My manager shared that from the all-manager call with Kathy Horgan, in-office attendance compliance is less than 50%, that less than half the company is coming in at least 4 times a week.
Manager said "I get the feeling that something is coming" in terms of enforcement or scrutiny, and he said at Fidelity they're in office 5 days a week.
In our pod, I notice there's some lady walking around with a notepad daily and doing a visual count of how many seats are occupied.
What do you think?
@ed I just found the same sensor under my desk too, wth... that's shady
Go in to stare at a wall after fighting for a desk sounds like a great policy. Oh that's right...need to stock price up so the bling bling girls can buy more designer shoes and jewelry costing thousands of dollars. Quick solution...lay off NA resources and then boast about in in shareholder meetings.
@gs State Street will install flock cameras next!!! On the recent Manager‘s word on the street call, they were focused a lot more in India and Poland than they were on the US. Dying to see how bad year end merit raises and bonus is. There’s always some kind of economic headwind, despite our stock price being at an all-time high! And they claim we’re doing it for the stockholders. But lo and behold they i.e., the executive management are significant stockholders. So shady.
@ed oh wow. I do have that tracking device in the desk I always reserve and sit at. I come in 3 days a week. I have AWA for 2 days at home. I always reserve the same desk and check in like I’m supposed to. I do not work a full 8 hrs in the office though. I leave after 5-6 hrs or so to beat the traffic and finish at home.
I’ve discussed this with my manager and he’s ok with it but still, one has to wonder if I’m getting flagged for that behavior on some level. They should be completely transparent and most would comply with whatever it is they want. My best guess is being sneaky and gaslighting by saying we’ve been very clear on the expectations (even though they know they haven’t) is just a tactic to drive us mad and quit.
Such a weird place. It’s always been different but now it’s a whole other level.
@ed
Don't forget making an employee do the work of 2 , sometimes 3 workers.
After all the layoffs. And your right get them to quit on their on, so you don't
have to pay them any severance package.
How many Senior mgmt work from home during bad snow storms, hurricanes .
While the poor sheep are forced to go to the office.
Today, I noticed someone walking around in JAB this morning and she appeared to be checking if seats are actually being used. Also, check if your desk have motion trackers. It's the size of a pack of cigarettes.
I think the recent push to get employees in the office is to make the commute and work environment unbearable so people can look for jobs elsewhere. They do not want to do layoffs and pay severance.
@cn to add to that look at all the front reserved parking spaces. There are about 3 of the many with cars even parked there. If those with reserved spaces aren’t using them I highly doubt they are in the office.
@d3 that is why they are tracking by saying you need to meet 25% each quarter because people take vacation and sick time.
@OP I’d rarely be counted. I hardly sit in an actual desk. To be honest it is way too noisy. People do all their meetings at their desks and of course lots of normal chatter. With the way the floors are configured it makes for a lot of noise and I need a bit more quiet to think. I always book a small conference room or phone room for my meetings.
I usually sit in small conference rooms or cafe away from from others even the kitchen spots are quieter. I see many others doing the same. Do I doubt that someone physically going around counting is a true reflection of how many are in the office.
They track you coming in and out with your card reader.
@cn these are all good questions. also how does vacation and sick time calculated.
Ron and co. are looking at a class action lawsuit as these question (and your's) cannot be answered.
There were always people walking around with clipboards marking desk that were used. I’ve been here over 20 years and it was always just a normal thing to see them going around. Since we stopped having assigned desks I haven’t really seen them though so I agree that’s kind of new.
The word on the street call for managers had no substance to it. Just the same old corporate song and dance. I was hoping it did because I still don’t really know what the policy is. Like I get the 4 day requirement but beyond that I rely on rumors. Does it matter how long you’re in, does it matter if you badge in on your floor, what are the consequences of non compliance, etc.
I think they should punish the people
not in compliance and reward the ones that are. Stick and the carrot at the same time.
I think the problem is leadership is also not complying which is protecting the rest of us. Walk the 5th floor in JAB, most the offices are empty every day. It’s hard to punish the minions for non compliance but let leadership get away with it if it’s a firm wide policy.
My take is when you start to see those leaders showing up, they’ll come for the rest of us in a more aggressive way too.
@OP is state street's IT that bad they cannot rely on the badge system data to know occupancy levels?
If there is a gap, time for leadership to drop some expectations.
I don't care what Fidelity does or doesn't do.
If someone has time to manually desk check, then there is a clear lack of real work to do, and I'm justified in any slacking.