Anyone else hate being back in the office?

[Lizzie523]

Been back 2 weeks full time and I hate it. It is worth saying I've been living alone through the whole pandemic and im a mix of introvert/extrovert. Asked for flexibility and a gradual return, was flat out denied and sent back full time straight away.

I hate:

• constant noise from extroverts in the small office, they never stop talking and I'm much less productive back in already. My job requires focus and I don't get it. Don't like listening to headphones all day as a so called solution.
• I'm really struggling with the constant repetition of small talk. 'what did you do/are you doing at the weekend?' repeated 10 times on a Friday. 'what are you having for lunch' every day, can't tolerate it at all even though it is meant to be a normal social lubricant!
• the commute. Hours there and back every day during peak times is causing my anxiety to sky rocket.

Anyone else really struggling with it?

I just think that I having lived alone for a year and a half, I'm not coping well with it. It is overwhelming. I so wish I could work from home some days.

Yes I hate it too it’s too loud the commute is too much the people are too annoying the cost financially us too much I’ve asked to work 2 days from home otherwise I’m considering leaving 1.5 hrs commute £400 month petrol and parking

Maybe look for a new job where working from home is part of the set-up. Did you hate it prior to spending a year and a half at home?

I am only in the office twice a week and have a short commute, but wfh really suited me.

Hate having to get dressed in work clothes and have game face on. Much prefer being casual at home, even if we go on video on zoom.

Hate trying to avoid going to lunch with someone.

Hate having to rush out the door in the mornings then to “down tools” when it gets to home time.

Love the pace and lack of other people at home.

I'd hate it in your shoes even though I have a lovely team I work with. I and the team are much more productive working from home, and it will only be once or twice a week when return happens, unless an individual wants to be in an office (difficult home life or limited space, for example).

I think you should go back and appeal against the original decision, with a proposal for some time in the office and some at home. Try an informal approach first and think about which day would be better to be in the office.

@newnortherner111

I'd hate it in your shoes even though I have a lovely team I work with. I and the team are much more productive working from home, and it will only be once or twice a week when return happens, unless an individual wants to be in an office (difficult home life or limited space, for example).

I think you should go back and appeal against the original decision, with a proposal for some time in the office and some at home. Try an informal approach first and think about which day would be better to be in the office.

What is even worse @newnortherner111 is that I have a colleague who works part time due to childcare and age recently told our bosses she could work flexibly from home on Fridays (which would really help me and other colleagues as we shoulder the workload on the days she is off). Their reply? That it wouldn't be fair on everyone else if she could wfh and the rest couldn't. So just refusing to allow us even a day wfh after an 18 month stint of successfully wfh.

@userxx

Maybe look for a new job where working from home is part of the set-up. Did you hate it prior to spending a year and a half at home?

I'm doing this. Interviewed at a place which said 40% of the time working from last week. The job and interview process is never ending just now. Lots of jobs and people looking for jobs.

No I didn't hate it but didn't enjoy it much either. Going from living and working on my own to a big commute surrounded by people and people at work has affected me. Been coming home and crying, unable to sleep etc. Not normal.

I've done a lot of RTO strategy. Your reaction is on the higher end, but not unusual. The issue is going to be that the big corporates adapt and modify the workspace. Others won't and it will become a two or three or even more tier working environment.

I don't think anyone knows how to rationalise this yet.

I think it's a shock to the system. Things that never bothered me much in the office before are really irritating now. Like people talking and breathing and eating.
Even just smiling seems a chore now when resting bitch had been my status quo for so long..... and don't get me started on how inconvenient commuting is. I mean, it was never my favourite part of work but I don't remember it sucking this much either.
I'm hoping, I'll soon get used to it again. I'll forget how much work I could get through without distractions from home and will cherish the office's warm embrace.... just need enough tears or water under this bridge.

Its outdated nonsense, so we'l still be hanging onto it for decades while the rest of nort europe follows the obvious solutions-4 day weeks, home working etc.

And dear lord the sensory overload of forcing yourself up from shit sleep, aching in the cold to get into a cold shower then out to a chaotically loud street that stinks for 50 hours tedium and stupid questions a week. I wonder why everybody is depressed?

Sorry, but someone has to say it….

1. you were lucky to have the opportunity to work from home and keep yourself relatively safe during a major health crisis.
2. you were lucky to retain a job and not have to take a dip in earnings during lockdowns (many wfh were better off as a result of not having to pay travel costs etc)
3. you have been offered a tax allowance to offset your ‘additional’ costs associated with wfh. I think it might be time to be ‘glass half full’ - many have had this much rougher than you for so many different reasons.

@stitchinguru

Sorry, but someone has to say it…. 1) you were lucky to have the opportunity to work from home and keep yourself relatively safe during a major health crisis. 2) you were lucky to retain a job and not have to take a dip in earnings during lockdowns (many wfh were better off as a result of not having to pay travel costs etc) 3) you have been offered a tax allowance to offset your ‘additional’ costs associated with wfh. I think it might be time to be ‘glass half full’ - many have had this much rougher than you for so many different reasons.

What has that got to do with anything op said?

