Get back to the office — or Britain will go bankrupt
IT’S obvious that the economy is suffering with people working from home (Mail). Many companies are not expecting their staff to return to their offices until the end of the year or even next spring.
While Boris Johnson continues to bleat about the private sector getting back to their offices, town halls, council offices and government departments remain closed.
if this continues, it will remain difficult to convince workers that offices are safe places to work. it seems to be another case of do what we say, not what we do.
Add to this the increased costs of rail fares, commuting time and, in the case of London, the ridiculous hike in the congestion charge and it’s no wonder there isn’t much incentive to get back to the workplace.
LOIS HARDEN, Welwyn, Herts. HAVen’t people realised their jobs could just as easily be done for a cheaper salary by someone working at home in Mumbai?
BRIAN JEffERIES, Isle of Sheppey, Kent.
Strike a balance
FOR me to commute to the City of London wastes half a day a week and costs 10 per cent of the average net salary.
Commuters spend a lot of time and money for what is often an uncomfortable service that can be disrupted by transport unions.
Workers will return to their offices but, for most, it will not be for five days a week.
employers will see the benefit of less stressed staff and a reduction in exorbitant office rents.
it is sad that service industries will close and people will lose their jobs, but this is part of the evolution of business. Had it not been something that has always happened, we would still be living in the era of the Luddites.
STEVE EDWARDS, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts.
Increase confidence
ROUTINE coronavirus testing could be introduced in offices and factories as part of a new drive to get people back to work.
When will the Government realise that social distancing is not the reason people prefer to work from home?
Companies see this mode of working is more cost effective for the business and employees.
Who wouldn’t want an extra hour in bed and to be able to operate from your own home?
M. BARNES, Withernsea, E. Yorks. WHO’s in a hurry to get back to the office? People are saving thousands in rail fares, so it’s like having a large wage increase.
JAMES LEE, London WC2.
Poor service
WHY does the BBC interview only those who are happy to work from home? it ignores the countless others who are stressed and want to get back to the office. i have had terrible service from financial institutions, insurance companies and government offices during the lockdown because employees are working from home.
if they need to transfer your call to a colleague, you can be put on hold for 15 minutes.
i fear that this country is sleepwalking into bankruptcy.
J. HAGGAR, Enfield, North London.
Here comes the slump
IT DOESN’T take a genius to work out why people want to work from home.
You can have a lie-in each day because there is no commute. With a coffee machine in the kitchen and lunch in the fridge, there is no need to pop into an expensive takeaway on the way to the office.
You can save on childcare and nursery expenses as you can work while the kids watch tV or play computer games.
it’s goodbye to long hours in the office and a late-night commute home. instead, there is more time to spend with the family — you might even get to put the children to bed and read them a story.
there are so many savings to be made, including the chance to get rid of one of the family cars.
Wifi means you can do a bit of work while on the beach.
Oh, we’re in a recession — how’s that possible when we’re all doing our bit?
BARRY DAVIES, Chorley, Lancs.
Winners and losers
IN ALL this fuss about getting city- centre offices staffed again, no one seems to be considering the workers.
Working from home saves time and money, so why should you give this up just to join the crowd again?
You can still spend money on food and drink in your home town, and it probably costs less.
there are environmental benefits as a result of reduced commuting and tempers are not being frayed by train delays and overcrowded tubes.
Yes, there are losers, but why should those who are working effectively from home sacrifice their time and money to save the transport companies and small shopkeepers in city centres? ROBERT BOLT, St Albans, Herts.
Weighting game
I BELIEVE that most people who have opted to work from home, or have been encouraged to do so by their employer, are going to regret it.
those working in cities will lose their weighting allowance.
How long before many shrewd employers put those who they wish to retain on less favourable contracts affecting their pension and security of tenure? CLIVE JACOBS, Aldenham, Herts.
Too scared to return
WELL done for highlighting some of the largest firms who continue to let their staff work from home (Mail).
One large employer not mentioned was the nHs. not the front- line workers, but the thousands of backroom staff who are refusing to return to their desks. But why would they want to when enjoying full pay and saving on their daily commuting and childcare costs?
their office work-stations have been made Covid secure and all necessary steps have been taken to ensure their offices are as safe as possible, but it seems they are too frightened to return.
Yet these are the same people who are happy to go on holiday, eat out and go shopping.
they should be told to return to their desks immediately or lose the luxury of full pay.
MIKE TAYLOR, Haltwhistle, Northumberland.
That’s gratitude
READING about blue- collar workers keeping going through lockdown while their bosses keep a distance by working from home (Mail) puts my situation into stark relief.
i have been delivering groceries to the vulnerable for one of the big supermarkets.
i have been motivated by the customers’ gratitude for the fact i have kept on delivering to them.
My reward for my hard work? A disciplinary for speeding.
Name and address supplied. i HAVe a simple remedy to get people back to work. employers should simply request they return to the office next Monday.
Failing that, they should call in on Friday and pick up their P45.
D. JEBB, Wallasey, Wirral.