richardwells7883]

@@whiteweewee5961 people have retired and not been replaced. Not everyone leaves to another job.

[@silverlinings3946]

@@richardwells7883 also, many people died, many people are off sick with long covid, and it must have been difficult to recruit replacements, with others similarly affected. And don't forget brexit benefit- many civil servants were EU citizens, some went back to EU when environmental became hostile to them.

[@glossypeacock7552]

@@silverlinings3946 If there was an hostile environment directed towards EU citizens post Brexit, why have around 6 million of them applied for residential status in the UK rather than return to their home countries within the beloved EU? Just saying!

[@shaunryan-izzard8110]

This argument of "public money" to force staff backnin the office is a red herring. The two largest OPEX spends in any business are staff and facilities. Hybrid working has been proven to increase efficiency of staff (even to the extent of staff commiting more, often unpaid, hours due to not being as concerned about commutes), meaning you get more bang for your buck from staff and obviosuly, fewer staff "in the office" easily translates to a reduced need for office space particular in expensive city centers (London obviosuly being the worst of these). Ergo, Hybrid working therefore manages the public purse far better. So yes, Reese-Mogg is being as Dickensian, not surprising really considering he looks Scrooge's meaner brother

[@glossypeacock7552]

Your argument makes no sense. The private sector tax payer is still paying for all the empty civil service facilities so no economies there! If it can be proven that the job requirements can be fulfilled by WFH at a desk in the leafy suburbs you have also proven that it can be fulfilled by working from a desk in smoggy Mumbai at a quarter of the cost. Be careful what you wish for! Just saying!

[@NotThatOneThisOne]

Russell Quirks knowledge of civil service employment contracts is entirely fictitious. Each dept has its own contracts dependent on the work needing to be done. Also, his assumption of efficiency is specious because civil servant work changes at the whim of governments, whereas the private sector woukd require penalty clauses or new contracts if their customer wanted to change the agreed work. And, also wrong, is his claim that the public sector is paid more - the civil service does not have the same range of jobs as the private sector, especially since service industry jobs are typically contacted out. Compare like with like jobs and include bonuses, etc, and you'll see a much fewer differences and typically the private sector pays more (which is why the civil service is losing staff to contractors).

[@misterdodgy4229]

Productivity loss due to strike action? The civil service has not had any strike action for years, I think the last strike was for one day in October 2014. Where is he getting his ‘data’ from?

[@glossypeacock7552]

Really? Well it will be very interesting to watch them "striking from home" next time! Just saying!

[@paulfitzpatrick3090]

The problem is you might have two people doing similar jobs. One is motivated and the other isn't. So do you just allow the motivated one to work from home?

[@coderider3022]

If the job can be done remotely, it can be offshored and done for much less money. It’s the end of skilled jobs in uk. IT sector on a knife edge here and it’s really down to the bosses/directors in their 50s which still think people should be at a desk at 9am which is actually holding the sector up.

[@andrewtim1989]

Maybe if civil servants weren't paid about 30% less than their equivalent private sector workers then their efficiency would be equal 😅

[@glossypeacock7552]

You want to substantiate that figure by quoting a source? Looks like it's been plucked out of the air to me. If you can substantiate, why wouldn't every public sector worker move into the private sector? Simple answer to that question is that they appreciate that they just wouldn't survive there! Put another way, you've just made an unwinnable statement! Just saying!

[@jimpad5608]

In the 1990s I was a shared specialist on 4 product design teams. One team was in same building I was in (USA), but the other three were remote. One was 500 miles away in the same time zone but the other two were in Taiwan. I had no trouble contributing to all four teams so our products could be released on time. BTW we had no problem brainstorming solutions to problems we encountered. Those that are upset about remote work are just egotistical failures.

[@TheSala22]

It’s funny how a lot of ppl get there pitchforks out when it comes to public sector and wfh yet then don’t even realise most of the civil service is full of low grade ops who get payed peanuts to help run our country compared to the higher ups like you know MPs…….most of their roles are sitting on phones all day long, don’t need be in a office for that

[@frogandspanner]

"Employers own their serfs; that is a simple fact", J R-M

[@gretareinarsson7461]

If people can work from home and deliver their expected work, they should have the choice to do so. But showing up at the work place couple days a week should be expected as well.

[@Bob10009]

The public sector is constantly pushing for reduced carbon footprint, cutting provision of company cars - effectively cutting pay by doing so -, increased technology, reduced time spent travelling to meetings and the govt has enforced a 10 year pay freeze/below inflation pay rises etc… Lockdown proved that technology facilitates home working, through virtual meetings, emails etc and can also save money both for employer and employee. As long as the work gets done and people go into work when it’s necessary, what’s the problem ? There is a massive recruitment deficit in the public sector because the work package is simply no longer competitive with the private sector. Push people to spent a fortune on travel after yet another year of pay freezes and they will leave in greater numbers.

