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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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?

316 replies

wakeupitsabeautifulmorning · 01/05/2020 11:40

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?

OP posts:
TeacupDrama · 01/05/2020 13:27

@peppafrig I was talking about those currently working from home
obviously it's relevant if you can't work form home but if you can't work from home you are allowed to travel to work already unless you are furloughed and when you are out of furlough you will be allowed to travel
but huge numbers of commuters are people who can work from home

BlueJava · 01/05/2020 13:28

I'm looking forward to going back - although I have loved working from home. However, I am not looking forward to packed trains, packed tube and packed sandwich shops at lunchtime.

Gwenhwyfar · 01/05/2020 13:30

"“ How do you social distance on public transport once restrictions are lifetd? Love to hear anyone who would tell me how it will actually will work practically.”

They can’t."

Run more and only allow them to be half full? Could do the same with office, half of staff at home and half in the office and rotate if needed. With schools, morning and afternoon shift.

hanahsaunt · 01/05/2020 13:31

I am absolutely loving working from home! I enjoy my job but my life has opened up through this and would dearly love to continue to work from home, going in maybe once a week.

HeadOfTheCongaLine · 01/05/2020 13:34

I'm just grateful that not everyone is unwilling to go back to work. Reading posts on here about people being frightened to go to their offices yet they're happy to have others working. Perhaps all the food production workers, HGV drivers, utilities etc should stop what they're doing and stay at home if it's that dangerous?

emmathedilemma · 01/05/2020 13:35

I'm WFH fulltime but I'm desperate to get back into an office and have contact with humans again! That said, I don't want to do it until it's safe to do so, and I foresee that we'll be on phased return with staggered days, people who rely on public transport staying at home etc.

Peppafrig · 01/05/2020 13:35

Public transport is a massive issue for me for example my local bus runs once a hour. If you can't get on then you are already an hour late and that's if you even get on the next one.

Yes teacup I am furloughed and my employers seem to think it will be business as usual from the 11th May.

Xenia · 01/05/2020 13:37

My son who delivers your groceries has worked week in week out full time during this crisis as has my doctor sibling and plenty of others to ensure we have tax revenue to pay nurses and to pay universal credit for those temporarily on their uppers.

Sunny345H · 01/05/2020 13:38

I've already decided that when they ask me to go back I'm going to put in a request for unpaid leave. Being at home with my son is far better than going to work.

LilacTree1 · 01/05/2020 13:38

Gwen “ Run more and only allow them to be half full?”

Now TFL staff have worked out they don’t have to come in if they say they have a cough - no chance.

The Tube runs to capacity in normal circumstances anyway. And we can’t magic up extra bus drivers.

LakieLady · 01/05/2020 13:41

If you consider talking to your colleagues a distraction. I find it very important

That's one aspect that we've found has a slight adverse effect on efficiency. Times when you'd just ask if anyone knows a technical point and someone would now require us to look things up, which takes a lot longer!

The organisation I work for has outgrown its premises, and space is tight. Individual managers have always had the discretion to allow wfh, and our manager is really fine with it, but many aren't. I think that now they've seen how easy it is, I suspect there will be a sea change and more managers will be expected to allow it, if only to relieve pressure on space.

ALovelyBitOfSquirrel · 01/05/2020 13:42

Those furloughed well the government are not going to pay your wage forever so it’s back to work. It’s nice getting paid to do fuck all I’m sure but that has to end

You do know that those furloughed had no hand in why and no choice Hmm you sound very bitter.

twinkleprincess · 01/05/2020 13:42

It seems to me that the reason it gets people's backs up is because they don't have that option.

I don't have the option I'm my company to earn £50,000 however I don't say that those who do are horrible and pay about etc.

If you've had to keep working then unfortunately it's the way it works. This level of resentment is damaging society. Those who are still working should be happy they have a job. Some people who are furloughed have no clue if they will go back to a job.

It's a sense of self entitlement if I've had to work so everyone should that will cause issues in society. Those who are currently working, well done, thank you for keeping going in. However it's not those who are currently not workings fault.

