To think people are over looking the benefits of going to work

[Poptart4]

I keep hearing about how great working from home is. No commute, saving money, more family time etc.

But I think people are over looking the benefit's of actually going to work.

• Getting out of the house, personally I dont think its healthy to spend all (most) of your time within the same 4 walls.
• The social aspect of working. Alot of people make friends or at least acquaintances through work.
• I know alot of people who met their partner through work. And alot who just had fun casual hook ups with co-workers. Either way there will be less chances at romance because you will have less social interaction.
• As a mother I find going out to work gives me a life outside of being mammy. It gives me a little independence for myself. If I was working from home all of the time I would never be away from the children. Never get a break.
• No after work drinks, office xmas parties etc.
• I've also read some threads on here about couples fighting because one or both of them is working from home and there getting on each others nerves. Couples need time apart.

I really think once the novelty of working from home wears off alot of people are going to miss the hustle and bustle of office life. And alot of people are going to end up depressed. Especially for people who live alone. The lack of social interaction will impact them the most.

I think the upsides are probably limited to mainly the young and extroverts though.

Quite frankly no Xmas parties or after work drinks sounds like a move towards utopia for me -but 15-20 years ago I would have really missed these things as I was young, in a city where I only knew work people etc.

Office working is shit if you’re an introvert like me. Oh the blessed release of not having to sit next to Simon all day trying to brown nose his way up the corporate ladder, not having Joe interrupting my train of thought with his loud mouthed bragging of the girl he pulled, no group talking over the top of me about fucking football.

Not having to act like a performing bear every second of the working day, wearing a rainbow lanyard to support LGQT..,,,, rights, whilst eating a samosa to celebrate EID during my lunch break taken up by some director try to make partner telling me how important mental health is )when I know he is personally responsible for two members of staff currently being off sick with stress).

At home, it is possible to actually work rather than spending my time in advancing careers through dubious means.

No male colleagues eying up every woman, evaluating their fuckability.

No forced “fun”.

And as for meeting a partner at work -Jesus Christ it’s bad enough when you’re paid to spend time with these people, I wouldn’t want to be married to one!

And so to agree with some other posters, I miss Work Xuli. I miss dresses and heels and makeup and just being someone other than Mum. I feel I've lost a huge part of my identity because I'm working in a home office set up in my 3yo's bedroom and I'm either with kids or on my own.

Communicating well online takes a certain skill set. Our children do it now as a matter of course - I think WFH will open up bigger opportunities to work in careers in other countries that were previously not possible. I think there are endless exciting opportunities for those that want them.

Where is the satisfaction working remotely in another country if you never get to see it?

Young people in this country are already struggling to move out of home because of the astronomical housing costs. In our case wfh would mean 4 adults living and working in the same space.

Also for young people starting out, moving to new jobs and building their live and finding relationships, working from home is the kiss of death. Of course working from home suits middle-aged people with existing families and a circle of established friends, but it can't be all about us- we are already advantaged in this situation

This in spades!

I wfh for the first few weeks then managed to get childcare so l could go into the office - felt like l was having a night out! Put my glad rags on and dressed up smart, loved it! Totally agree OP bit also see the benefits for many who wfh.

Different strokes for different folks. I hate WFH and can't wait t get back to the office for a lot of the reasons you mention (not the hookups 🤭). My DP loves it and never wants to go back, but then he gets annoyed by other people breathing and the way they eat soup 😆 We're very different people!

On this thread - and, frankly on anything to do with Covid - I have seen so many people absolutely unable to see a situation from another’s point of view. Actually, let’s make that any subject!

Over and over again through the years on MN I have seen posters calling other people saddos for hoping to make friends at the school gate, or wanting a chat at work. “I already have friends” they post; obviously having met friends and partner as a foetus.

And on this thread there are those sneering at anyone who actually might welcome going into a workplace, and not recognising that not everyone is a self-satisfied 40-something.

