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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dreading going back to work

151 replies

Sarah510 · 15/04/2020 11:25

Is anyone else dreading it? Had a meeting this morning and they are talking about re-opening in May. I don't want to go back - I love working from home! I have so much more time to myself, to do the things I love, plus I'm dreading the commute, and being crushed into trains again. Plus my job is just not that busy, so I do what I have to and then I'm "free", rather than sitting in an office pretending to be busy :( I'm scared. I know we all have to get "it" at some stage, (have no underlying conditions, am pretty healthy so I should be ok if I get it), but I don't want to get it

OP posts:
justkeeprunning5 · 15/04/2020 14:14

I used to work from home a day a week, after this I may try to do two days at home but my goodness I cannot wait time get back to the office and to see some more faces. I honestly do not know how people WFH full time (and this is someone who has a 1.5hr commute each way into central London!)

Sallycinnamum · 15/04/2020 14:14

I already wfh two days a week and I like going into my office in the heart of London three days a week.

I work with a lovely bunch of people and cant wait to get back to work and in a routine again.

I've always though I had a good work/life balance and the lockdown has confirned WFH full time is just not for me.

Maybeimweird · 15/04/2020 14:19

Omg me! I feel lazy but yes I don't feel interested in going back to my job and clearing up the crap as I work in travel and instead of selling holidays I will be dealing with the clear up of it and even when we do sell holidays it's actually complicated if someone wants a destination you have no clue about or its just really quiet and you have targets to hit. It's not great not being able to go anywhere we like but I love no alarms, no rushing etc I put my children with a childminder and I actually work for no more extra money that if I didn't work so why do I do it??! But then what I shouldn't rely on universal credits if I'm morally going to be doing it 'correctly' I have thought about pakxing my job in and setting up a cleaning business working for myself working school hours, it just seems more appealing apart from no set annual leave that puts me off

Ellmau · 15/04/2020 14:24

I really want to go back. I am wfh but can only do about 10% of my job from home (now expanded to 100% of my time), and it is probably the 80-90% least interesting part of it. What I'm doing is useful, but it could have been done over a longer time easily alongside stuff I can only do on site.

Neron · 15/04/2020 14:31

Me! I absolutely detest my job and was sticking it out whilst I built up my own business. I'm back to the start with my stuff so will be in my job longer and it fills me with dread. In fairness I can and do WFH several days a week and have flexi hours - but I think once you hate your job you just cannot see the good things about it, or realise I'm luckier than some

TinyTear · 15/04/2020 14:31

while me on the other hand said today in a team meeting, the day they reopen i will be there with bells on!

Picamyhoney · 15/04/2020 14:31

Ask for a WFH day or two a week and point out that if you're work/life balance is better you'll be a much more motivated, productive and loyal employee. Which you will.

SociallyDistant · 15/04/2020 14:32

Cant wait to get back. It's our business which has had to close, and will take many months, possibly years to recover. Not sure how we will survive financially, so yeah we want to get back to it.

In response to I am dreading it because nothing has changed!
What was the point of not going in the first place then? the point wasn't to stop people from ever catching the virus, the point is to delay people catching the virus, so that the NHS can keep up and cope with the numbers.

Hassled · 15/04/2020 14:33

I'm another who can't wait to go back - in theory there shouldn't be much difference between me being sat on my own in my office and me being sat on my own in my kitchen, but I miss people popping in for a moan or a chat, having a wander around the building to see how people are doing etc. so much.
But I'm lucky - I either walk or catch a nearly empty bus to work. If I had to get on a packed tube I think I'd find it pretty damn hard.

user1471565182 · 15/04/2020 14:34

ahhh no we all have to live a fucking miserable life for the benefit of the 3% of people who enjoy this cattle market of an existence.

stakeholderwizz · 15/04/2020 14:43

I cant wait, I will even not immediately complain about tedious meetings. Clothes, heels, make up, office social events, hotel stays the list goes on. I always worked 1 day a week at home anyway but this is just sheer hell for me and I am much less productive.

