Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

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

Original poster

If you are working from home, do you want to go back to work?

87 replies

homemadecommunistrussia · 14/05/2020 10:55

I really really do, but no-one I know seems to, they are quite happy sitting at home. Or are worried about it being safe when nothing is safe.

OP posts:
Rebelwithallthecause · 14/05/2020 10:56

My DH really doesn’t want to go back

He doesn’t really say why but I think it’s a mixture of liking being around us more and being a bit scared of being back at work with people again.

He’s an introvert so the solitary life suits him

TildaTurnip · 14/05/2020 10:58

quite happy sitting at home
Or working hard from home where they can also be with their children and not worry about social distancing on public transport and in the workplace.

TeddyIsaHe · 14/05/2020 10:58

YES YES A MILLION TIMES YES!!

I miss my lovely office, and not having Dd clinging to my legs/screeching in video calls/shouting at me and generally being crap at my job because I can’t concentrate.

Canyoutellilikrchocolate · 14/05/2020 10:59

No

lonelySam · 14/05/2020 11:01

Yes, I want to go back to the office but ideally would do 60/40 home office so 3 days at home and 2 in the office.

Kljnmw3459 · 14/05/2020 11:02

Both, I want to get back to the office but I also want to wfh a few times a week. Previously this was something that was not allowed for some reason but now I don't think they can refuse.

SquirtleSquad · 14/05/2020 11:02

Happy sitting at home Hmm
DH is working from home doing his job plus the workload of his 20+ team who have been furloughed. He is getting up at 6, starting at 7 and last night finished at 10pm. He's finding working from home very very hard purely because of the workload and it's non stop. He's happy doing it because if they reopen his office it's 250 in a closed space and it's not safe at the moment.

Haypyrexic · 14/05/2020 11:02

Or working hard from home where they can also be with their children and not worry about social distancing on public transport and in the workplace
DH would say this. I want him to go back!

heartonastring · 14/05/2020 11:08

I dont want to go back but couldn't do my job from home indefinitely. I feel lucky that we've had this time and will possibly be wfh for a while longer yet. I cried yesterday when DH boss rang to say they were stopping his wfh on the 11th june. Completely irrational reaction on my part but I'm blaming the pregnancy hormones.

getdownonit · 14/05/2020 11:08

I wouldn't mind being in the office, but I don't want the worry of the commute on the train and tube....

Imstillskanking · 14/05/2020 11:08

No fucking way. My job requires a phone, a database, and email. That's it. It requires no face to face contact of any kind, and I vividly remember questioning the need for me to be in my office fulltime back when I first started. I had mentioned WFH for a couple of days a week and was told that it was impossible. I work in an open plan office and found it so difficult to concentrate. In a desperate bid to get some peace to crack on with my work I put headphones on, but apparently that was antisocial so I couldn't even do that. I hated the constant interruptions, the endless pointless meetings that could have easily been a quick email or phone call, and the petty gossiping and general nonsense that is office politics. I hated staying behind after office hours to get work done, that could very easily have been completed if I hadn't had a bunch of people talking loudly about Harry Potter right across my desk, and repeatedly trying to encourage me to join in the conversation despite me politely mentioning that I was working to a very tight deadline.

I am getting so much more work done at home, and I'm pretty well rested because I'm not doing that nightmare commute. I get to have dinner with my husband and my kids.

I won't be going back to my office full-time. I will either continue to work from home for a minimum of 2 days a week, or I will be giving my notice. My employer can no longer make pathetic excuses as to why I must always be in the office, as we can all plainly see how well things work when I am at home. I appreciate that I am extremely lucky to be in a position where I can afford to take time out to job hunt. This wasn't always the case, and I feel sorry for people who feel the way that I do and have no choice but to be pushed back into the office full-time.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 14/05/2020 11:12

Yes yes yes. I hate wfh, I am so lonely, I miss my colleagues' company and general interaction about work stuff. My commute is a walk so no having to use public transport.

OhTheseSummerNiiiiights · 14/05/2020 11:12

If we were going back to normal, yes, but I hate going to Tesco never mind anywhere else now, so I’d rather stay at home.

nuttymomma · 14/05/2020 11:13

I don't ever want to go back to work in an office. I'd love to work from home full time but that is unlikely to happen.