Kitcat47 · 01/05/2020 13:42

I think some people are work shy and enjoy being off. There are people who no work with loving it. Posting on fbook all the time. Getting paid. She is always off. I'm still having to go in to work. Think some people have an attitude I'm alright Jack but don't realise or care about anyone else is going through. I work about how life will be after.

GetawayfromthatWelshtart · 01/05/2020 13:43

I WFH full time with the odd day in the office.

My office is shut and all my colleagues are working from home and want to go back to the office but are scared SHITLESS because public transport is going to be horrendous and scary.

It was bad enough beforehand with having to be packed into a train for over 40 mins like sardines but add the fact that the virus is still out there and still infecting people and there is real reason why they don't want to have to go back to the office.

They could catch it and pass it to their families.. then what?

A majority of workers can't stagger going to work if they have to do a full day. No one wants to have to travel in after non peak hours and then get home in the middle of the night and then you have the situation where "10am travel" becomes the new rush hour.

Its going to be a bloody nightmare!

PickAChew · 01/05/2020 13:46

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

And meantime, in the real world...

Namechange8471 · 01/05/2020 13:46

I think you’re generalising op...

I’m currently on the sick as my mental health is in tatters due to the current situation (I can imagine I’m one of many).
Luckily dp has a good job, therefore I have made the difficult decision to hand my notice in. I am aware some people may not be in a position to do this. My heart goes out to everyone affected ❤️

Yes some will love being off work, others genuinely scared to go back. Try not to judge op!

DecadentDeity · 01/05/2020 13:47

Dh had a chat with a client this morning - they are keen to get back into the office, what the client wants the client gets...the tricky thing for us is that a couple of the staff don't want to go into the office at all - they have no caring responsibilities, they just prefer it.

LilacTree1 · 01/05/2020 13:47

Getaway “ It was bad enough beforehand with having to be packed into a train for over 40 mins like sardines but add the fact that the virus is still out there and still infecting people and there is real reason why they don't want to have to go back to the office.

They could catch it and pass it to their families.. then what? ”

It’s probably been out there for ages and you can always take nasty diseases back home.

KitKatKit · 01/05/2020 13:48

I'm pregnant and (fortunately) without any underlying conditions, so not considered high risk.

For some reason (!!!), I'm not comfortable with commuting to work 2 hours each way on public transport (one mainline train and then two London Underground tubes- and then the reverse on the way home).

I know that I am scrupulous when it comes to hygiene standards and keeping my distance from people, but are others? No. That's why it's spreading, because people aren't staying at home when they should be.
If I'm considered to be "finding excuses" then shame on you OP.
Oh and I've been WFH and contributing to the economy throughout lockdown so I'll continue to do that thank you very much.

MintyMabel · 01/05/2020 13:51

not being left to rot in a nursing home

That’s a very misleading characterisation. This is not what is happening. People with relatives in care homes don’t need to be hearing this kind of stuff.

vanillandhoney · 01/05/2020 13:51

Reading posts on here about people being frightened to go to their offices yet they're happy to have others working. Perhaps all the food production workers, HGV drivers, utilities etc should stop what they're doing and stay at home if it's that dangerous?

But you need to go out of the house to do those jobs. Why should be people be forced to travel to work on public transport five days a week when they can do their jobs from home?

apricotdreams · 01/05/2020 13:52

I am furloughed. Missing going to the office so much. The whole social aspect and having a sense of purpose. I am just worried I won't have a job to return to ☹️

GetawayfromthatWelshtart · 01/05/2020 13:53

@LilacTree1

Catching a cold from someone on a packed train is different from catching COVID-19.

ssd · 01/05/2020 13:53

I think what some posters here don't realise is how terrified some of us feel. I'm furloughed and am bored stiff, but the thought of getting on the train, walking through the city centre and working in retail again genuinely terrifies me. I want to stay in till there's a vaccine. I had health anxiety after my mum died and this has made it 100 times worse.
So instead of thinking "oh people are skiving and loving it", please remember some of us are up the wall at the thought of going back out there.

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