1, OPs had a job that was able to wfh. So she wfh. Other people didn't, so they couldn't. That does impact that she is finding it hard going from almost isolation to a busy office.
2, most people kept their jobs. Again, doesn't impact how easy or hard people will find being surrounded by people after 18 months pretty much alone. Many people who wfh, were also furloughed at points or did take a dip in earnings as well.
3, That tax allowance has always been available for anyone that needs to work from home when it's not in their contract. This isn't a new thing made up for the pandemic. Again, doesn't impact how the op feels about going back.

If you can't feel empathy for someone who is introverted going from 18 months, pretty much alone to having to spend the majority of the day around people, why post?

Why does it need to be about who has had it rougher? Can no one find anything hard, because someone somewhere has it harder?

I am very jealous of anyone who could work from home.

I have spent the last 18 months in a hospital wearing a mask for 12.5hours a day.

I would love to go and work in an air-conditioned office where people tend not to die or be really ill.

@stitchinguru

Sorry, but someone has to say it…. 1) you were lucky to have the opportunity to work from home and keep yourself relatively safe during a major health crisis. 2) you were lucky to retain a job and not have to take a dip in earnings during lockdowns (many wfh were better off as a result of not having to pay travel costs etc) 3) you have been offered a tax allowance to offset your ‘additional’ costs associated with wfh. I think it might be time to be ‘glass half full’ - many have had this much rougher than you for so many different reasons.

Jeez does that mean she isn’t allowed to dislike anything?

Oh God, you have my sympathies!

I used to work in open plan offices and I absolutely hated it. I found it so difficult to get anything done. Other people can be excruciatingly annoying, and the general noise and fuss can make it difficult to focus.

I was once allowed to work from home for a week due to a transport issue (they weren't happy about it but the alternative was me not doing any work at all so they begrudgingly agreed) and my productivity soared! I loved it. Got so much done and I didn't have to endure those other people.

I was very lucky that I could leave that job and start working full-time from home. This was all way before the pandemic. I think I'd go nuts if I had to work in an open plan office again.

@BrozTito

And dear lord the sensory overload of forcing yourself up from shit sleep, aching in the cold to get into a cold shower then out to a chaotically loud street that stinks for 50 hours tedium and stupid questions a week. I wonder why everybody is depressed?

I mean that’s not normal and my life looks nothing like that. Get your shower fixed for a start…

I was really against wfh when we were sent home before the official lockdown. I wanted to be in the office. Now I would prefer to be in the office when I need to be, which has been one to two days a week - my role means I have gone in for various things throughout the pandemic. We have been told we need to be there half of our working hours for now and the rumours are that management want us back in 100% of the time.

People will leave as the work life balance when not commuting, etc is better for them. I'm on a course for a couple of weeks which means two hours commuting every day and it's such a drain on my time and it's tiring - I would not want to do this for work.

I don't see it this way. You were lucky if you liked wfh, but that period is over. You now need to return to your contractual norm. How productive employee thinks they were May not match employers view. Employer is under no pressure to change your working conditions.

You as your are, will have to apply to jobs that have more wfh.

@Knittingupastorm
Yes, of course she is allowed to dislike things.
However, the pandemic means that some people have lost relatives, jobs, houses and businesses.
My point is about keeping minor inconveniences in perspective.
And to the NHS worker who has described her working situation for the last 18 months, thank you for the genuine sacrifices you have made. I find it ironic that those who had things really tough tend to be the ones least likely to be whinging.

Its like some popple really don't get that some people have always really struggled in office environments, to the point it impacts their mental health.

Op is struggling after spending 18 months, fairly isolated. People from all situations will struggle with the return to 'normal' life.

Op doesn't work front line in the NHS. So it's not relevant at all. And actually, NHS workers moan all the time. Not surprised, it's been very difficult for them. But its absolutely not true that those who have been impacted more, moan the least.

It like people don't understand how much being an introvert can impact someone, noise levels can impact someone and that life can be hard for people in different ways.

I also don't think, that anyone who didnt work front line NHS should have to keep it to themselves if they struggle.

@NoEffingWaytoSurvive

I am very jealous of anyone who could work from home.

I have spent the last 18 months in a hospital wearing a mask for 12.5hours a day.

I would love to go and work in an air-conditioned office where people tend not to die or be really ill.

Oh FFS, no one is allowed to be unhappy or find office working hard EVER because of the poor hospital workers.

It's all relative.

Yes me! I hadn’t realised how intolerant of other peoples noise I’d become until I went back to the office. The constant phone calls around me while I’m trying to concentrate kill me.
Plus I’m paying £7 a day for the pleasure of waking up earlier and spending 2 hours a day crammed onto a tube with so many non mask wearers. I’m so thankful it’s only 2 days a week because I honestly don’t think I could cope with more.

I am the other end of the scale. Due to being stuck in a house with a partner from whom I was separating ,throughout lockdown, I refused home working . It’s been lovely and quiet in the office. The only annoyance has been having to do little jobs for people that can’t be done at home. We are moving to a 40/60 working pattern which they have asked if I want to do now I have moved out of my former home .I have declined but am getting a bit annoyed by people coming back in and invading “my” space

I think it's particularly hard for introverts @Lizzie523 because everything about working at home sings to introverts! Having had that time, it does feel like an assault to your senses when you go back.