First day back in office - what had changed for you?

[MargieMo]

We're back in the office 2 days per week in limited numbers. Even though we'd worked more or less as normal from home, it was the first time back and meeting people face to face. A few observations from me:

• Commute so so much easier

• Office seems too quiet with so few people, no feeling of energy

• Restrictions, cleaning, masks, etc. make it feel more clinical, more like a lab or factory

• Wow! Some people had put on serious amounts of weight when away from the office! I've read that a lot more people were exercising, but some of my colleagues must have put on 20+lbs

What do you think you are being unreasonable about?

We havent gone back yet. I dont think we will for quite a few months either

Very quiet as we each go in one day a week And many still don’t come in at all. Normally 1500 in my office. Most days now it’s under 100.

Stressful as I keep forgetting the one way system, which staircase is up or down, when to sanitise.

The canteen has one dish a day. The nearby Pret still ain’t open. Food is therefore as issue.

I’d prefer to work from home until the office is more full and we can have gatherings again. Even when in the office I spend my life on the screen having meetings with those still at home.

There was yellow tape around all the desks at a 2m distance and signs not to cross! Bit ridiculous as you do actually need to go closer to talk. I did suggest we had a teams meeting from one desk to another (jokingly)

We aren’t back yet. My work are saying we’ll likely be WFH until Christmas.

I came out of furlough on Monday, jobs now been made permanently wfh tho 🙌🏻 I did mostly wfh before covid anyway but now it’s officially always

I was wfh for four months. No weight gain here as someone was kindly shopping for us and I didn't like to take the piss by requesting treats (much to the chagrin of DH ).

Office of 23. Bit quieter as still a few on furlough and lots of bosses still working from home a lot. I've swapped desks with a colleague who's still furloughed so as to be a bit further from a colleague I normally sit opposite and also so we're not face to face.

A few less (?!) people on my walk to and from work and the town is quieter.

But not much different really apart from sanitiser wherever you home.

Windows open. Hand sanitizer and antibac wipes available. Only two people in the toilets at once. Kitchen closed. Cleaning of frequent touch surfaces through the day.

I came out of furlough on Monday, jobs now been made permanently wfh tho 🙌🏻 I did mostly wfh before covid anyway but now it’s officially always

Not sure I understand this (maybe first coffee of the day not kicked in yet) but why were you furloughed if you were partly WFH before Covid and permanently WFH now?

Im on mat leave but DH is working from home. They are allowed back into the office in September (which he has signed up for) but there won’t be widespread return until January.

There will be no lunch provided (usually a takeaway of choice from central London), no snacks (usually cheese, chocolate, fruit, carrot sticks etc), masks worn away from the desk/office. No reception staff. No external guests. No working very early or late because they have cleaning crews scheduled. No use of conference rooms, and you have to set up the webcam on your computer yourself.

There are only 5 of them going back out of an office of nearly 100 and it’s split over two floors which are large enough for around 80 people each - but due to the nature of the work they do it’s mostly set up as offices instead open plan so they can’t fit as many in each floor.

TBC on whether they can use the showers, DH would like to cycle in and shower at the office but they may get company expensed ubers instead as the only other option is the tube.

StormzyinaTCup firms could furlough staff if there wasn't sufficient staff. To prevent them from going under due to loss of income, as the government picked up some of their outgoings.

wasn't sufficient works, not wasn't sufficient staff.

Quieter and hand sanitiser stations and signs everywhere make it feel very odd more like a hospital than an office. One person who is obviously very nervous hides in a corner and wipes and sprays antibac everywhere every time anyone moves. I can't breathe for all the chemicals in the air.

I just come on to AIBU to find @Lockheart asking people why they have posted there