OK, my title may be a bit incendiary... But I've about had it with the recent constant parade of articles calling for "return to the office" as a cure for everything. It's almost like the Murdoch press has a vested interest? Anyway, we're in a cost of living crisis and we're calling to lump everyone with higher travel, and food costs all over again. So much for work life balance. If everyone does return to their offices will the press start running fluff articles about all the suburban cafes and restaurants that are suffering now that their local post-pandemic foot traffic is stuck back in the city?
Hate to shatter your world view but mining is only about 5.8%% of the economy — same size as our manufacturing industry coincidentally. Realestate only makes up 3.1% of the economy.
Most of the economy is services at 68%. Our health care industry (part of services) is larger than our mining industry. Our education industry(again services) is 4.8% of the economy. We actually have a pretty diversified economy.
Manufacturing isn’t the be all of an economy and it isn’t where the wage to profit ratio is equitable. We all earn more as a service economy than we would as a manufacturing economy.
Sally capp and her vested interest in bringing spending back into the city. Why people should be forced to pay for transport and give up time with family etc to buy coffee is behind me.
Why don’t the local mayors in the suburbs fight back to support their local businesses who are thriving due to wfh?
Sally Capp says she wants people in the city, but she’s taken away carparks, increased parking charges and narrowed roads to reduce traffic.
Why should anyone have to travel to the city when they can work from home? It saves them money and time, it’s great for the environment, and it transfers at least some spending on coffee and lunch to local areas instead of the city.
Many people at my workplace are saying similar, "it's not that bad, what's the fuss" etc. The point is you can just as easily ask employers "what's the fuss?" when they whinge and moan about their empty offices. I'm yet to see a real argument beyond "we believe face-to-face time increases collaboration and innovation" as though that means anything.
On the other hand, 3 years WFH and we continued to post record profits year after year, just like before the pandemic, just like we undoubtedly will after... it makes no difference... just let people work from wherever they want. I do agree with your sentiment about having agreed home and office days (hybrid working is not flexible).
I'm glad it works for you. It doesn't for me and a lot of other people. I changed jobs because my previous job wanted us to come back in. I will never return to the office. There's no benefit to the business and all the costs of coming in are borne by me.
Look, I too would prefer to be in the office most days, and being new to my industry, wished others would do the same. But it's just not practical for so many people to be in every day when they have kids, or can't afford to live close to work.
I'm glad my company doesn't have any expectation of being in the office.