... And then they came for WFH

[mdgv2]

Tunbridge Wells, where I used to live, is an interesting study there.

The shopping centre is d.e.d. Ded. Proper ded. Even McDonalds has fucked off ded. Whilst I’ve not been there for a couple of years, it’s pretty much just Fenwicks and Marks & Spencer’s. The rest of the main shopping bit is equally manky.

But, head down the Old High Street and on to the Pantiles? Boutique Shops, posh cafes. Plenty of them, and all pretty long standing. That’s what T Wells is known for. It’s posh. It’s pretentious. It’s poncey. And it’s in deep denial that it’s largely entered decline.

[pacific]

Feb 15, 2024 11:17:49 GMT -5 Haighus said:

Feb 13, 2024 9:38:30 GMT -5 pacific said:

In the UK at least a whole conversation needs to be had about use of urban spaces. The current taxation and business rates for shops, as well as the fact that they cannot compete with online shopping, has made the highstreet retail business model almost impossible - with the end result that all but the most salubrious town centres now have lots of empty shops and are looking destitute. And there are only so many coffee shops that urban centres can support.

I have been persuaded this is not a problem with online shopping, although the internet has made survival more challenging for brick-and-mortar stores. It appears to be much more of an issue with wealth inequality. If you go to a wealthy area, their highstreet is probably at least ok, if not thriving. Whereas places that are really struggling have a line of shutters punctuated by predatory stores like vape shops and betting shops.

I went to the Manchester recently- the high street in Alderley Edge is doing a hell of a lot better than Oldham and I don't think that is just because footballers don't look for a good deal.

Likewise, high streets are doing much better on the continent in places with less inequality.

I think to an extent, but it is happening everywhere. The Cheltenham prom, which historically was almost up there with Oxford street in terms of the brands it had retailing there, in one of the UK's wealthiest towns, now has empty shops and stuff that you definitely would not have been there 10-15 years ago even. Cavendish house, which I think was the UK's oldest surviving department store (200+ years) is due to close next month too*. Apparently the business rates are just absolutely insane, even massive retailers looking for a 'flagship store' aren't prepared or able to spend that many tens of thousands to even open the doors. 

* Sadly it means Cheltenham's only dedicated Gaming store (Game) will be going too, as that was on the upper floor.

I'd be interested to know what is different on the continent that means the stores can survive, as it doesn't appear to have been as drastic even when I have gone to relatively 'poorer' EU nations like Spain, Portugal or Italy, and certainly is not as bad when I have visited Germany. 

[Peregrine]

Feb 19, 2024 6:54:43 GMT -5 pacific said:

I'd be interested to know what is different on the continent that means the stores can survive, as it doesn't appear to have been as drastic even when I have gone to relatively 'poorer' EU nations like Spain, Portugal or Italy, and certainly is not as bad when I have visited Germany. 

Could it be real estate prices? It's not the EU specifically but I know in the US one of the things keeping physical retail around is the abundance of cheap real estate and a culture that accepts having to drive 15-30 minutes to go anywhere. If one landlord raises the rent there's probably a middle of nowhere strip mall that will offer a better deal, and all the walmarts and similar have plenty of empty land to build on.

[crispy78]

Feb 19, 2024 7:14:55 GMT -5 Peregrine said:

Feb 19, 2024 6:54:43 GMT -5 pacific said:

I'd be interested to know what is different on the continent that means the stores can survive, as it doesn't appear to have been as drastic even when I have gone to relatively 'poorer' EU nations like Spain, Portugal or Italy, and certainly is not as bad when I have visited Germany. 

Could it be real estate prices? It's not the EU specifically but I know in the US one of the things keeping physical retail around is the abundance of cheap real estate and a culture that accepts having to drive 15-30 minutes to go anywhere. If one landlord raises the rent there's probably a middle of nowhere strip mall that will offer a better deal, and all the walmarts and similar have plenty of empty land to build on.

Personally, I've never rented retail space - but it certainly seems bloody pricey for what you get. This is in my local town...

www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/commercial/retail-premises/winchester/

Winchester is nice and all, but it's a pretty small town considering it was the capital 1500-odd years ago.

[Haighus]

This seems like a good time to point out that real estate prices are also driven up by social inequality.

[pacific]

To provide a balance to the many negative news items that have been posted here, a generally positive article on WFH, pointing out I think what many of us have said in this thread

www.theguardian.com/business/2024/feb/17/working-from-home-can-bring-big-health-benefits-study-finds

I can personally attest the putting on weight part

[mdgv2]

I’ve actually lost weight! Not a huge amount like. But finishing at 4pm, and not “finish at 4pm, home by 6:30 if I’m lucky”, I have more time and energy to cook from scratch.

Whilst my portion control remains non-existent, my sodium intake is lower, and the foods I’m cooking at inherently healthier than a take away or ready meal.

[Haighus]

I'm definitely more sedentary now I WFH three days a week though. Used to get a good walk between where I park and work every weekday, now it is only Wednesdays and Fridays.

[crispy78]

Yeah I'm in the office every day and I seriously need to up my healthy-packed-lunch game. Too fat.

[mdgv2]

Now the weather is looking at brightening up, I’m gonna do lunchtime wanders. Nothing too strenuous. But should be able to do 2-3k a day without too much bother.

[herzlos]

I found that when I'm in the office, lunch is usually a quick sandwich to the face and then back to work at my desk. When WFH I'm at least getting some outdoor time whether that's gardening, walking round the block or whatever.

I'm heavier than pre-WFH but that's a more recent thing due to having less leisure time rather than a home/office thing.

[easye]

I have lost weight since going work from home, but it has taken effort to stay active, especially in winter.

[easye]

www.npr.org/2024/05/15/1251505500/walmart-lays-off-hundreds-of-employees-and-requires-others-to-relocate

Walmart lays off hundreds of employees and requires others to relocate

It also said it will require most remote workers and personnel in its Dallas, Atlanta and Toronto offices to relocate to its primary offices in Bentonville, Arkansas; Hoboken, New Jersey; and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The news, conveyed via a Walmart staff memo provided to The Associated Press, said the relocations will serve the goal of "bringing more of us together more often." The memo likewise noted that being together in person "makes us better and helps us to collaborate, innovate and move even faster."

The work from home revolution continues to get slowly torn apart.....

[Peregrine]

For now at least. In the long run WFH is going to win, too many people want it and there are enough all-remote companies that the best talent can get full remote jobs. Any company that doesn't offer WFH is settling for the leftovers and eventually that's going to hit their profits.

[easye]

Now even Municipal governments are going after the Work from Home Revolution. It's over. There are just a few lone folks in IT and Customer Service fighting a rearguard action on Remote work. Even Hybrid is getting phased out.

Working from home allowed him to be a more engaged dad. Now it’s over

www.npr.org/2024/08/09/nx-s1-5046225/work-from-home-philadelphia-order

Return-to-office policies are getting stricter, upending the lives of those who had gotten used to working from home.

Employers are stepping up the number of days their employees need to show up in person, arguing it promotes stronger social connections, better collaboration and fairness in the workplace. A survey last year by the professional services firm KPMG found two-thirds of CEOs predicting a full return to office by 2026.

In the city of Philadelphia, it's already happening.

This summer, the city's new mayor Cherelle Parker made good on her promise to give residents a government they could "see, touch and feel," ordering all municipal employees back to the office five days a week.