FORCED RETURN TO THE OFFICE POLICIES PUT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AT RISK

 

Check out this report https://www.ioshmagazine.com/2023/06/01/forced-return-office-policies-put-recruitment-and-retention-risk-global-report-suggests

Warning organisations what could happen if they force people to work in offices rather than at home. Obviously there needs to be a balance but yesterday travelling home from a training session during rush hour in central London was a dreadful experience. 

Back to the office?

Yesterday, I went back to my branch UNISON office in Holloway Road, North London to pick up mail and some recruitment materials that I had left there pre-Covid. Since I was carrying back some bulky items I drove there and experienced the joy of the commute (NOT). 

We rent the office inside a normally well used and busy resource centre. It was strange to see the centre and the office so quiet and still. 

By coincidence pre-Covid the branch executive was discussing whether we needed to have a permanent office in a fixed location. 

Now, like many organisations we need to think afresh about whether there should be different ways of working. A possible blend of office and home working?  

While home working has worked very well for some it has been pretty dreadful for others. If you live in a bedsit/HMO or if you are trying to home school kids and work from a over crowded flat you will have a very different perspective. 

Lets see what happens.  I don't think there is any need for organisations to rush into any long term decisions. It is too early to say that the end of the office is nigh. 

Martin Lewis: Working from home due to coronavirus, even for a day? Claim a year's worth of tax relief

 

I have finally got around to submitting a claim to the Inland revenue for tax relief for working from home. It took about 5 minutes (but I did have an existing Government Gateway account) 

There is a valid argument that the employer should be making a payment for extra heating and electricity but in the meanwhile claim here https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home. £60 quid is £60 quid!