Flexibility feedback to employer

[Mrs.flang]

My annual review is coming up soon, and I've caught wind that they are asking employees how we feel about our return to the office after covid.

We've been full time in the office since last July, and have a decent degree of flexibility as far as working from home that has always sort of been in place, but normally its expected that we have a specific reason for wanting to WFH for one off reasons (for lower level staff more so than for managers, but still...), whereas other firms in our industry seem to be much slower in their full return to offices and are offering more WFH options.  I'm trying to prepare some feedback to let them know I'm disappointed we didn't transition to more formal WFH policies, but I'm not sure how to word it without sounding bad or playing too much into my role as a mom of 2 young kids.  I do appreciate face to face time in the office with my supervisors and staff, but it would also be nice to have a few days without a commute, and time for breaks to start dinner, not have to shower after a lunchtime workout, etc.

Typing this all out makes me feel like its not even worth bringing up.  Any thoughts or tips on this?

[waverly]

I might bring it up more as an industry standard/ benchmarking type thing. "Other firms in our industry offer more WFH options that improve their ability to recruit and retain talent" or something like that.

[raangoli]

I agree that using a benchmark will help. That takes away from a personal angle. Do you have time to find any data on that?

And if it's a change you want to see it's always a good idea to mention it. Otherwise management will think everything is fine and will KOKO.

[ECB]

Aug 2, 2021 15:06:39 GMT -5 waverly said:

I might bring it up more as an industry standard/ benchmarking type thing. "Other firms in our industry offer more WFH options that improve their ability to recruit and retain talent" or something like that.

I agree with this.  But I think you can bring up the more personal angle from a perspective of employee well-being - that WFH affords flexibility and less stress (no commute, not necessarily having to get up AS early, saving $$ etc).  This benefits the employees, and in turn will benefit the company, because employees are happier and less stressed.  I wouldn't detail making dinner, or mention the kids, that kind of thing - just stress that the flexibility is beneficial to all employees.

[ellipses84]

Bring it up. Most big offices / companies do have formal WFH policies and it’s going to be something people ask when they interview. I’d phrase it as a concern for retention and hiring good talent because that is what your industry competitors offer. It doesn’t have to mean the policy let’s people WFH forever. It could say up to 1 day a week with manager approval on a set schedule or something like that. They could also test pilot a program. Whether you are a manager or a younger staff member who may have better insight on generational expectations and peers experiences at other companies, your input is valuable.

[noodleoo]

I would bring it up. Flexible work schedules are going to become the norm and new employees will likely expect it. Even my old school company is offering hybrid schedules, which I was *shocked* but very pleasantly surprised by. I'd also mention that your company may lose employees as they move to other companies offer better WFH options. It is something they should be thinking about if they want to stay competitive.

[mcppalmbeach]

Man I wish my H’s employer took a line from the pandemic to consider more flexibility. They are back to the office 4 days a week this week and will be 5 days after Labor Day. They are allowing unvaccinated people to stay home indefinitely or have to test weekly (small office so only like 5 or 6 people are unvaxxed). Although I don’t always love him being home all the time, there are so many things that are nice about it and I’ve gotten used to the convenience.

[cricketwife]

Aug 3, 2021 12:57:30 GMT -5 mcppalmbeach said:

Man I wish my H’s employer took a line from the pandemic to consider more flexibility. They are back to the office 4 days a week this week and will be 5 days after Labor Day. They are allowing unvaccinated people to stay home indefinitely or have to test weekly (small office so only like 5 or 6 people are unvaxxed). Although I don’t always love him being home all the time, there are so many things that are nice about it and I’ve gotten used to the convenience.

Wtaf. How does that motivate anyone to get vaccinated?!   And it essentially punishes those who did!!!  I would be raging about this.  And then I’d put on my calm, professional face and speak to HR.  Or maybe I didn’t get vaccinated?  I can’t remember if I ever got the second dose? Hmmm.....

[konapoppy]

Definitely bring it up. There really is a “Great Resignation” happening, and basically every candidate asks about this. Our company is extremely flexible (which actually isn’t my favorite lol but it is what it is), which is helping us attract and retain.

[origami]

I echo the others. It will be a deal breaker for new hires if WFH flexibility is standard in your industry. Last week our CEO announced we’d have a hybrid schedule starting in the fall and everyone on my team (all men/dads) said they’d be job searching if they were forced to return to the office. I actually think they’d agree to 1-3 office days, but the idea of being “forced” into it was a hard pass for them.

[SusanBAnthony]

Aug 3, 2021 16:02:44 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

Aug 3, 2021 12:57:30 GMT -5 mcppalmbeach said:

Man I wish my H’s employer took a line from the pandemic to consider more flexibility. They are back to the office 4 days a week this week and will be 5 days after Labor Day. They are allowing unvaccinated people to stay home indefinitely or have to test weekly (small office so only like 5 or 6 people are unvaxxed). Although I don’t always love him being home all the time, there are so many things that are nice about it and I’ve gotten used to the convenience.

Wtaf. How does that motivate anyone to get vaccinated?!   And it essentially punishes those who did!!!  I would be raging about this.  And then I’d put on my calm, professional face and speak to HR.  Or maybe I didn’t get vaccinated?  I can’t remember if I ever got the second dose? Hmmm.....

We are doing the same thing at my company and although I'm sure there are some people who look at it asap perk, I think for the most part it hurts people. If you are an unvaccinated office employee you are not allowed to come in to work, go to work sponsored events, do things like recruit, travel for work, go to work social events/team building, go to work volunteer activities.

Yes there are people who will be thrilled by that but for the most part people think those things are perks (to get paid all day to volunteer with habitat with your team for example). And if 80% of the team is in person both for work and for those extra things where you make connections, it is a very definite disadvantage to not be able to come in.

It is highly dependent on the work culture though. In a culture where people are more remote and remote is desirable, it would have the opposite effect. In a culture where the default is in person, it hurts you to be remote.

It is working for us.... All of the sudden a bunch of vax fence sitters are like "oh I don't want to miss the fun stuff" and are getting vaxxed.

[sporklemotion]

Aug 3, 2021 16:02:44 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

Aug 3, 2021 12:57:30 GMT -5 mcppalmbeach said:

Man I wish my H’s employer took a line from the pandemic to consider more flexibility. They are back to the office 4 days a week this week and will be 5 days after Labor Day. They are allowing unvaccinated people to stay home indefinitely or have to test weekly (small office so only like 5 or 6 people are unvaxxed). Although I don’t always love him being home all the time, there are so many things that are nice about it and I’ve gotten used to the convenience.

Wtaf. How does that motivate anyone to get vaccinated?!   And it essentially punishes those who did!!!  I would be raging about this.  And then I’d put on my calm, professional face and speak to HR.  Or maybe I didn’t get vaccinated?  I can’t remember if I ever got the second dose? Hmmm.....

I’m not in an industry where any of this is an option, but I also wonder if there will be long term consequences for people who stay home in terms of promotions, etc. Not necessarily through blatant action, but more in terms of lost networking, etc.

[erbear]

I got my husband to push this policy knowing that as a man with older kids, this doesn’t really impact him, and the younger women at his firm would benefit from this but were probably less comfortable stating it.

I would point to a lack of drop off in productivity while you were WFH.