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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:

QueenOfPain · 14/05/2020 13:10

Nope.

LST · 14/05/2020 13:11

I sort of do and sort of don't. I suffer with RA really badly so it is so much easier for me to sit on the sofa in comfort and be stressed there than in the office!

Sandybval · 14/05/2020 13:12

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.

I think during a recession of the projected magnitude anyone would be taking a huge risk leaving a secure job to job hunt.

rottiemum88 · 14/05/2020 13:20

I'd like to go back to work when it's possible. My job was already 60:40 working in the office to WFH, but I miss my colleagues (we're a small team of 3) and not being able to concentrate properly when trying to work with DS around. I feel like I'm doing my job half heartedly right now which makes me sad as it's a job I love and am passionate about. I hope if things change going forwards and more home working is encouraged, I'll at least be able to dedicate more of my mental energy to work again once DS can go back to nursery/grandparents.

Imstillskanking · 14/05/2020 13:24

I think during a recession of the projected magnitude anyone would be taking a huge risk leaving a secure job to job hunt

Thank you for your concern but you know nothing about my situation.

TARSCOUT · 14/05/2020 13:26

Yes desperate to get back.

BirdieFriendReturns · 14/05/2020 13:27

Yes. There’s a Costa Coffee at work that’s still open. I’ve been going in sometimes as I can only use a certain type of IT system there for security reasons.

Systemagic · 14/05/2020 13:57

My company was very anti working from home before this and I hope they will be more relaxed about it when things go back to normal.

Before coronavirus I worked away during the week (husbands job moved and I havent found anything local yet) and it would be so much easier to just pop down to London for one or two days a week then WFH the rest of the time. I am way more productive at home and my work-life balance has massively improved. The constant jabbering and distractions in an open plan office used to do my head in.

If I am told I have to go back to 5 days a week in the office again, I am not sure what I will do. I actually don't actually think I can do it.

Ugzbugz · 14/05/2020 13:58

Not full time although I miss my colleagues and the banter but it just shows how much unneeded corporate bullshit goes on everyday in normal circumstances!

okiedokieme · 14/05/2020 15:26

I'm happy working at home but I'm only doing 50% of my work because the rest isn't happening as we are closed

ifonly4 · 14/05/2020 15:30

I think DH is quite happy working at home, although, has been equally happy to go into work once a week - change of scenery and he can work easier.

He doesn't know I've got it in mind for him to move his work station from the dining room to small spare room (which would make a good study to my mind) if this continues. It's a very cold room and I don't think he'll appreciate it in the winter!

Rodehereonthebus · 14/05/2020 15:34

I think what people appreciate is the ability to have WFH as an option and to have a mix of the two if possible. I hope employers who previously weren't open to it will be now. I'm lucky in that I already had the option to WFH once a week but in previous workplaces it was very much a case of presenteeism being valued. I'd hate to work somewhere like that again.

MintyCedric · 14/05/2020 15:35

No, not at the moment.

We were about 4 days into lockdown when we were told my dad only has a few months at best.

WFH (I'm a secondary school administrator) means I have been able to shield myself and therefore help care for him and support my mum.

I found out yesterday that the existing staff rota is going to continue which means I will be at home for the forseeable future. I appreciate I am extremely 'lucky' to be at home on full pay given the circumstances and am doing my best to be as useful as possible.

Once it's safe for me and my family, I'll be happy to go back though.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 14/05/2020 15:38

Yes! I miss the structure of my day and my work. It has been nice to be able to walk to pick up the dc though.

FizzyPink · 14/05/2020 15:38

Not at all. I’m saving around £150 a month by not commuting and god knows how much by not buying lunches or going for after work drinks.
I also love that I know wake up at 8.30 instead of 6 and when I shut my laptop at 6pm I’m already at home ready to start my evening and not just about to start the walk to the tube to then get on the train to then walk home from the station.
Our company has already said they will use this as an opportunity to allow us to wfh more easily and in a survey they sent round last week I requested 2-3 days from home

FizzyPink · 14/05/2020 15:40

Also we’re going to be buying a house next year and we’ll have much more flexibility not having to be so close to a station if I’m not commuting into London 5 days a week

Candy150 · 14/05/2020 15:45

I wouldn’t mind going back to the office if only we could open the windows. It’s all air-conditioned/heaters so just old air blowing around and around (when it works) - not helpful with airborne viruses.

Helmlover1 · 14/05/2020 15:47

It’s funny because if you’d asked this at the start of lockdown I HATED wfh and was desperate to get back into the office, however fast forward a few months i find I’m quite settled wfh now and I’ve got myself into s nice little routine. I like the fact I can just roll out of bed on a morning and not have to commute, I can hang the washing out and potter around on my breaks and I can get straight on with cooking as soon as I finish which gives us more time as a family.

Wfh definitely has its benefits.

NetofLemons · 14/05/2020 15:49

I’m worried about commuting on packed buses and train and hot-desking so no.

roarfeckingroar · 14/05/2020 15:55

Not especially. I'm going to increase my usual WFH days from 2 to 3 or 4 each week.

Sn0tnose · 14/05/2020 15:57

I can’t wait to get back. I struggle to be as productive and find myself doing longer hours to catch up. At work, I’m able to shut everything out and just crack on until it’s time to go home. Plus my immediate colleagues are brilliant.

I am nervous about using public transport again though. And it has been nice to be at home for deliveries.

BreastedBoobilyToTheStairs · 14/05/2020 16:05

Not particularly! Wfh for me is easy. All I need is my laptop and headset, plus I'm saving over 2 hours a day not doing my commute (it's only 10 miles or so but the traffic is horrendous getting into the city centre).

I'd be thoroughly happy adjusting to wfh most of the time with some office time each week, which is now being more widely discussed by my firm. I do miss my colleagues, but I'm in touch with them every day to catch up, and am being more productive at home now that I'm settled into it.

lachy · 14/05/2020 16:42

My organisation is not expecting us back the office for the foreseeable future, and when we do go back i imagine it will be for 2 days a week at most, wfh the remaining time.

I've set up my home office so don't really need anything else to be able to do my job efficiently. I didn't print much out, so even that hasn't impacted me.

I quite like the fact that I can structure my day around my family, today for example I have spent the afternoon with DD because I worked late yesterday.

If the work is being done management don't especially mind when it's done, just that we keep in touch via MS Teams.

Its encouraging to see how quickly we have adapted as a workforce.

HauntedGoatFart · 14/05/2020 16:46

Yes, I'd like to go back. I much prefer being around people and having them to bounce off.

I'm not particularly worried about taking the Tube, but I can cycle to one of our offices anyway.

Thirtyrock39 · 14/05/2020 16:56

I'm community nhs and doing two days from home two days in base. I like the mixture - definitely the office is better in terms of equipment, sense of routine, catching up with one or two other colleagues, everything is there but home days are good for no commute, where what you want, probably less distractions . I'm hoping I can continue doing a couple of days at home long term .

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