FlindersKeepers · 15/04/2020 14:50

Got PTHW organised just before all this kicked off, am now in Week 5 (not in UK) and nah, I'm now in my New Normal and will be trying to keep this set-up as far as I can.
But I know my luck - I'm in IT, my direct colleagues and boss are in different countries anyway, to be honest my work is as effective from my home without all the nonsense bits.

Ragwort · 15/04/2020 14:52

I’m looking forward to going back, I am furloughed (work in retail so I can’t WFH) and I genuinely miss it. But I really enjoy what I do, walk to work, lots of autonomy, nice people, no need to dress smartly, part time hours so I have a good work/life balance .... I shall be happy to get back to work Smile.

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 15/04/2020 14:54

I thought I'd hate working from home but I do quite like it. Even though I have no commute (just a mile walk through some nice woods to my office) I do feel I have more energy not doing it.

wherestheweightlosspill · 15/04/2020 14:59

Can't wait to go back, I actually love the commute, I generally get a seat, listen to an audiobook and then a lovely half hour walk the other end, it's real 'me time', I can't wait to see other people again, not seeing my own face on a computer screen all day... I'm hating WFH

lidoshuffle · 15/04/2020 14:59

I'm one of those woman who initially thought I'd be retiring at 60, but whose state pension's been put back to 66. I am now seriously considering finishing a couple of years early anyway by living very frugally.

These last few weeks have been an eye opener as to how simply I can live and how I won't miss work. I suppose the good weather has helped though; had it been battering icy rain it might not have been so pleasant.

Thinkingabout1t · 15/04/2020 15:01

I've always thought there should be more wfh options available in any industry that doesn't require physical contact. It makes so much sense for the environment (less commuting), for employees as long as it was a choice, and even for regional economies, as wfh employees could live in any part of the country.

Maybe this will finally make it happen.

Womencanlift · 15/04/2020 15:03

I cannot wait to get back. WFH is becoming bad for my mental health. I need the structure of a working day and more importantly the separation of work life and personal/home life.

It has been interesting to see how some of my colleagues who before would come into the office as little as possible now saying how much they want to be back in again as cabin fever has definitely started to set in

jasjas1973 · 15/04/2020 15:04

With luck i'll be made redundant, time to retire, this enforced lay off has given me time to reflect on what is important and it ain't work.

LookTheOtherWayPlease · 15/04/2020 15:05

Can you carry out your job fully from home? If so, and it's been going well during this time with no issues, try to argue for WFH at least part of the week.

justasking111 · 15/04/2020 15:05

I think companies will look at their books and think woah. I have saved x amount with staff wfh or it has cost x amount extra and move forward with that in mind to be honest. It all comes down to £££

MeganBacon · 15/04/2020 15:05

I'm with you OP. I love it. But I work in central London and commute from countryside everyday, so am always delighted when I don't have to do the commute. I'm introverted too. I've had time to clean the house and do the garden and talk to dh/ds more. I know it's been miserable for many but it's given me an opportunity to reassess how I spend time and money and to feel less stressed.

Ragwort · 15/04/2020 15:10

lido - I am the opposite Grin being stuck at home with my DH has got me worried about future retirement plans .... think I will carry on working as long as I can ....

Tumbleweed101 · 15/04/2020 15:10

I’ve still been working but on reduced hours and it’s been lovely. Perfect balance between having some company and doing what I want.

Bluntness100 · 15/04/2020 15:12

I think the government will ask employers to make people work from home where feasible, but all companies will have to be operational, apart from the hospitality, social, airline ones etc. They will cut all funding to ensure it. No more furlough, grants, etc. Likely from very latest mid may.

They have to, it’s not an option to keep everyone home and the government paying wages.

So I’d think op if you can work from home then you won’t have to go in early to mid may. Social distancing will remain in place and be a requirement of work places.