Oklahoma is going backwards

[cowboyinexile]

Gov. Stitt mandates state agencies to return to in-office work KOCO

to those who have been doing an effective job working from home, suck it!!! get ready to once again pay for more child care, gas, clothing, etc!!

Betcha that's going to be a big push for federal workers come January.

I wasn't sure why fighting wfh was a thing if it's working but from what I've read it's less about productivity and more about finding a way to create layoffs without having to dole out unemployment compensation. If someone can't or won't go back to the office they quit and aren't their employers problem. It's been an issue with a few companies where they brought everyone back to the office only to realize more people stuck around than they were planning and they lack the space for their workforce.

 

[mugatu]

Betcha that's going to be a big push for federal workers come January.

I wasn't sure why fighting wfh was a thing if it's working but from what I've read it's less about productivity and more about finding a way to create layoffs without having to dole out unemployment compensation. If someone can't or won't go back to the office they quit and aren't their employers problem. It's been an issue with a few companies where they brought everyone back to the office only to realize more people stuck around than they were planning and they lack the space for their workforce.

I don't get it. You can downsize office space if enough people are working from home, so you can save on rent and/or utility overhead.

I get not everyone is functional at the same quality if work when not in the office and there are benefits to some types of work when in a more group setting but not every job is like that and a lot of these aren't.

 

[Big8+4-2-2+2-2+4+4]

Betcha that's going to be a big push for federal workers come January.

I wasn't sure why fighting wfh was a thing if it's working but from what I've read it's less about productivity and more about finding a way to create layoffs without having to dole out unemployment compensation. If someone can't or won't go back to the office they quit and aren't their employers problem. It's been an issue with a few companies where they brought everyone back to the office only to realize more people stuck around than they were planning and they lack the space for their workforce.

It also cleans up “problem people” like mothers and folks with chronic illnesses.

 

[JTOSU]

Gov. Stitt mandates state agencies to return to in-office work KOCO

to those who have been doing an effective job working from home, suck it!!! get ready to once again pay for more child care, gas, clothing, etc!!

Zero problem with this decision.

 

[cowboyinexile]

Zero problem with this decision.

Why?

Not trolling or anything, just wonder why this would have support if it is otherwise working the way it has been for a few years.

 

[JTOSU]

Why?

Not trolling or anything, just wonder why this would have support if it is otherwise working the way it has been for a few years.

Is it working better the last few years?

Is state government work more suited for in-home work that private companies?

“90% of companies with office space will have returned on-site by the end of 2024, and the majority currently track or will track team members to ensure in-person attendance. In other words, most organizations are trying to bring back their employees to the office”

 

[cowboyinexile]

Is it working better the last few years?

Is it not? I'm not aware of any research on how it impacts productivity one way or the other but I know alot of people who work from home with no issue.

My experience is minimal (just a couple of months during Covid) but I thought it was fine. It was nice to be able to just get up, get dressed and be at work. I'm guessing one of the biggest drawbacks for employers is a concern over productivity but I found the opposite. No commute so no getting stuck in traffic (not that it's a concern where I live), and if something comes up over the weekend your workstation is right there so it doesn't get put off until Monday. Lessons learned from my wfh experience are why I take my laptop home on the weekends. The biggest downside for me was the lack of social interaction. I about cried in May when I went back to the office and actually had face to face conversations with people.

 

[steross]

Is state government work more suited for in-home work that private companies?

“90% of companies with office space will have returned on-site by the end of 2024, and the majority currently track or will track team members to ensure in-person attendance. In other words, most organizations are trying to bring back their employees to the office”

Yes it is.

This is likely a stupid, money wasting decision. Many of these workers share desk space when they do go to the office so if all are going to be there full time then the state (Ie TAXPAYER) will get to pay more for office space because conservative politicians care more about making government workers scapegoats for their lack of ability to control spending.

