Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

How long will we all be working from home?

66 replies

Ghostlyglow · 13/04/2020 16:25

Do you think? After a couple of false starts, I was sent home from my NHS admin job last Thursday. We've all been given brand new kit to work on (DP reckons over 1k's worth) and basically told to get on with it, and given no indication of how long for (yes, I did ask ) I can't help thinking it's going to be a while...

OP posts:

homemadecommunistrussia · 13/04/2020 19:33

I think it will be the beginning of June, christ that's a long time really isn't it?

pitterpatterrain · 13/04/2020 19:35

June seems more likely than May yet who knows

Our Shanghai office re-opened up perhaps 2-3 weeks ago as they could yet were only seeing around 30% of the team come in

Expect when we are able to reopen we will still see people doing a lot more wfh even planned days in / out perhaps to be safe re distancing in the office

homemadecommunistrussia · 13/04/2020 19:35

I miss my job.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jobs

YahBasic · 13/04/2020 19:36

Hoping another 2-3 months. Just found out I’m pregnant and would love a first trimester not having to hide it from nosy people at work!

VideographybyLouBloom · 13/04/2020 19:37

I also think it is highly unlikely that ‘ordinary’ work will resume before the schools are back in session. It would be highly problematic for working parents and there would be a level of discrimination if those people lost their jobs because they couldn’t return to the workplace as there was no where for their children to go to.

BlueJava · 13/04/2020 19:39

Personally I am thinking sometime in June. DP and I both used to commute into London (me to the City so a long commute on the tube as well as overground). We were working from home 2 days/week anyway, so there isn't much change. Personally I love it - saves money and saves so much time! I've been far more productive as I can start a bit later but work later to work with the US team. I just hope the work continues!

FabulouslyFab · 13/04/2020 19:41

It took me two weeks to get used to wfh. I live alone and missed the chatter! But now I’m in no hurry to get back 😁

GrumpiestOldWoman · 13/04/2020 19:42

I'm expecting to be largely WFH for the foreseeable future, I think our organisation will be less enthusiastic about travelling to meetings and presenteeism in the office.

I'm really hoping DH gets back to work soon though, I W'dFH sometimes prior to covid but normally in an empty house!

Wehttam · 13/04/2020 19:44

Depends how Italy and Spain get on with their loosening of the strings. If they see a spike in infections then I think we will continue for the time being.

Hopefully not long but who knows really?

nuttymomma · 13/04/2020 19:48

Scotland's school year ends June 28th or 29th so I don't see schools going back here. There would be little point if they will only get a month of school before summer. Plus I think schools have prepared for the kids NOT coming back eg other exam arrangements.

sausagepastapot · 13/04/2020 19:52

I support lockdown and we are all adhering strictly to the rules. I understand why we are doing it and whatnot.

but fuck I am really starting to miss my old life, my job (self employed), my mum and dad...DH really is driving me absolutely mental now, which I am struggling with and we really need space from each other. DC are lovely and I am happy to have them here but they need school and their friends so much.

So, I hope we will be back to some kind of normal in 2 weeks but don't think we will be for at least 3-4 weeks, probably more like 6 weeks....

Original poster

Ghostlyglow · 13/04/2020 19:52

I know my office hasn't actually finished getting everyone home yet, so there would be little point in doing all this for us all to be back in a couple of weeks. I've no idea how I'll take to it, it's certainly something that's never appealed to me. Also not convinced our WiFi is up to it, but I guess I'll find out....

OP posts:

Dogsaresomucheasier · 13/04/2020 19:54

I can imagine schools opening in two weeks or so on a reduced timetable. No point in bringing back year 11 and 13, but it would make a huge difference to working parents if everyone else was there.

MigginsMs · 13/04/2020 19:56

I reckon the advice to wfh will be in place most of the rest of the year. Once businesses have got it in place it’s straightforward to maintain for most Id have thought. I have a feeling I’ll be working in my conservatory for at least the next 6 months.

Darbs76 · 13/04/2020 19:57

Who knows. I’m a civil servant and will be working at home until told we can return. Not expecting that anytime soom

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 13/04/2020 19:58

I think another six to nine weeks of lockdown, maybe with some of the restrictions lifted in the middle.

SpudsAreLife84 · 13/04/2020 19:58

I wish I WAS working from home, I am so stressed going out every day and worrying I'm going to bring it home with me I'm really considering a career change once this is all over for this exact reason.

I hope you all adapt, and even though you miss work and friends take comfort that you are safe

AgentCooper · 13/04/2020 19:59

I’m an eternal optimist but I reckon June. I hope it’s not later than that. I’m meant to be wfh 3 days a week but I just can’t do it efficiently (or at all, most of the time) with 2.5 year old DS around. He doesn’t play alone, needs constant attention. And I get that this is probably heightened by him picking up that things are weird and me and DH are stressed. His behaviour has been hellish.

DH has just started a new job in finance and basically needs to be at his computer all day Mon-Fri, meaning I have to sneak in my work in evenings and at weekends. I’m a university administrator and am going to have student grades to deal with in June so I don’t have a clue how that will pan out. And I’m a better mum to DS when we have a bit of a break from each other.

Snaga · 13/04/2020 20:09

My husband is expecting to be back in the office by the end of May at the latest. He can only do 75% of his job from home which is keeping things moving in the right direction but there's an awful lot of routine stuff backing up because no one can deal with it away from the office. Even the routine stuff has to be done because of the nature of his company. We're guessing they'll do a skeleton rotation until it's safer to have more people in one place. Probably for the rest of the year now they have 75% operational capacity from homeworking to reduce the chances of there being a massive operational risk to too many staff being off ill at once.

I'm hoping my company sees an uplift in finances so I can return to working from home. I can do 100% of my work from home...but it's not currently classed as essential. Being on furlough is nerve wracking to say the least!

Original poster

Ghostlyglow · 13/04/2020 20:12

I'm sorry @SpudsAreLife84. I didn't mean to be insensitive. I was hating going in to work too and realise I am lucky that I don't have to put myself at risk.

OP posts:

reluctantbrit · 13/04/2020 20:14

I suspect as long as the schools are closed. No way I would go back and let DD be at home sorting through school work. DH works from home constantly but it is unfair to expect that he does all the supervisions.

Patch23042 · 13/04/2020 20:21

I suspect that return to work will start gradually and sensibly (I can’t see many people being instantly comfortable with packed commuter trains and buses) once the twelve week shielding is over in mid June.

Jojo19834 · 13/04/2020 20:27

I expect we will see a phased return to work. First thing will be essential services resuming, those that can’t work from home, those that can commute via non-public transport and then a lot of London office workers (those that can effectively WFH without issue). That would seem logical so will depend on where you fall in that. I’m in no rush, I’m office based, can work just as well at home, 24 weeks pregnant and loving not commuting 4 hours a day into London and back! I want to economy and everyone to get safely back to work, but I’m hoping I’m last to be heading back and won’t be long until I’m off on maternity anyway!

LittleMissEngineer · 13/04/2020 20:29

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

mindutopia · 13/04/2020 20:41

I won’t be back to the office at least until mid June (I’m at home for 12 weeks anyway but my work has cancelled absolutely everything through at least mid June). But I commute quite far into Central London from the countryside so given it will take a few weeks to actually get everything else up and running before I need to come in to do my job, I don’t think it will be before early to mid July.

Flip

1 2 3