Latest news with #returnToOffice
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Civil Service: 'Not enough office space' if working from home ends
A return-to-office policy for the civil service would not be possible because there is no longer enough space to accommodate everyone, Stormont assembly members have been civil servants began working from home during the pandemic, a trend which has NI Civil Service (NICS) is in the process of reducing its office estate by 40% by selling buildings and ending Smyth, chief executive of construction and procurement delivery at the Department of Finance, said that four-year process was on track. She told Stormont's finance committee there was currently sufficient office space for civil servants but that would not be the case if there was a widespread return to office-based the policy was "everyone's coming back four days a week" then "we wouldn't have the space, we wouldn't have the physical accommodation to do that," she Smyth said a review of the NICS hybrid working and working-from-home policies is due to be published also revealed the sale of one of the biggest NICS offices had not been completed despite going sale agreed last Court in Belfast City Centre is the former HQ of the Department of Smyth said it would be put back on the market shortly and the current bidder remains also told assembly members a decision was expected by the end of July on whether Marlborough House in Craigavon would be 1970s office block is due to be vacated by civil servants and a listing could complicate efforts to find a new use for the site.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
College staff threaten to quit after administration orders them to return to office 5 days a week
Georgia's public universities are now requiring staff to return to the office five days a week, causing backlash from employees who claim the mandate will cause additional problems. The University System of Georgia, which governs public university institutions in the state, announced at the start of the year that faculty must be present on campus during core business hours. Last month, USG's chancellor Dr. Sonny Perdue told presidents and administrators at a Board of Regents meeting, 'If that's not what y'all want, you let me know, because that's where we're going,' the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Ron Johnson at Georgia Institute of Technology, which is a USG institution, said at a town hall, 'We don't want to lose anybody, but there's a chance we will.' 'That's the risk that the institute has to take.' 'The University System of Georgia (USG) values all our employees and the work they do to support our students. We want to emphasize the importance of working on-site to best serve our top priority — our students,' USG said in a statement to 'Being present on campus allows employees to focus on several key areas: enhanced collaboration, timely support and student engagement, accountability and institutional reputation. 'We have received numerous concerns and complaints directly from students and parents regarding their inability to connect with staff or faculty on important matters.' Chancellor Sunny Perdue told presidents and administrators at a recent Board of Regents meeting, 'If that's not what y'all want, you let me know, because that's where we're going,' when discussing the new in-person mandate Employees have questioned the motivation behind the new mandate, with some pointing out the flaws in having faculty on campus from Monday to Friday. Jill Penn, an associate biology professor at Georgia Gwinnett College, rejected the notion that complaints regarding a lack of connection between students and parents with faculty members were a result of remote work. 'I know at Georgia Gwinnett College we're severely understaffed. When somebody leaves, retires or finds another job, they're not replaced. So that's a much more likely explanation,' she told the Atlanta Journal. Penn also noted that the school doesn't hold classes on Fridays, and argued that the mandate didn't make sense with the school's schedule. She told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that she believes each university should have the freedom to create its own guidelines. Employees also noted that Georgia Tech is in the middle of downtown Atlanta, and the limited parking is already an issue without the in-person mandate. Kim Toatley, the chief business officer for the university, spoke at a Georgia Tech town hall, noting the space problem. 'We're in downtown Atlanta. It's not like we can just take over a building or throw up a new building. So it's going to take time,' she said. Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Ron Johnson at Georgia Institute of Technology (pictured) said at a town hall, 'We don't want to lose anybody, but there's a chance we will,' regarding the new in-person mandate Perdue has defended the mandate, writing in an email to administrators, 'Having the ability to telework is not a right — it's an arrangement reserved for limited circumstances,' according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He told attendees at the April meeting that he expects employees to answer calls from prospective students, parents, or grandparents on a Friday afternoon. 'While we recognize that many employees and businesses around the country transitioned to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's crucial that students have access to in-person services while on campus,' USG said in a statement. 'Although institutions may permit telework under limited circumstances, we continue to prioritize in-person work to ensure the highest level of service and support for our students.' Universities across the state have begun implementing the new policy, with the University of Georgia announcing that telework would be limited in the upcoming school year. 