If they wanted to do this properly, then they need to do an analysis of productivity from home vs office. If there are productivity gains in office, do they cover the expense of having more state property to heat, air condition, and insure. Are the gains worth hiring more building maintenance workers, contractors etc.? Show us this type of audit and then make the decision. That would look like leadership instead of scapegoating.

But, no, this isn't about that. The one person on this board saying that he is in favor does not surprise me one bit.

 

[steross]

Is it working better the last few years?

Is state government work more suited for in-home work that private companies?

“90% of companies with office space will have returned on-site by the end of 2024, and the majority currently track or will track team members to ensure in-person attendance. In other words, most organizations are trying to bring back their employees to the office”

And your one line quote with no link still can be found and it is an article from Sept 2023 making a guess about the future. A guess that is not correct.

Articles from this year:

2023 was the year return-to-office died. Experts share remote-work trends expected in 2024

Remote-work numbers have been dwindling over the past few years as employers issue return-to-office mandates. But will that continue in 2024?

www.usatoday.com

Will Remote Working Die? Here's Why That's Highly Doubtful

Will remote working die and will employers require their employees to mandatorily return to the office and do away with flexible workplaces?

scmtalent.com

Think twice before ordering work-from-home employees to return to the office

Companies are facing backlash after telling staff to cut back on working from home. That’s a good way to alienate talent

www.theguardian.com

 

[JTOSU]

Yes it is.

This is likely a stupid, money wasting decision. Many of these workers share desk space when they do go to the office so if all are going to be there full time then the state (Ie TAXPAYER) will get to pay more for office space because conservative politicians care more about making government workers scapegoats for their lack of ability to control spending.

If they wanted to do this properly, then they need to do an analysis of productivity from home vs office. If there are productivity gains in office, do they cover the expense of having more state property to heat, air condition, and insure. Are the gains worth hiring more building maintenance workers, contractors etc.? Show us this type of audit and then make the decision. That would look like leadership instead of scapegoating.

But, no, this isn't about that. The one person on this board saying that he is in favor does not surprise me one bit.

So you are advocating the state spend taxpayer resources to do a study of productivity? That sounds like an “stupid, money wasting decision”. Instead of leveraging studies and decisions by many similar size and larger organizations.

Leadership would be to utilize that instead of wasting taxpayer funds on an audit of workplace efficiency that is being continually answered by a majority of for-profit private companies.

 

[JTOSU]

Yes it is.

This is likely a stupid, money wasting decision. Many of these workers share desk space when they do go to the office so if all are going to be there full time then the state (Ie TAXPAYER) will get to pay more for office space

No, government jobs are not better performed remotely versus private job.

And what data have you seen that more office space is going to have to be funded? Can you share a link to that information?

 

[cowboyinexile]

Is it working better the last few years?

Is state government work more suited for in-home work that private companies?

“90% of companies with office space will have returned on-site by the end of 2024, and the majority currently track or will track team members to ensure in-person attendance. In other words, most organizations are trying to bring back their employees to the office”

You went back and edited your post after I answered.

 

[steross]

So you are advocating the state spend taxpayer resources to do a study of productivity? That sounds like an “stupid, money wasting decision”. Instead of leveraging studies and decisions by many similar size and larger organizations.

Leadership would be to utilize that instead of wasting taxpayer funds on an audit of workplace efficiency that is being continually answered by a majority of for-profit private companies.

LOL. No, I did not call for a "study."

You are showing your lack of knowledge of government work if you do not think that worker productivity is not analyzed already. Do you think people just do what they want and nobody is auditing their productivity? And, even more, you think doing so would be wasting money? BAHAHAHAHAHA. That is seriously hilarious.

I'm federal not state but the amount of detail I can give you on the productivity, cost vs cost savings etc that is avaialbe nearly in real time all the time on my workers is huge. No, not a "study." Just simply looking at our everyday data would suffice.

 

[steross]

No, government jobs are not better performed remotely versus private job.

And what data have you seen that more office space is going to have to be funded? Can you share a link to that information?

Insider knowledge. I can give you my family member's phone number if you wish.