[@fricozoid1]

Still never heard a compelling, or any valid reason at all t for staff to be forced into working in the office. All they have is "get back to the office". They've got nothing.

[@markrichards3720]

Private sector earning less lol lol the guy hasn't a clue

[@MrPokemonisawesome]

surely as long as people get their work for the day done, it shouldnt matter where they are?

[@glossypeacock7552]

Aha, obviously not applied for a driving license, passport or needed a medical appointment lately then Matt? Just saying!

[@MrPokemonisawesome]

I mean I work retail do working at home is not an option, I had to renew my drivers licence and had to do it at the post office and I don't have a passport.....and the was my only option. You can do it online but that needs a passport

[@fricozoid1]

Yeah, I'm not going to take advice from a guy on Zoom criticising the communication quality of Zoom whilst sitting in front of a poster that reads "I drink to make other people more interesting."

[@dcpayne5264]

Re office work, my complaint is that an e-mail is not a real comms. Only hand written documents will do!

[@jamesgray4437]

The CS has spent last few years reducing office space. there is simply no room to accommodate everyone who wishes to work 40-60% in the office. The public sector does not earn equally the same amount as their private sector counterparts, there has been a pay freeze over the last decade. From experience when someone makes the jump from private to public its to gain more flexibility in their lives and has nothing to do with pay as often it's a paycut

[@casperhiscock4871]

I assume when the employees signed the contract to be employed there probably wasn't anything about working from home and thus it should be the employer's choice. I think with improvements in communication technology more and more people will switch to work from home and the government should lead by example and give their employees that choice.

[@gHGhej]

Oh yeah, it was lacking in the contracts, then why workers paid to work at home then for 2 years? That sounds like the creation of a cause in the contracts but as not been ruled on is just my opinion. But no it should not be the 'employer's choice' as it has been proven to work.

[@matthewsemple]

To a certain extent it is the employer's choice - employers can choose to lose their best staff who wish to work from home and will be able to find a more flexible employer.

[@markwelch3564]

@@matthewsemple absolutely this. Smart bosses will look at the work and their team and work out the right mix for them Meanwhile relics like JRM are more bothered about control and looking 'important', but will get left behind by everyone else busy getting things done 😁

[@redf7209]

Departments made the choice because it works for them, and started changing contracts, its just Mogg sticking his fingers in other peoples pies out of vindictiveness and his own inability to use the collaboration tools available

[@matthewsemple7773]

@@redf7209 I agree - and behind the scenes, away from Mogg's pathetic attention-grabbing, someone will be planning the reduction of office space required by government departments in central London because it is anachronistic and extremely expensive.

[@caroltodd6691]

its the same as REES MOGG telling the people what to do yet he goes to Sleep in Parliament JOKE

[@diggidydale]

not sure where they get their points from, I have never found there to be an issue for either communicating, brainstorming or for morale. If some you can't seem to motivate your team over teams/zoom then you are the issue.

[@alexatkin]

Morale is particularly a joke, not having someone taking notes every time you need a drink or use the toilet is surely a boost in morale? I know when I was working, I would be exhausted by the time I got there just for the bus journey. Who wants to waste hours of their life commuting? All the evidence suggests people are more productive working from home due to being more relaxed and for families its a huge morale boost from actually being able to step out for a moment to interact with their kids, rather than getting home and they've already gone to bed. Nothing kills morale quite like feeling you spend all your time at work and being too exhausted once you get home to actually relax.

[@masquarra]

Demand persons out of their homes and work, force the spending

[@paulfitzpatrick3090]

Many civil servants feel underpaid and resent coming in to work. Working from home would allow them to claw back that they see as their rights.

[@alsoascot02]

The answer is surely obvious IF the work can be done from home there is no reason why it shouldn't.

[@robtyman4281]

If it's feasible, and they can - then yes, absolutely. Why should they be denied the choice? People want more flexibility now, and those 'demanding' that they return to the office immediately (told in the manner of an old school headmaster) need to be more adaptable. They have to accept that this option may be easier and better for alot of people, and stop making such a fuss. Bosses should NOT be demanding that employees return to work in the office, if they know that a particular person can get work done at home properly, and the company or organisation had proper mechanisms in place that allow them to do so. Some employers just need to 'get with the times' abit more and stop behaving as if we're still in the 20th century. It's that simple.

[@timballam3675]

Have they carried out a full risk assessment, we are in the middle of a pandemic after all!

[@NightManAkimbo]

private landlords want people in offices, at any cost. many tory MPs are private landlords. it’s as simple as this

[@markwelch3564]

Anyone else freaked out that they agree with Nadine Dorries here? That said, the alternative is to agree with Rees Mogg...

[@esm7708]

It's like choosing your favourite STI

[@Paul-Weston]

I would have thought the tories would be all for working at home. They can amalgamate a few government departments into one building and sell off the vacant buildings for development.