'All offices must be fully staffed during core business hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Telework should be limited,' the university's website states. The website echoes Perdue's statements about working remotely, reading, 'It is critical to note that telework is not a right: it is an arrangement that is approved voluntarily by the dean or vice president and Chief Human Resources Officer (or designee) only when it supports the mission and needs of the institution.' Georgia Tech implemented a similar approval process, writing on their website that employees received a 'high-level email' on March 31 informing them that fully in-person work would be the standard by August 1. 'Telework will be available for limited, specific circumstances and only approved when there is alignment with Institute business needs and assigned job duties,' Georgia Tech said. Employees at the university who want to continue working remotely were instructed to complete a telework request form by August 1.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Midweek office work returns to pre-Covid levels, says major landlord
Workers in central London are coming into the office midweek just as much as before the pandemic, according to one of the city's biggest landlords. British Land said on Thursday that midweek occupancy across its office estate has returned to pre-Covid levels as its chief executive said the return to work is 'in full swing'. Remote working policies were introduced by most companies during Covid-19 lockdowns, with office employees the most affected by them. Recent official data showed that 28% of the UK workforce is in hybrid work, meaning spending some days at the office or at home. Meanwhile, 44% of people travel to work every day, while 13% of people are fully remote, according to an October survey by the Office for National Statistics. But the likes of Amazon, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan have recently issued return-to-office mandates after half a decade of hybrid working sparked by pandemic-era lockdowns. Bosses claim face-to-face contact is important for collaboration and say having employees in the office means they do more work. British Land owns some of the newest and biggest blocks in the capital, including a new campus at Broadgate, near Liverpool Street station. It said there is now an 'acute lack' of high-end space left in the market, which has pushed up rents and 'will translate into higher earnings growth' across its estate. Chief executive Simon Carter said: 'The continued occupational strength of our key markets and the resulting above inflation rental growth gives us confidence for the future and in our strategy, despite ongoing macro volatility. 'Return to the office is in full swing, with midweek occupancy back to pre-pandemic levels,' he said.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NYC Bankers Who Live in NJ Game Out Commute as Rail Strike Upends RTO Plans
(Bloomberg) -- The initiative by banks and other employers in New York to bring back workers to the office is being undermined by an unexpected roadblock in a neighboring state. How a Highway Became San Francisco's Newest Park America, 'Nation of Porches' Power-Hungry Data Centers Are Warming Homes in the Nordics Maryland's Credit Rating Gets Downgraded as Governor Blames Trump NJ Transit Train Engineers Strike, Disrupting Travel to NYC As the strike by New Jersey Transit locomotive engineers loomed over Monday's commute, Garden State residents were eager for updates on negotiations as they mulled options for getting to work in Manhattan if trains remain shut down. NJ Transit officials and the union representing its rail engineers said that unscheduled talks Saturday in Newark went well. More talks were being held Sunday. Financial firms including Deutsche Bank AG, Citigroup Inc., Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Credit Agricole SA and CastleOak Securities told many of their employees that they could work from home or local offices, according to people familiar with the situations, though traders and some other roles were often exceptions. The leeway offered a partial reprieve from return-to-office policies that were gaining momentum five years after the Covid-19 pandemic upended working patterns. But traveling within the US's most populous metro area promises to be chaotic as long as the walkout continues, and anyone with a pied-à-terre in Manhattan or generous friends or family with a couch to crash on were counting their lucky stars. Shuttered NJ Transit train service has led to jammed buses, light-rail cars and PATH service, as well as surge pricing on Uber, as commuters sought alternatives. Service has also been suspended to MetLife Stadium, creating headaches and enormous ride-share bills for fans of the singer Shakira, who performed Thursday and Friday evenings. 'For some folks, not having a train option and having hundreds of thousands of people try to commute via bus or ferry or car will clog alternate routes,' CastleOak said in a memo to employees. 'We are asking everyone to exercise their best judgment on commuting.' JPMorgan Chase & Co., where Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon has been a fierce advocate of in-person work, advised employees to work with managers to figure out strike plans. Anyone who works remotely should log an 'approved working from home - personal circumstance' code, according to a memo sent Friday. One JPMorgan employee who lives in New Jersey, who asked not to be identified because he wasn't authorized to comment publicly, was told by a manager that parking fees wouldn't be covered for those who drove into the office, as he had planned to do. That meant he had to look at alternatives, such as Boxcar — a private bus service that has routes from the state to New York City — something he hadn't considered before. Comments that Dimon made just last week are adding pressure on JPMorgan workers to find a way in. 