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?

Some people might hate their jobs and have found that a break has made them realise just how badly their wok has affected their mental health. Loads of reasons why.

For me, I have continued to work full time, albeit from home.

I am not afraid to say that I will put off commuting for as long as I possibly can. I am genuinely afraid of catching the virus as I have lost people close to me who were not "at risk", and I would prefer to wfh for as long as I can.

I can't wait to get back to work. Childcare though is a bit of a worry but we will work that out.

That said, I drive to work and I can understand people's reluctance to use public transport at the moment.

I need to be working. Hate this limbo of not working at all and not knowing if it will be permanent etc.

It depends what you mean by "go back to work". We've already been told that flexible working is going to be rolled out to a far greater degree than it was ever available before, as now they've realised it's possible and will save money by needing fewer desks and therefore less office space, and the reduction in the travel bill. Those who have found WFH offers benefits such as reduced commute time etc will be taking them up on this, I should imagine.

So in that respect no, we won't go back to work the way it was - I plan to WFH at least two days a week in future.

My work has said to plan to wfh until September at least. (nobody usually works from home, it's new for us).

They have specifically said nobody will be forced back before they are comfortable it's safe and that they will consider public transport concerns etc.

Schools are also a consideration especially if they are phased return or part time and you have children across different year groups. Our schools will not be returning until August earliest (Scotland, education minister has said this quite clearly).

YANBU.

@MarshaBradyo @cantory I should say that while I've been out at work most days, he has been doing all the homeschooling with our 7 year old. He's not all bad!

To be fair, if he had loads of 'work work' to do I don't think our children would be getting any home schooling at all.

I am actually scared of going back to work too soon. I work in a school - not teaching but lots of contact with children - and I am scared of catching something. Just before lockdown I caught something from one of the children we had to send home (high temperature and lots of coughing with the child) and I certainly had similar symptoms 7 days later. No idea whether it was the virus, no idea whether I'm still positive, no idea whether it was something different and I still have the virus to come...

I'm older and terrified of being ill and ending up in hospital. I would prefer to stay in lockdown, which I don't find all that onerous, than go back too early. In fact, if I were perfectly honest, I would prefer to be laid off completely rather than go back....

MY work are currently rewriting their flexible working policy, as wfh has been discouraged strongly and only available at the discretion of your manager previously. They have realised that wfh is going incredibly well for the business and will allow a lot more of it going forward.

I would like to work at least one day a week at home in future. I only travel 15 minutes to the office too. But a quiet day at home I can get so much done without interruptions.

Also our CEO has already stated that the offices won't be opening if we need to distance, wear masks or have other plans in place. If there is risk, we will remain at home.

people may have to hire live in au pairs or daily nannies at big expense during term time.

You do realise the majority of people can in no way afford this?

We are already discussing an “admin review” post C19.

We have a number of staff working from home whose output has dropped like a stone since WFH. One woman didn’t answer a phone or email for 2 days.

They’ll be getting a shock when they do return to work

That’s good Silver, I’m more amazed that his company don’t know, or don’t mind. I’m sure he’s useful in many ways ;

I can’t wait to get back to work. I hate working from home. I like to separate the office from home. I’ve been told I will be working from home for a few months yet though 🙁

Sod this, I'm going nuts alone in a tiny flat. Cannot wait to get back to work, be able to do my job properly, have suitable equipment and switch off when I leave. I need the social and creative stimulus of work.

I am definitely not looking forward to going back into the office. I am really happy WFH (anti social sod that I am). My assistant was furloghed so I am doing his work as well as mine, I dont want to be pushed into a long commute as well as covering his work.

I'm working from home and at first I hated it but I'm rather enjoying it now. I get an extra couple of hours in bed in the morning, no commute, can just slob around, chill out in comfort on the couch at lunchtime and watch a bit of telly. I'm looking forward to going back cos I miss all my colleagues but not looking forward to the early morning alarm call.

I work from home on a permanent basis, self-employed.

I'm usually very productive. At the moment though I have three secondary school age children bouncing off the walls with boredom and constantly demanding food, and a DH working from home too. It's very difficult to work effectively under these circumstances. FOr most people, regular working from home means having the house to yourself from at least 9-3, peace and quiet. That's a very different scenario from what's happening at the moment.

I’m early years and severely asthmatic. I’m. A k at work next week and really quite scared.

I am going back to work on Monday after 6 weeks furloughed mainly due to a family bereavement. I can’t wait to go back, I am extremely fortunate to have a job to go back to and cannot cope without routine in my life!

I'm a bit of everything. I am loving being at home but I'm bored of being at home. I want to go back to work but I'm really scared. I can't understand why we are looking at going back so soon. We still have lots of cases.

Fact is a business needs to make money and the majority of people don’t work efficiently from home

The first part of that sentence is correct. The second part is inaccurate.

SOME people don't work efficiently from home (and at the moment many people are trying to work at home without childcare, which some employers seem to be forgetting).

I work from home anyway but my husband has found it quite difficult. I imagine that he may well go back the office one day a week once restrictions are eased (and the office is reopened) but he will need to use overground train, and then, to avoid the tube, will have a 50 minute walk, so it won't be something he wants to do every day. But one day a week will help him get things done that are difficult from home.

I would have thought that a part-time return would suit a lot of people especially if it means public transport being (a lot) less busy (and roads, come to that, and maybe if the roads are less busy people can cycle to work).

Employers need to demonstrate flexibility and common sense. The virus is not going away. I don't think we'll have a vaccine any time soon so we need to learn to live with it in a way that balances the risk of the virus with other risks. But saying everyone has to come into the office 5 days a week from eg 1 June is just stupid and is all about control and bottoms on seats.

I'm more scared of being at home for much longer. I have a home worker contract and have done since 2011, but I regularly go to the office and have to work from various different sites. I miss it. My kids miss school, I miss family and friends. The only other adult I physically see at the moment is my stbexh - this is shit for my mental health.

Once it is safe to go back into the mainstream world. I'll be there with bells on.

To answer your question, I do believe there will be a section of people who won't want to go back to work - for many varied reason's.

My mind also boggles that suddenly people are concerned they may get ill when they have spent a lifetime leading unhealthy lives

My father smoked his whole life and died of small-cell lung cancer at the age of 78.

COVID can kill and a fit and healthy person who has never taken risks in a matter of weeks.

It's hardly comparable, is it?

I'd like some evidence for the claim that the majority of people don't work efficiently from home

There isn't any, it's just a claim made by lazy incompetent managers

A fit and healthy young person, I should have said.