[@PastaParcel313]

Funny how the property entrepreneur, with I’m guessing some investment in office space, is unable to understand the perspective of wfh. Wonder why, surely couldn’t have an ulterior motive??

[@claudiafigueiredo4979]

Why someone that works from home and can do that is making a comment about other ppls work choices!

[@jonjones4903]

Guy in blue - typical mid level management type but thinks he's so much better.

[@kristoffarrell6899]

How to get thr right creative mix in a firm is a science. Plenty papers on it and what we are hearing here by proponents and fan of Rees Mogg is talk about a science they have a less than kindergarten level of understanding.

[@joshanderson7358]

Go back to work or get fired.

[@pwallacepugh]

They have been working from home since the 90s in some cases even before the technology was there.

[@fru8365]

What happened to Moggs search for 'Brexit benefits' gig...?

[@zakmckracken8544]

People are going to end up losing working from home in any capacity, unless they start getting back to the office for the 2-3 days being asked, ruining it for everyone else not making excuses to turn up.

[@lazytitan6217]

Very few people are doing that though

[@sjthjsdreadfather4867]

You know your life's gone wrong if you utter the words "I support Jacob Rees Mogg"

[@FACT3200]

Wow! Global Britain back to the Middle Ages! Keep on rowing!!! 😁😁😁😁😁

[@whowherewhatwhywen]

Oh my goodness, it comes out at the end. If I work for myself I can dictate what I get to do, but I don't let the people that work under me have any say in the conversation. And you wonder why people are quitting their jobs. They got a taste of work from home and they found that they like it. Now this isn't everybody. My co-worker finds that she is not efficient when she works from home. But, other people are able to focus and get their workload done in a shorter amount of time. I mean how many hours a day are you actually truly productive? How many hours a day do you spend at your desk just trying to motivate yourself for the next how many hours you have left sitting there?

[@Human_Herbivore]

If there is no reason why somebody can't do their work from home then of course they should be able to do that. Our taxes pay for those offices, the environment is impacted by more people having to travel. Everyone I know has found themselves to be more effective when they could just stay at home, myself included. That guy says it is not included in people's contracts to be able to work from home but frankly I never had a stipulation of where I should work in any contract.

[@johng.1703]

why is it very old fashioned people and people way behind the times, take working from home as not working at all? one thing that has been shown to be true is that people are far more productive when they work from home, they actually do more work. but it does seem that people who have a real interest in commercial properties and office space to rent tend to think that people and businesses should be in them. I am sure that Moggy has a very real interest in businesses renting office space, so that he can personally make money from it. this will be the real motive to "get people back to work"

[@yaaninja]

There is a middle ground of hybrid working having both work from home and office, agree with the lady its sounds like management issue something that training can easily correct

[@indricotherium4802]

I propose a compromise solution. They travel about half way to work with a little portable desk and chair and set it up for a day's work on the street or in, say, a park. But British management has never been great at thinking things through!

[@markwelch3564]

There _is_ a nice pub about halfway between my house and the office 🤔😁

[@indricotherium4802]

@@markwelch3564 :careful! Mr Dale might start taking the idea seriously.

[@markwelch3564]

@@indricotherium4802 If he wants to set up a mobile broadcast studio in the back room he's welcome to join me!

[@jobbyomoron8478]

No!

[@jim-es8qk]

It's up to the bosses to decide. But with the cost of living crisis it would a nice gesture and they could save the petrol money. Maybe some form of hybrid working.

[@gHGhej]

Why should it be up to the bosses and not the employees?

[@jim-es8qk]

@@gHGhej Do you have a job? You can't just upsticks and decide to work where ever you want.

[@markwelch3564]

@@jim-es8qk If someone else is hiring, I absolutely can go work somewhere else! If bosses want to limit themselves to people who accept no WFH, then that's their hiring problem to solve, not mine 😉

[@gHGhej]

@@jim-es8qk Mate look at ACAS flexible working please 😃

[@jim-es8qk]

@@gHGhej My company is currently having this debate at the moment, by in large we are expected to come in. But I refuse to feel sorry for the civil service, they get better pay, job security and better pensions.

[@bigdaz7272]

People should work from wherever they can do there work from and if they can do it from Home and want to do it from Home its better for the environment because it removes the commute.

[@faves2064]

I think the real news here is that Nadine Dorries actually stood up for working people! I can't believe I respect her for something but compared to Mogg she's practically from another century.

[@markknopflerisnot]

On neither team as both Dorries and JRM are totally objectionable and despicable. They are both terrible people who are undeserving of high office and the sooner we get rid of this corrupt bunch of clowns and charlatans, the better

[@darrenholden7447]

Where is any of the challenge for Dale. Where is Quirks evidence on any of his claims

[@markwelch3564]

At least Dale managed the low hanging fruit of pointing out that Mr Office was himself working from home. Often he wouldn't even manage that much challenge!

[@darrenholden7447]

@@markwelch3564 true but that’s a very low bar for success! 🤣