My job can easily be done from home full time. In fact I don't think my job is actually needed. Its a bullshit job but its public sector so good pay and benefits and job security.

I got very badly bullied and discriminated against and took sick leave. I was due to return when lockdown hit so it came at a great time.

WFH means I don't have to quit and I can keep my job and not have to see the people I hate.

Returning to work would be really hard for me.

OccasionalNachos · 14/05/2020 11:13

I am on mat leave at the moment but returning to work soon. Although there are benefits to wfh, mostly the lack of commute, I prefer working in an office. I am more productive, I like being in the same place as my colleagues, and I am just in a better headspace. Home is home and is full of nice things, I don’t feel as motivated to work when I’m there. There is also some technical equipment and software (eg better printers) that Are easier to access in the office.

Obviously now things are different I will have to suck it up. About 70% of my job can be done from home, and the remaining 30% won’t be as commonplace under social distancing, or won’t happen at all (conferences, seminars etc) so we’ll just see how it goes.

The benefits will be not having to worry about being apart from my DS for so long, as he will be in the next room when I’m working and I will be able to breastfeed him rather than express milk. Plans to find a nursery for him are now on hold and I’m not really sure what to do about that now.

mrsbyers · 14/05/2020 11:13

I’d like a couple of days in the office and rest at home - I think that’s what’s going to happen anyway , once I get released from shielding

Shoxfordian · 14/05/2020 11:14

I wouldn't mind but my office is over an hour's commute into london and the public transport is dodgy at the moment. I'm happy at home but I miss some of my officey routines like my coffee on the train and a chat in the kitchen at work

SweetPetrichor · 14/05/2020 11:18

I'm easy one way or the other but then I can/do walk or cycle to work so I can avoid public transport. I think I will be one of the first group back in our office cause they are looking at who can get there most safely and who requires public transport.

AlwaysDancing1234 · 14/05/2020 11:20

I wouldn’t mind just going in to the office 1 day a week to catch up with colleagues face to face but prefer working from home as it’s a better work life balance. It saves me over £100 per month in travel costs and I don’t have to spend 2+ hours each day commuting. I make it home in time to help kids more with homework and dinner etc which DH is crap at.

Frazzlerock · 14/05/2020 11:23

Nope, I want to stay at home. I'm pregnant and on the cusp of my second trimester which is the furthest we've got. I also have a large haematoma and if I stand for too long or walk too far I'm in danger of having another huge bleed. I'm dreading having to commute with this over my head. There is a lot of walking involved in my commute as well as a train journey. I'm also exhausted all the time and don't fancy being so far away from my bed!

Long may WFH continue!

AlwaysDancing1234 · 14/05/2020 11:25

Also worried about public transport

Meruem · 14/05/2020 11:28

I was wfh before this started anyway and I've loved it. I would never set foot in an office again if I had my way. My colleagues have mostly all been nice over the years but my job (when I was in an office last) was highly stressful. There was no "banter", everyone was too tired/busy/stressed. Despite being in close proximity to dozens of people you could easily go all day saying just a few words. So the way I see it, no "companionship" to miss, would rather be home with my cats!

The office itself was this ugly open plan with hot desking. Commute was walk/tube/walk/bus (1hr 30 each way). If my current job ends I would look for something else from home and only go back to an office as a last resort.

mrsm43s · 14/05/2020 11:28

In normal times I do a mixture of WfH and going into the office, and I prefer that to WfH all of the time. I miss being out and about (although maybe that's lockdown rather than just WfH) and I miss connecting with my colleagues in person.

thatcarolebaskinbitch · 14/05/2020 11:31

I'm missing the social aspect as I get on well with my team but despite not being allowed to WFH normally we are fully set up for home working and coping fine. The MD has already said how impressed he has been with how it's gone and that changes will be brought in regarding WFH going forward.
I'm in the minority in my team though and all the senior staff are hating it so I'm not sure if there will be much change in my team Sad I've been much more productive at home though so it's beneficial to them for me to WFH more.

timeforawine · 14/05/2020 11:31

YES! I like wfh a couple of days a week but i want to be around my colleagues

Swipe left for the next trending thread