How many people will struggle to go back to work?

[Alex50]

When furlough ends? Will this be because of health issues, childcare issues? If you can’t work from home what will you do?

[Hellohah]

I'm working from home at the minute. I think I would struggle mentally going back full time. Being off has made me realise how stressful going to work every day has been. I like my job, the people etc... But I use public transport and every day was a fight to get to work.
I am in a weird situation whereby I can't wait to get back to work but only want to go in 3 days max a week and work from home for 2.
Plus, I start work at 8. I've been getting up, doing 15 minutes of yoga, having my breakfast at the laptop. I've been running in my lunch break, doing odd jobs like putting the washing on whilst making a brew... I never seemed to be on top of anything before, always fighting for time. I don't want to go back to that.

[2ndAugust]

I don’t want to go back to the bitchy atmosphere in my office, even though I love they guys that work there the two women constantly sniping at each other I have not missed at all.
My boss is amazing though, and he is fine with me staying home until ds goes back to school. Unfortunately he would prefer we all worked from the office once things go back to normal, I am going to miss wearing no make up and ripped jeans every day and making lunch in my own kitchen.

[letmethinkaboutitfornow]

I miss the office!!!
Miss the buzz, the queues in the canteen around the coffee machine, the cake sale, the townhall meetings, the smiling Receptionists, our gardener who looks after the hundreds of indoor plants, my triple monitors (only have two at home)...

I will go back as soon as it’s possible!

[TORDEVAN]

I’m due back next month, working from home

I have clingy 14 month old twins and a 2.5 year old. Not looking forward to trying to juggle that! MIL would normally have them. DH works for NHS so can’t ‘share’ much

[PumpkinPie2016]

I enjoy my job and working from home just isn't the same (secondary school teacher). I am in school one day a week at the moment and it's great!

I will miss being able to get up slightly later though

[SnuggyBuggy]

I know several people who are dependent on their child's grandparents to work and have to wait for this rule to change.

[SadSisters]

I’m looking forward to going back, but I will want to do a couple of days a week in the office and the rest from home. The lack of commute has been so blissful and I have so much time back in the mornings and evenings.

That said, my employer had confirmed that I won’t be expected to return to office working before I go on maternity leave in December, so I expect by the time that’s over I will be gagging to get back to normal!

[dancinfeet]

I love my job and can't wait to get back to work, I've missed all of my students. Choreographing dance routines that allow the students to remain socially distanced will be a challenge (!) but as there is still no government guidance as to when I can safely reopen my dance studio, I've just got to wait for the time being.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

At the moment I will struggle for childcare reasons. I'm a single parent. My job just isn't possible to do from home so I need to physically be at the factory. With school still closed I just won't realistically be able to go back. DS is 7 so can't be left alone. There aren't any childminders with any availability either.

There isn't enough work for me to go back right now so I'm OK but it will be a big concern if school is only part time in September. I need to be in work 4 days a week to get the hours done.

[StillThatBitch]

I'm SE and struggling to get anything done wfh with a reception age and younger child both needing my constant input. I was hoping to get back to work properly but it will have to be in Sept depending on what schools are doing, if my kids are part time doing different hours/days I'll be unable to work at all as I'll just be forever doing staggered pick ups and drop off. Relying on H's wage at the mo and making cutbacks wherever we can as we can't sustain that much longer.

[Belledan1]

Echo what Helonah says. Also I don't know have I coped with long days now and trying to get everything done the weekends. Do miss going for a lunch meet up with my work colleagues. A mixture will be nice when go back.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

I think realistically the only thing I will be able to do if the situation doesn't change by September is look for a job with evening hours - in a warehouse or something. That way my mum can look after DS in the evening (she still works full time herself so couldn't do any daytime childcare).

I'd be gutted to leave my job though as I love it and no doubt it will be incredibly difficult to find a new job at the moment.

[Belledan1]

I work wfh at mo

[SnuggyBuggy]

The "blended learning" thing is going to be a real headache

[singingpinkmonkey]

I will mentally struggle to go back to my pre-lockdown work life.

I used to leave the house at 7am and not get back until 7PM due to commuting. I never saw my son and the house was always a mess.
I do miss working and would always want a job but I am considering looking for something nearer to home even if it's less money.

[SweetPetrichor]

I'm not fussed one way or the other. I can't see us being back in the office until approaching christmas. They're only thinking about getting essential core staff in who need to be in the office and I fall into the category who can work from home perfectly well. It'll be nice to see my team again face to face, but I'm also perfectly happy at home. I cycle to work so the commute doesn't worry me, fortunately.