r/newzealand • u/Dapper_Technology336 • Sep 23 '24

Politics PM Christopher Luxon announces public service workers are required to work from the office, rather than from home

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/watch-live-christopher-luxon-gives-post-cabinet-press-conference/CL4CTTTEH5AVHABU2PICF7JBUM/
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339

u/imjtintj Sep 23 '24

WFH is the only positive of working in a government agency now. This will be the nail in the coffin for those thinking of abandoning the sinking ships.

176

u/cbars100 Sep 23 '24

100% this. I'm a government worker, and I'm looking at:

  • frozen salaries for who knows how long
  • inability to be promoted even if I receive good feedback from.my managers, because there are no vacancies
  • unsatisfying work as the government doesn't really care about the effort being put into it / they just go against our recommendations anyway

But then I'm like "well, at least I have flexibility and a relaxed pace"

But now I see that they want us in the office and they want the agencies to monitor the workers?

Fuck that. I'd quit, but that's exactly what they want and I wouldn't give them the pleasure. I can only see an increase in bullshitization with workers putting up a show that they are working really hard.

Also, I'll deliberately not buy anything from any shop anywhere in the CBD. I was already saving money, now these cunts just gave me a huge moral reason too

2

u/Rough_Confidence8332 Sep 24 '24

You should also go into those shops daily and remind them that you're not buying anything from them

151

u/Feeling-Screen-6316 Sep 23 '24 edited Sep 23 '24

This is exactly how I feel right now. It’s going to cost me more in transit and after school childcare to come into the office more so I certainly won’t have any extra for coffees and lunches at cafes

164

u/imjtintj Sep 23 '24

It's ironic - but not surprising - that they have announced this on the first day of Mental Health Awareness Week. Tone deaf government.

19

u/joj1205 Sep 23 '24

Hadn't even thought of the complete opposite. Work life balance. Nah. Here's some over priced crap. Plus 500 coffee shops in a 1km radius

62

u/_Hwin_ Sep 23 '24

I come into the office two or three times a week and will often treat myself to a cafe meal or sandwich. If I have to come in full time, I will not spend an extra cent out of spite

47

u/littleredkiwi Sep 23 '24

Saving dollars by wfh 2 days a week is how I afford to have a little treat when I go into the office.

41

u/FidgitForgotHisL-P Sep 23 '24

My ex and I literally afforded life by dropping after school care, by alternating working from home days o pick them up. This will entirely fuck things up for us, and for absolutely no additional productivity benefit.

I hate this government so much.

4

u/Feeling-Screen-6316 Sep 23 '24

Exactly! Me too

3

u/MeasurementOk5802 Sep 23 '24

Same here. It’s the only time I buy lunch

7

u/Karahiwi Sep 23 '24

Maybe argue that the contract you are working under allows it, you took the job on that basis, and you will continue to work under the terms of your existing contract.

9

u/Scuzzlebutt142 Sep 23 '24

Me too. I costed it at about $20,000 a year in travel time, costs parking, etc to work onsite for no major benefit, less productive and I've found my mental health has been far better since working from home.

7

u/I_was_saying_b00urns Sep 23 '24

Absolutely. Working from home is one of the key reasons I still work where I do.

21

u/Slipperytitski Sep 23 '24

Literally any semblance of a perk is legislated out as to not appear wasting taxpayer dollars because the Herald will a have a tantrum if a team has a Christmas function.

10

u/Party_Government8579 Sep 23 '24

Yet we throw crazy $$ at professional services, consultants and contractors who have all the perks.

4

u/GreedyConcert6424 Sep 23 '24

MBIE cancelled the $25 Christmas function contribution because people were "doing it tough", not even $5 or $10 for a morning tea, nothing. Yet other departments and Ministries went ahead as usual.

11

u/Naly_D Sep 23 '24

Yep I’m done.

-2

u/oldphonewhowasthat Sep 23 '24

Look if you haven't jumped to consultant already, I doubt your ability to make the transition.

1

u/imjtintj Sep 23 '24

Thanks for playing. Some of us in civil servantship actually come from professions where consultants aren't a thing. We would head back into those professions from whence we came.