AIBU to think that, realistically, some people may not return to work this year?

[OldGranvilleHouse]

I know that sounds a bit crazy, but here’s my thinking.............

We’ve had the lockdown extended for at least another three weeks, and many commentators are saying it’ll be extended yet further. So that could take us to the end of May before we start to think about it being relaxed.

At that stage, I think that some industries may be given the option to return to work, for example construction and some manufacturing (not because it’s safer for workers in these fields, but because of the impact it’s having on the economy). I also think that shops selling DIY and garden centres will have the option of opening by then. Some of this is already happening in Spain, for example.

It has been said on TV that we won’t “go back to normal” overnight and that it’ll be a gradual thing. Underpinning everything will be social distancing, which some politicians have said may last in some form into next year.

I can’t see schools going back en masse before the summer holidays - there may be arrangements whereby some students will have the option of returning earlier, but I think it’ll be August before the majority are back.

Towards the end of the summer, I think we’ll also see more retail outlets opening again and services like dentists, physios, routine hospital appointments all starting to return. Alongside this, parks/leisure centres may start to open and some kids’ activities may also start to happen. Perhaps even some restaurants and pubs, so long as they can practise social distancing. We’ll probably be able to have social gatherings, provided no one’s symptomatic, etc.

So, by autumn, society will start to slowly open up again, but social distancing will remain the order of the day. And so to my feeling that some workers, mainly office workers, may not return to their places of work if they’re able to work from home...........

Take my office - one large open space with 18 people (including reception) and three individual offices. We have 7/8 people who are in “at risk” groups for one reason or another. It would be very difficult to practise social distancing. At present, we’re all set up and working from home. After a rocky first few weeks, the phone systems are working, the IT is sorted and we’re all happily Zooming away as necessary. We‘re able to provide a near normal service. We are a third sector organisation and could probably work with front facing staff based in the office and back office/managers based mainly at home.

There must be lots of offices in the country with a similar profile who, in order to observe social distancing, could decide to have around half of their staff continue to work from home until the government has said that we don’t need to socially distance.

I know this wouldn’t work for all sectors, but it would for some and, so long as the government is advising that we do social distancing in the workplace, employers have a duty of care to make sure they’re doing whatever’s reasonable to protect their staff.

I don’t enjoy working from home as I feel I’m never really switching off, but I can see that I’m going to be here for a while yet.

So what do folk think?

I think you're probably pretty close to the mark, yes. Certainly in my area we are making plans for homeworking in terms of months, not weeks.

Dh is shielding so I can see him having to eork from home.

I think there is a high probability a lot of offices will never go back to the way they were. Once homeworking is set up, for areas where it works, why spend money renting office space?

DP works in a sector where a proportion of homeworking was encouraged, with hotdesking the norm in the office and a lot fewer desks provided than the entire workforce would need, so a smaller building with lower running costs.

I've never had a work laptop, but should be provided with one soon. There are a couple of jobs I can only do on site, but I could manage this by going to the office once a week. Once the IT has been put in place, I'm sure someone could make better use of my deskspace in the office.

I agree with your assumptions, even when we're back to 'normal' I intend to work from home more. Now I've realised people don't mind when your kid yells in the background. We've changed forever though...

I'm not in an office but work in catering for a large organisation and worried for my job. If social distancing is implemented for a long time to come how can bars and restaurants possibly reopen? The extending the furlough period, although good news, makes me think hospitality and certain retail sectors have a long way to go before reopening!

So your question is actually that some people won’t return to their place of work this year?

I can't see me going back to work for a long while. We are all working from home with absolutely no impact on service delivery or performance. Why risk sitting in a grubby hot desk when it potentially cause you or a colleague or a vulnerable loved one so much harm.. . I don't know how bosses will implement presenteesim when wfh has worked thus far. I'm enjoying not driving the 30nmins to and from work. Money saved and better for planet. And an extra hour at home. Win win.

I work for a university, in an open plan office with around 20 people. From what I can understand, we will go back before Sept but in small groups - so half at home, half in office. It will take a long time to return to normal. My husband is furloughed and the future of his job is shaky. Very worrying times.

I can work from home and used to 1-2 days per week before.

However, because I work in education (in a non public facing role) and teachers will be back, along with others who can't easily wfh, some colleagues will demand that if they have to go in then so do I.

Presenteeism is still alive and I am afraid too many, especially our older staff, are still brainwashed by the 9-5 office based existence. Not sure anything will change culture wise, sadly.

