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 will feel unsafe and fearful in the company of others again. Time for the brave to be supportive rather than belittling.

the brave? At least half the world took the threat seriously enough to go on lockdown, seriously damaging the economy in the process. You cannot look down at people for taking the risk seriously.

Why do people even bother with MMR immunisations for their kids too? most kids are completely fine when they get childhood disease, but still parents take the risk of adverse reaction to the jabs to avoid the illness. (I am not against the MMR, just looking at the logic here)

I was working two jobs. One very customer facing and one that I can, and am, doing from home. I have asthma but it's not bad enough to be 'extremely vulnerable', just bad enough to be absolutely petrified of going back to my customer facing role. I just don't trust the general public to protect my health. This has got to the point the very thought of going back is giving me really bad anxiety. I'm so lucky I can at least continue to do one job but I'm not sure how much longer our family finances can allow me to be off. DH is furloughed so his income had also reduced, it does mean he can look after dd while I work at home but we're not saving any money from lack of nursery because we were just about to get the 3/4 funding the week after lockdown started. It's all a mind fuck really.

I'm working full time from home. I'm lucky that it doesn't really impact my efficiency. Though I'd like to have a paid break:) I think most people are more worried about having jobs to go back to than worry about having to go back to their job!

I can’t wait to go back to the office rather than wfh and will be doing so the second they let me!

I'm dying to get back to work. I miss my colleagues and our lovely regulars and my days have no structure with no work. My commute is 7 minutes in the car so low risk in terms of getting there. Working in a hotel the risk would be the guests as they could have travelled from places that may be more at risk/be asymptomatic etc. Normally at this time of year we'd be busy with fishermen and tourists and the start of wedding season. I was looking forward to that after a quiet winter.

Don't get me wrong I'd rather work from home in the future... neither my colleagues or the other office furniture really add much to my day:)

I can't wait to get back to work. But then I'm WFH full time whilst looking after a toddler and trying to home-school an older child.

I don't think this is true OP . We can't wait to get back to normal. I think anyone who is used to the routine of working , the camaraderie and banter with workmates and the structure of the workplace is desperate to go back. Also ppl are afraid of losing their jobs .

Well considering I'm working from home with a three year old in tow, DH is at work, I'd love to get back in the office. But as I have no form of childcare until he starts nursery School in September (IF it happens), then unfortunately I won't be able to go back to the office until the school is open to take him.
Nothing to do with being lazy.

Those having affairs will be off like rockets.

Hopefully the other woman or man, will have had time in lockdown to realise they don't need to be sleeping with someone who they shouldn't be sleeping with.

The number of people on this thread dreading having to use the tube pretty much counteracts another thread where London is the best possible place to live, somewhat.

Why do people even bother with MMR immunisations for their kids too? most kids are completely fine when they get childhood disease, but still parents take the risk of adverse reaction to the jabs to avoid the illness.

I assume because the risk of an adverse reaction to the jab is pretty negligible compared to the risk of an adverse reaction to measles (millions of deaths a year pre-vaccine, encephalitis, pneumonia, blindness), mumps (meningitis, myocarditis, deafness, infertility, possibility of causing abortions) or rubella (possible infertility, inflammation of the nervous system, miscarriage, congenital rubella syndrome in newborns)...

I read up a lot before my son had jabs...

I think even for the 80+ the death rate is "only" about 15% (assuming prompt treatment and not being left to rot in a nursing home). If you had an illness and you were told your survival chances were 85% you would think they were pretty good. So it's not a death sentence for the elderly either.

But these stats are based on an NHS that wasn't overwhelmed because we are on lockdown

The stats of an overwhelmed NHS because everyone is back to.living normally again will.lokk very different.

The claim of a younger, fit person having a vanishingly small chance of dying just won't hold true if it spreads uncontrollably.

I think people will learn to live with the risk, as we do with so many other risks in life before Covid - initially it will feel scary and overwhelming but then most healthy people will just get on with their lives again.

How many "healthy" people do you think there are in the country? Adding the vulnerable and the shielded together and that's about one third of the population.

If the NHS gets overwhelmed then it will be the young and fit people getting seriously ill and dying. Maybe people will be a bit less blasé if that happens.

As grateful as I am for the 'free money' I'd much rather be at work. Unfortunately the government have mandated places like my workplace closed. The longer that goes on, the less chance there is of my workplace making it through.
Even if we make it through this there's going to be reduced footfall and therefore reduced income for the business, due to other people having less disposable income, and fear of the virus. A lot of leisure and hospitality businesses are likely to close permanently, reducing the job pool to apply from. Especially in areas like mine where it relies heavily on tourism. I'll consider myself extremely lucky if I still have a job this time next year.
If that happens there's going to be a lot getting more 'free money' in the form of benefits, having lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
Not going to stop anyone sticking the boot in though and shouting lazy scroungers though is it. Like they are already at furloughed workers.
I've never been out of work, from age 15 to now at 40. I've worked hard and my way up from min wage to management position, I've taken every opportunity available and created a few of my own being in the right place at the right time.
So if this thread is right and many use "any excuse" not to return to work, that could work out better for lazy scroungers like me as there'll be more jobs out there to apply for!

In terms of city companies I think a lot of them will scale back their offices and will have people partially working from home. My husband’s work can save so much money on office rent that they would have the budget to employ more people as a result. His work can be easily done from home. He definitely works and isn’t skiving - is in back to back conference calls from 9 to 5 (senior management).

I’ve still been going to work but I’m fewer hours and reduced workload so going back to full
time, along with all the school runs and other day to day pressure isn’t something I’m looking forward to. I think my current balance is much better for me than my usual rush about. I’m a working single parent so feel like I’m always guilty for letting someone down as not enough time
and always juggling stuff.

Petty miserable people just love to see the worst in others.

@unworthy

Excellent post!

Life is full of risks.

A 'new normal' has to be put in place urgently.

Not surprised people are scared. Government has sought to 'control' the population by highlighting every fear or concern and not putting the whole thing into context in a nation of 66 million people.

It's called the 'politics of fear'.

Erm I would love to work. I usually work 10 hours a day and volunteer at various places evenings and weekends. I love being busy.

But just the little factor of not particularly wanting to die anytime soon. Have various health conditions and am shielding.

Not an excuse just want to stay alive.

I am desperate to get back to work but i’m in the shield group so no idea when i’ll be allowed out of my house. If I were single without kids I’d be more inclined to ignore advice and return to work ASAP but with 2 kids and one with additional needs I can’t risk dying or becoming so sick that I may always need help and never return to the job I love. It’s just shit to be honest.

I think so. I work from home anyway, but dh is already making noises about “how much more productive he’s been at home” and I think will angle for some more of it!

Not RTFT

I can't wait to get back to the office

I miss my workmates, chatting, nights out.

My mental health suffers when I don't have to get up and out, as it were. I'm back on ADs same as when on mat leave and couldn't do my usual things.

Unfortunately I will be one of the last as work Central London, and set up to WFH.

DH OTOH hates his job and is a home bod. He's a key worker so still going out to work, I envy him tbh although that sounds nuts given the circs.

There are aspects to being at home with the kids all the time which are good, but overall, it's not how I like to live.

Everyone is different aren't they.