There are no opportunities to work in teams located in other areas unless you are physically present in that location. While collaboration with remote teams is common due to network services consumed by products, being part of a team is restricted to those who are on-site. Remote work, in any capacity, is not an option—this has become a clear policy within the company, regardless of medical or safety concerns unless they are extreme.
Human is a core-value at this company, yet there is an alarming lack of consideration for the well-being of employees. The recent office closures due to future focus of operations have had a severe impact on colleagues' transportation, time management, and overall safety. Employees have been forced to endure long commutes, sitting in heavy traffic, and working longer hours just to compensate. Colleagues were employed 10-30 years ago in the city where they live and have built their life and are now forced to travel to another city that does not fit in with their current lifestyle. The solution? Quit if it does not suit you. This lack of regard for colleague well-being is deeply troubling.
Trust, a core value of this company, has also eroded. The requirement for constant monitoring of employees’ adherence to the office attendance rule reflects a disturbing lack of trust in the ability of colleagues to manage their own time. It is disheartening to know that, while employees are expected to manage workloads and customer data with responsibility, their commitment to time management and personal responsibilities is continuously questioned. This was never an issue before but have now become a constant stress.
In the past, working from home was allowed. Two days in the office were adhered to and colleagues were able to be on-site with their team in their own city. Productivity was never compromised, and the focus was always on the quality of work and the success of the team. Colleagues were able to better plan their personal life that did not interfere with work and vice-versa. Now, this has shifted dramatically. Productivity is no longer the priority; it is now all about physical presence, with little regard for the realities that employees face, such as childcare issues, safety concerns, long distance driving on very heavy roads or transport difficulties. This shift in priorities is adding on to the anxiety and stress among employees. Personally my productivity has severely been affected. I start my in-office day tired and stressed, even if I have been up for hours, due to driving congestion and safety on the roads. Previously I could work from home when my car is being serviced or my child is sick. This also did not affect my work or commitments. Now, this just causes undue stress and there is no clear policy how to deal with this. Colleagues are now forced to take leave in these situations which is just completely unnecessary.