'I completely applaud your right to not want to go to the office every day, but you're not going to tell JPMorgan what to do,' Dimon said in a Bloomberg Television interview, before the strike started. A JPMorgan representative declined to comment. A resident of upscale Short Hills, New Jersey, who works at hedge fund Millennium booked a Boxcar bus trip to work Monday and will likely stay over at friends in Brooklyn and not go home to his wife and kids to avoid a lengthy back and forth commute each day. In credit markets, where debt sales have roared back to life as tariff tensions ease, banks gave guidance to staff. As of late Friday, Deutsche Bank encouraged those living in New Jersey who are eligible to work from home to do so, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. One MUFG employee who resides in New Jersey said a manager gave permission to work from home. An employee at Credit Agricole got the option to work at home or the bank's NJ office. Representatives for MUFG and Credit Agricole didn't respond to requests for comment. Representatives for Deutsche Bank declined to comment. A representative for CastleOak didn't respond to a request for comment. A Citigroup official said employees whose jobs can be performed remotely didn't need to come into the office during the strike. Danny Wild, a senior coordinator for digital operations at Major League Baseball's Manhattan office, said he was looking forward to the strike to have an excuse to avoid coming into the office from Rockland County, New York, five days a week. He received an email Friday telling him to stay home because of the stoppage. He's loving it for now, but also worried: If the strike continues, his employer has asked workers to consider other options. 'There are no good options,' he said. 'I was humoring myself looking at Uber prices if I wanted to go in: basically $100 plus tax and tip.' Social media had other examples of workers cheering on the strike so they could avoid commuting. In the 10 largest US cities, the number of workers who went to the office was 53% of pre-Covid-19 levels in the week ended May 7, according to data from Kastle Systems. 'I only have to go into the office 2 days per week & I am really praying for a long & protracted NJ Transit rail strike so I can get that down to 0 for as long as possible,' an account with the handle FrankInGeneral posted on X. But those who have gotten used to the post-pandemic rhythm of commuting into the office everyday have been left frustrated. Matt Kritzberg, 24, who works in tech sales and commutes from New Jersey to New York City for his job via NJ Transit trains, says he's concerned about productivity when working from home. 'A huge part of my job is collaborating with people,' he said. 'As someone who's in a new role and who wants to go the extra mile, rather than being the guy who's there five days a week, I'm working from home. It doesn't feel like a good look.' --With assistance from Jeannine Amodeo, Rthvika Suvarna, Gowri Gurumurthy and Nacha Cattan. 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Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jamie Dimon Says Don't 'Tell JPMorgan What To Do' As He Tells Remote Workers, 'You Can't Learn Working From Your Basement,' Defending RTO Crackdown
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon's distaste for remote work is widely known by now. A long-time opponent, Dimon spoke about the company's return-to-office mandate on Thursday: "I think our employees will be happier over time. And the younger people will learn the right way, it's an apprenticeship system. And you can't learn working from your basement." What Happened: In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Dimon said, "I think our employees will be happier over time," he added. "And the younger people learn the right way, it is an apprenticeship system and you can't learn working from your basement." Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — He noted that almost 10% of the bank's employees remain remote. In his remarks at JPMorgan's annual Global Markets Conference in Paris, Dimon added to his previous comments, saying, "I completely applaud your right to not want to go to the office every day. But you're not going to tell JPMorgan what to do." Dimon was even more blunt in a leaked audio recording obtained by Business Insider, where he said, "A lot of you were on the fu**ing Zoom and you were doing the following: looking at your mail, sending texts to each other about what an asshole the other person is, not paying attention, not reading your stuff." In the same audio, he also dismissed hybrid models, saying, "Don't give me this s**t that work-from-home-Fridays works. I call a lot of people on Fridays, and there's not a goddamn person you can get a hold of."Why It Matters: Dimon's latest comments align with views he has previously expressed about remote work. Earlier this year, he highlighted that it was mainly white-collar workers who seem to reject remote work, while frontline workers continue to work on-site as their jobs demand. Referring to their work during the pandemic, he asked: 'Where did you get your Amazon packages from? Your beef, your meat, your vodka? Where did you get the diapers from?' At a town hall in Columbus, Ohio, Dimon rebuked employees who challenged the bank's five-day office mandate. He brushed off requests for flexible schedules, arguing that remote work suppresses creativity and delays decision-making. In a March town hall meeting in Dallas, Texas, Dimon highlighted his belief that young workers in particular benefit most by working from the office instead of home. Read Next: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — Invest before it's too late. Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – with $1,000 you can invest at just $0.30/share! Image Via Shutterstock Send To MSN: Send to MSN UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Jamie Dimon Says Don't 'Tell JPMorgan What To Do' As He Tells Remote Workers, 'You Can't Learn Working From Your Basement,' Defending RTO Crackdown originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
