Anyone back in the office this week, what’s it like?

[Shirleyphallus]

Went back in to the office for the first time today.
Observations:

1. Actually nice to be back and I felt much safer than I thought
2. Almost no one was wearing masks on the train / tube
3. Our facilities manager has gone WAY overboard with the sign maker. Labels everywhere with arrows, about 10 laminated signs in the kitchen reminding people to only take the teabag they’re going to use and sanitise the kettle after. There’s cling film all over the coffee machine and the printer panel. And a reminder to close the toilet seat when you flush to stop covid (how??)
4. People were mostly friendly but definitely stood further away / moved chairs back etc when talking

Would be interested to hear how others have got on (particularly to hear if anyone else has got a sign making facilities manager like mine)

@xksismybestletter

We've been asked to spray our shoes on the way in... There is a laminated sign.

😂

I’ve been in the whole time but our head office was partially closed. It’s definitely back to normal now, no restrictions of masks or signs.
Still have hand gel around. Before restrictions relaxed it was one way and had set rules about how many staff in each room and so on.
I would have loved to WFH but I bet it does feel a bit weird going back in now. A lot of our teams were staggered in returning so they would do a couple of days a week in the office going back to May.
Hope you feel better soon.

lol - have been back at work since September 2020 😂 The only time I’m not physically in work is when Boris closes the schools. I can’t really relate to this idea of going “back into the office” now as if it were something new and scary.

Agree there’s nothing particularly worrisome about going back to the office but I’m assuming a lot of you are walking/driving in. It’s a bit different when you’re going cattle class on a packed transport system packed in with other people for over an hour and who aren’t bothering to wear masks when they should be (given tfl rules). Office is fine, not sure about the commute though!

Christ. Some if us have been getting public transport to work throughout all this.

Yes, some of you have been doing it for ages, of course!

But some people haven't stepped foot in their office for 18 months and it is bloody weird. It's a long long time to be away from the office environment and then have to readjust back to it.

So yes, it's not a life or death situation and no one is asking for medals for bravery but it's just a new, strange experience, that's all.

@JollyHostess

Yes, some of you have been doing it for ages, of course!

But some people haven't stepped foot in their office for 18 months and it is bloody weird. It's a long long time to be away from the office environment and then have to readjust back to it.

So yes, it's not a life or death situation and no one is asking for medals for bravery but it's just a new, strange experience, that's all.

Yep I was just coming here to say this.

Huge respect to NHS workers for everything they’ve been doing through this, but everyone’s experience is also ok to feel and for those office workers who have been at home it has been a concern about returning. It’s absolutely valid to feel like that, it doesn’t take anything away from what anyone else has been doing.

I think it must be quite hard going back to the office after a long time working from home. I feel really lucky to have kept physically going into work the whole way through, as it meant life stayed relatively normal the whole way through. The stickers, and clingfilm do sound hilariously OTT though!

I've been working from the office a couple of days a week since April, mainly to support the staff that were in the office and struggled working from home for personal/mental health reasons. I think our Facilities manager has it mostly right.....extra sanitiser everywhere, one way system, reduced numbers in meeting rooms, windows open for extra ventilation and extra cleaning. The only thing that's annoying is they often close the toilets on my floor as the cleaner has so much else to do cleaning kitchens, meeting rooms etc so I have to dash to another floor every time I need the loo. Other than that it's mostly good and we're starting to see numbers in the office creeping up and people saying how nice it is to be in the office when they do come in. We'll be keeping a hybrid model of working from home part of the week and being in the office two or three days per week which most people seem to say is their preferred way of working (it's mine too!)

I’ve been in and out the office when we haven’t been in lockdown and we’ve had to wear masks walking round. Not had all the tea / coffee stuff available . Only been able to use every other desk . One way system . They are getting rid of it all next week and can’t wait .