It’s time to get back to work, folks.
Or, to be more precise, it’s time to get office workers back in the office.
After all, the pandemic is over so there’s really no need for vast swathes of the population to be working from home, is there?
Now, before you get all keyboard-bashy, let me say flexible working is a good thing and should be built into how we work in this modern world.
The default setting, though, should be working in the office, for a rich variety of reasons. Working from home should be an exception, not the norm.
Yes, yes, work-life balance … but what about the life balance of our city centre? And, yes Aberdeen, I’m looking at you
But what the heart of Aberdeen needs – what all city centres need – is people. And one of the biggest drivers in that is, or rather was, people going to work.
The same people who would nip out at lunchtime and buy a bite to eat from the local sandwich shop or grab a coffee from the nice barista over the road.
The ones who would pop out to do a bit of shopping in their lunch hour or pick something up after work. Maybe even stay on and go for a drink, and if feeling a bit fruity, have dinner out.
Aberdeen office working could help local businesses thrive
Thousands of people right there in the city centre supporting local shops, restaurants, pubs, attractions and keeping everything thriving.
Instead, they are in their hoose, shopping online, stopping occasionally to bemoan the lack of things to do in Aberdeen. They’re wrong, actually. There’s so much to see, do and enjoy, but if you’re not venturing in, you’re not going to know that.
Imagine the impact on the vitality and economy of Aberdeen if all those empty offices were filled with folk?
It would have an impact on them, too. Surely home alone workers must miss the collaboration and collegiate side of work? The way a face-to-face chat can generate ideas and innovation, making everything easier and more nimble.
Then there’s the social side, the banter over lunch or the cheeky beer at the end of the week. (For the record, I am in the office every working day and I really do enjoy that pint when the week is done).
After all, workers in the likes of retail, hospitality and health care have no choice but to go to their place of work while juggling their work-life balance. What makes office workers special and different?
More organisations are now insisting staff get back into their office, even if just three days a week as a start, while still offering flexibility when workers need it. That’s fair and reasonable.
If others follow suit – especially major employers in the city centre – and the Granite City is filled with folk during the week, then everyone wins. Especially the heart of Aberdeen.
Let’s get back to work.
Scott Begbie is a journalist and editor, as well as PR and comms manager for Aberdeen Inspired.
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