I think I would say something similar to what I said to Vinny above. I don’t think a one-size-fits-all approach is good on either side of the argument. I managed teams during the pandemic and was quite surprised by the number of people that wanted to be in the office because of loneliness, home environment etc. Imagine how Ed’s Julie would find it if he was at home every day — everyone needs some respite, right?
The main point I am trying to make — and maybe I should have added a bit more nuance when I posted — is the disingenuous reasons advanced by some employers for why they employees can’t wfh and the pantomime of ‘well we provide x amenities, so that’s alright isn’t it’. Linked to this, is that it is becoming increasingly common for businesses — the tech industry being an example — that offer onsite gyms, cafeterias etc. specifically to keep employees onsite for as long as possible, which is antithetical to the notion of employees striking a balance between work and home and points to the real reason behind ‘you can’t work flexibly but have you seen our fridge packed with Diet Coke?’.