And I didn't say they are performed better. But, it isn't my concern if a business chooses to house workers in office space or not. IT is my concern if our taxes are spent to do so.

 

[PF5]

'It's not right': State employee reacts to Gov. Stitt's new executive order

According to Gov. Stitt, the decision ensures efficient government operations and accountability to taxpayers, while cutting the need for further COVID-19 pandemic accommodations.

kfor.com

“As a state legislator who’s interested in getting the best and brightest to work for the state, knowing that we have pretty steep competition in the private sector, I think that this is just a counterintuitive move,” said State Representative Forrest Bennett, D-OKC.

One state employee spoke with News 4, but she wished to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation

She tells us her office is in Oklahoma City, but she lives in Tulsa. When hired, she was promised she’d only have to make the trip once a week.

“Now knowing that potentially I will have to spend four hours a day in my car going to work and coming back from work and spending less time with my infant daughter and husband is devastating, to say the least,” said the state employee.

Not only does she fear the impact of work-life balance, but also finances.

“Gas is expensive, the tolls are going up and it’s reasonable for me to work from home because of my position, so I was pretty shocked that it was you have to be back in the office within the next 30 days, basically,” said the state employee.

She says this decision, coming out right before the holidays, makes it even harder.

If an exception is not made, she says she will consider quitting.

According to the executive order, there are limited exceptions for those with non-standard work hours, jobs where in-office work is deemed unreasonable and agencies with not enough office space, which is another concern being discussed.

“We’ve downsized, so currently there’s four people sharing my office right now and I know in my old office room there are currently 12 people sharing an office, so how is that feasible at all? In my mind, it’s not right,” said the state employee.

 

[JTOSU]

LOL. No, I did not call for a "study."

You are showing your lack of knowledge of government work if you do not think that worker productivity is not analyzed already. Do you think people just do what they want and nobody is auditing their productivity? And, even more, you think doing so would be wasting money? BAHAHAHAHAHA. That is seriously hilarious.

I'm federal not state but the amount of detail I can give you on the productivity, cost vs cost savings etc that is avaialbe nearly in real time all the time on my workers is huge. No, not a "study." Just simply looking at our everyday data would suffice.

OMG. That is what you took from my post. Yes, all decent organizations continually review productivity.

C’mon. You are not normally that disingenuous. That is on the level of our idiot zzz’s posters.

 

[steross]

OMG. That is what you took from my post.

C’mon. You are not normally that disingenuous. That is on the level of our zzz’s posters.

Yes, I took what you wrote:

So you are advocating the state spend taxpayer resources to do a study of productivity? That sounds like an “stupid, money wasting decision”.

There is nothing disingenuous about it. It is literally YOUR EXACT WORDS.
Face it, what you wrote was idiotic. Really dumb. You wanted to argue but had no rational argument, so you made a silly claim about spending money on a study that nobody mentioned.

 

[cowboyinexile]

OMG. That is what you took from my post. Yes, all decent organizations continually review productivity.

C’mon. You are not normally that disingenuous. That is on the level of our idiot zzz’s posters.

What are the advantages you see to the return to office policies?

 

[JTOSU]

Yes, I took what you wrote:

There is nothing disingenuous about it. It is literally YOUR EXACT WORDS.
you made a silly claim about spending money on a study that nobody mentioned.

Dude. Own your words. You literally typed if “they wanted to do this properly, then they need to do an analysis of productivity from home vs office”.

 

[JTOSU]

What are the advantages you see to the return to office policies?

I said I had no problem with Stitt’s decision.

As someone that managed a lot of people. Many people, those who are successful self-starters, do just fine with remote work. But there is no question that there are more than a small percentage of workers that take advantage of lack of close management and productivity suffers.

And even for those that do well…continual training can be a struggle and less effective. Companies with call centers are a great example. Technology allows for remote work…and that technology was a savior during Covid. But lack of management, training, and quality assurance is causing companies with call centers to have people move back to office.