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@gavinantonyrice @iainmartin1 WFH is for knowledge/service workers not a negative for productivity (in fact losing commute improves it) and good for levelling up agenda as expenditure moved from city to which you commute back to suburbs/towns/villages where
Commuters live - hence no logic to Government/Bailey concern Key is encouraging people to shop locally which is about making people feel safe in local shops/cafes etc rather than fear leaving home
Given that with social distancing even 1m rather than 2m @TfL only has 25% capacity there is little room for influx of commuters. Same on trains.
In addition returning to the office is not a return to life from last Autumn/early February as social distancing takes out half of the desks, lift capacity is maximum of 4 but often 2 or 1 in smaller lifts. Think of entry queues in tall buildings
No late working as all desks need a full hygiene clean each night, clothes must be changed each day, face covers in lifts/toilets no collaboration space and you need 8 person room for 2 person meeting. No or little catering.
Hence most will rationally say we will stay at home especially as no summer camps for school children this year
But this is not just about short term We are living a Teams revolution most Corporates will aim to reduce long term office space by 30-50%. Desk space will decline by more. Why deliver in an office when you can do that equally at home and gain 2-3 hours for fitness/hobbies/kids
On other hand more need for collaboration/training/networking space to brainstorm ideas/initiatives People will be in 3 modes third party site/office/home with more defined by where they spend 3 plus days each week. Home workers may be in an office 3-4 days a fortnight These
Days may be long to include social bonding but rewarding and not a bind because of change of scenery
Employers will ensure every day equally busy - this is exciting because it brings people back to local communities, employment markets become national (experts can be anywhere on Teams). How many experts who live in say Bristol had to decline an hours meeting in say Edinburgh
London In addition hours will become flexible as long as 7 hours done across the day with reward based on output not presentism
This change to hybrid working and less office space is happening everywhere including all of EU, Australia, I did etc - well maybe not all the Glove as I hear Mid-West America and certain parts of Asia see things through a dated office desk lens
Post #Brexit Britain should be applauding and embracing this change (great opportunity its for red wall wealth distribution) whereas the Prime Minister seems dated in mindset rather than reading and promoting the progressive @beisgovuk guidance
For those asking the resulting excess property estate will be converted to residential flats etc The order will be large Corporates reduce Grade A space at lease break, lack of demand reduces cost per square foot so occupiers of grade B space relocate to smaller Grade A and
Grade B space is converted to residential - this is market forces. The change does challenge HS2 as less commuting means increased capacity less likely to be needed @kathf48 @rolandmcs
Final point Employers have surveyed staff they know that generally only 20% comfortable returning to office during Covid-19 and 60-70% actively resistant This is the opportunity to change - you either try to fight it PM or embrace the Corporate view
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