Well we will need to return to work soon. We are both self employed and dp cant work from home. Benifits won't cover our bills, never mind pay for food.
What will happen to my kids if I can't feed them?
I'm a childminder and we have been "strongly advised" to close our services, but they can't force us. I have no children at the moment. I will do the next 3 weeks and then another 3 if it's advised, won't last any longer than that.

I mean we won't be able to last any longer without an income than that.

I do see where you’re coming from but I hope to god you’re wrong. I was due to start a new job on the 6th April. I’ve not been able to start and because I wasn’t on any payroll on the 29th Feb I’m not entitled to any money. DP is on 80% which barely covers bills. I’m already into my overdraft so I’m fucked if I can’t start soon. I’m genuinely terrified.

I suspect your right, whilst many have proved that is possible for some sectors it can't help all. The tourist/leisure industry alone may well struggle all year. I'm unable to see how social distancing will work in pubs,bars restaurants, guest houses, hotels, airplanes work in practice. Certainly no working from home for that sector.
Even if a way round is found 50% capacity won't be needing 100% staffing.

“ I'm a childminder and we have been "strongly advised" to close our services, but they can't force us. I have no children at the moment.”

If you’re strongly advised but not legally compelled, would you take business now if there was any? I would.

DP was one of the first to lose his job after the airline he works for went into administration. (Employees aren’t being furloughed). He’s a pilot and stands no chance of getting another job until 2021 at the earliest we fear. It’s tough.

I work for a 140,000+ global company. All now working from home. We are starting to plan going back to the office, whenever that might be, but we’ll be doing it in waves. 1-4 spread over 8 -12 weeks with a 5th group permanently being kept at home, so that if other lockdowns follow, we already have an established wfh core.

I was working from home 2 days a week and in the office 3 days a week ( nearly 2 hour commute each way). And now I work full time at home - it’s great - no commute, no petrol costs.
A colleague can’t wait to get back to the office, she doesn’t like working alone. I love it, and when lockdown is over I’m going to put the case forward to my boss that I could continue working full time from home, or maybe just go in 1 day a week.

I’ve not been able to start and because I wasn’t on any payroll on the 29th Feb

Govt have now changed this date to 19th March. Maybe and hopefully for you, this could get extended further. Fingers crossed for you.

I think even if lockdown were stopped tomorrow, people would be wary of returning to normal until new cases/deaths are at zero for a while.

I'll be on maternity leave for the next year. With my first born, we went to so many baby groups where he would put toys, scarves, instruments etc in his mouth. I won't want to be doing anything like that with this baby until we've seen the back of the virus and I'm sure many new mums will feel the same. For those self employed people run these sorts of groups, I can't imagine they will be back to normal any time soon.

I don’t enjoy working from home as I feel I’m never really switching off

I don't enjoy working from home as I never switch ON

If my job becomes WFH I will simply get sacked. Can only be productive in the office, surrounded by other people working.

I am wfh, there is no need for me to be in the office for the rest of the year beyond being good for team work and linking in with other teams on a more informal basis. As all stakeholders are all over the country anyway all my actual meetings are done via webex in normal times and I often wfh when it was convenient. From my pov I am asthmatic and the benefits of being in the office are outweighed by added security of wfh. I can imagine a lot of employers would rather keep staff wfh where there is little impact to productivity as it prevents spread amongst staff add loss of productivity through sickness and death of staff.

Where jobs cannot be done in the home then they will need to introduce measures as BAU to improve safety of staff are to return pre vaccine.

Thyy are talking of a vaccine by September now though so that is hopeful.

@Wewearpinkonwednesdays I was previously self-employed for 15 years and I really sympathise with your situation. I’ve thought a lot recently about how things would have been right now had I still be running the business.

It’s interesting to hear so many people already thinking that they won’t return for many months (a few not ever). My role could probably be done if I went in one day every couple of weeks, but I personally would find this difficult as it’d be too much like the time I was self-employed and work was there 24/7. I suppose if it ever became a long term or even permanent arrangement, I’d move my work stuff into a spare room, but not everyone has this luxury.

I think it’s really only in the past few days, owing to a combination of the lockdown being extended and my own working from home becoming smoother, that I’ve begun to think this arrangement is here for a while. So it’s good to get other people’s views.

it prevents spread amongst staff add loss of productivity through sickness and death of staff.

I think this is going to be a huge factor in many employers’ decisions.

It’s impossible for anybody who wants to move jobs. I am awaiting a start date with a civil service department pending security clearance. Even if my clearance is granted, I don’t see how I can start working from home as I won’t know what to do! There are no other jobs to apply for.

I’ve just been processed to start claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and I can claim that until September.

DH is military and WFH - they won’t allow that to go on forever! There’ll be back in as soon as is possible.