to think a lot of people are going to look for any excuse not to go back into work when restrictions start to be lifted?

[wakeupitsabeautifulmorning]

Already seeing it on a few threads this morning. I think a lot of people have quite enjoyed being off work and will try their best not to rush back. Or am I being sceptical?

There will be some people who expect to be off work and paid long term but I can’t imagine they are a majority. Most people aren’t lazy or looking for any excuse , they have reasonable concerns around childcare, public transport, distancing measures in the workplace and so on and aren’t unreasonable to seek clarification and reassurance on these matters.

if schools are not open I don't see how parents can feasibly go back to work.. you cant just leave the kids at home to fend for themselves.

removing lockdown requires proper planning

SilverOtter is he furloughed? If not, what does he do? (Can you say, am intrigued how he does nothing).

I shall be queuing outside my office waiting for the doors to open. I HATE working from home.

I cant wait to go back to work but my partner is shielding and the thought of either of us getting on a packed tube train is quite frankly terrifying.

Girl at my works thinking up every excuse not to go into the office despite having a car, no children and no health problems. Shes still refusing to!! Then my boss has the nerve to ask me to go in to the office more 😡 Utter joke. Had to remind them I'm a single mum, dont drive and leaving my young teen (who's on the SEN register) home alone for 2 full days is probably neglectful enough (do still work from home for the other 3 days). I'm looking for a new job when this is over it's made me really bitter 🙈😂

Completely agree with this! My mind also boggles that suddenly people are concerned they may get ill when they have spent a lifetime leading unhealthy lives...not everyone of course but my parents who have every lifestyle related illness under the sun as a result of their excess of wine, food and for my Dad cigars now think Coronavirus is the only thing they are at risk of 🤔

Some people will take advantage and stay at home as long as possible because it's easier, especially if they're still being paid to do so.

But I do think some people are scared. I mean, driving to work in your own office is very different to having to spend an hour on a crammed tube train to work in a busy restaurant or open-plan workplace.

I am wfh full-time and so glad I have a job that I'm able to do this. I can't wait to go back to work! I'm just hoping I fit into my work clothes as been living in running gear, not because I have been running just because it's comfy and stretchy!

Yes because they don't want to catch or pass on covid 19. You know all those people who have died with underlying health conditions, many of them were working.
And read the lungs thread with people still feeling really ill 2-3 months later.
And we have just been informed 2 days ago about covid toes and rashes for children. And over 800 people died in the last 24 hours from coid 19.

Some of us work much more efficiently from home than in an environment where you're interrupted every 5 minutes by Every Man And Their Spouse....

I have huge sympathies for those who can't work from home though, and think better protective measures should be in place for ALL key workers, including retail staff and bus drivers. And that includes decent sick pay.

@Missfelipe If they live such unhealthy lives their chance of dying from covid 19 if they catch it in the next few months is high. But a bad lifestyle may kill them in 10 years time. Surely you understand the difference?

Yes childcare will be a massive issue. God knows what will happen with regards to that.

I don't trust my bosses to look after us.

@SilverOtter He does not sound a great person. Laziness is not an attractive feature.
And no I don't find most people I know are lazy at all.

@MarshaBradyo I don't want to name his employer for obvious reasons, but it is a large international company. He has one "conference call" each morning that lasts about ten minutes and that's it for the day! He's not furloughed, he's still employed and on full salary! It beggars belief doesn't it?

My job involves being very close to members of the public for over 30 minutes at a time. I would be happy to work if I am provided with PPE. I would not be happy to go back if there is no PPE though, like at the start of all this when we were just expected to carry on as normal with no masks/gloves etc and only some out of date hand sanitiser. I have vulnerable people at home so don’t want to put them at risk. So I think it is unfair to suggest that anyone not wanting to go back to work is lazy. There may be other reasons too.
(And I am speaking as someone who has lost over 4/5 of my income during the lockdown period)

@cantory he is extremely lazy. It's definitely his most unattractive trait. He will do things if I ask him (begrudgingly), but his default setting is couch potato

Luckily for him, he does have other attractive traits which mitigate the laziness to some extent.

It also looks like if school does go back it could be on a week on week off timetable and that won't go down well with employers either. Only being able to work every other week. Even if childcare opened up again I doubt I could afford to pay for full time childcare for three children on the week they are not in school. When right now I only have to pay for after school club. In fact I doubt my wages would cover it .

I am DESPERATE to get to back to work properly. I am on a rota so going in odd days and I feel so much better, both physically and mentally on those days, it's unreal.

I'm very far from sure that I will have a job to go back to.
My job involves large scale events at exhibition centres which are currently being used as hospitals. I'm trying not to give it too much thought because it's entirely outside of my control, but I cannot image large scale events taking place for quite some time.

It is very difficult. The bottom line is at least 2m are now looking for work so those sacked because they won't go back to work are probably in many sectors fairly easy to replace. Childcare if there is no school is a big issue - people may have to hire live in au pairs or daily nannies at big expense during term time. I think private nurseries are likely to open sooner than state schools.

I can’t wait to get back to work. I miss my job and my team and I’ll be the size of an elephant if things don’t start going back to normal soon. I’m looking at another month before we can go back, I’m counting down the days tbh.

SilverOtter that is crazy, blimey!

I can only see what Dh is doing as I’m not at work but they are all VCing all day, it’s hard going he does say he’d be straight back at work if he could. He has a nice office though and no toddler joining in. Maybe more people will cycle in in London. (Maybe they should stop traffic except PT and make everyone).

Everyone I know is desperate to work. But I don't know anyone on 80% pay for doing nothing. Just lots of freelancers who don't earn if they don't work.