Like TheSeasideSlide, surely people can have some empathy for others, even if they’re well-suited themselves? Apparently not, it seems.

I suspect the opportunity to work in other countries is more likely to manifest itself in British jobs being done "from home" in places where wages are lower, than excellent opportunities for British people to work for overseas businesses.

I'm middle aged and am suffering from cabin fever. It sounds like some posters have some insufferable colleagues. Luckily, the people I work with are more socially aware and know how to work with other people rather than inflict theri bad habits on everyone.

I wonder if people more used to working at home will develop more bad habits because they don't have other people to worry about?

I think that people with children/partners forget that that actually is their social life- that they have social contact every day with other people, even if those people aren't friends. Families are sociable!

I disagree. I think most parents especially mothers would not count a social life as being around their partners and children 24/7. Yes, it is social interaction but being around partners and children constantly for many women as OP had also mentioned is exhausting, tiring and can also lead to mental health issues. Yes, it happens to fathers, but I doubt the number is as high for them. Constant anything whether being alone or being with others isn’t great and a balance is necessary for many.

It also depends on personalities. My husband is happy with the current situation he is not a people person and glad not to commute. Whereas like OP, I have throughly missed commuting and going to work because it is the only time where I’m on my own and not just mum (sons, 5 ASD and an almost 3 yo) and husband’s wife while also not having to be constantly on alert.

I can have breakfast and read without being constantly disturbed or even pulled away. I can tidy something without it having been pointless less than an hour later. I can have a conversation that involves my interests with colleagues who have the same and can relate to me where my husband can’t. I hadn’t been able to leave the house without one or two children in tow for five months unless I went for exercise but then I dreaded going home because it just starts all over again. I would be ok for one or two weeks and then feel utterly miserable for a week or two and indifferent the next and then it would start all over again like a loop. Also, having to listen to my husband wfh for almost 9 hours a day and have to spend most of that time trying to keep our children occupied and out of his way or take them out when there was nowhere to take them plus also trying to do what needs to be done in the house was not helping.

I’m looking forward to going back to work in September!!!

This thread is interesting. One if the projects I'm working on is about how we can shift to a working from home as default culture permanently. The mixed views on this thread reflect the feedback we're getting from our staff. For me, working from home is really positive as I save £150 a month in petrol and get back 2 hours a day as I no longer have a long commute. But I have adult DC, space to work comfortably and an active social life outside of work. I can see why some people find it difficult and would prefer to be in the office.

Ok, I’ve read and wanted to contribute. Friends who are happy to wfh are now a little disconcerted that they’ve had their London Weighting refused going forward, yes really.

As a business, your primary concern is to make money and whilst you are going to be saving money on office space, why on earth would you pay someone who commutes into cities reasonable pay when they have proved that they don’t need it. Get someone in Poland to work instead on £4 per hour. They can do the exact same job too from home.

I really think we’re blindly sleepwalking into the most dreadful future imagined here.

If I were wfh, I would be back in that office pronto spouting about personal development, team building etc (despite the fact that I enjoyed wfh).

This country doesn’t need workers that ban be sourced from abroad, we need workers who commute, now and get back to work because there aren’t many socialist business owners out there to be fair.

Just a thought.

Yanbu that there are benefits of going in to the office.

Yabu that it’s been overlooked. This is being constantly discussed as far as I can see!

@Undercovermuvver

Ok, I’ve read and wanted to contribute. Friends who are happy to wfh are now a little disconcerted that they’ve had their London Weighting refused going forward, yes really.

As a business, your primary concern is to make money and whilst you are going to be saving money on office space, why on earth would you pay someone who commutes into cities reasonable pay when they have proved that they don’t need it. Get someone in Poland to work instead on £4 per hour. They can do the exact same job too from home.

I really think we’re blindly sleepwalking into the most dreadful future imagined here.

If I were wfh, I would be back in that office pronto spouting about personal development, team building etc (despite the fact that I enjoyed wfh).

This country doesn’t need workers that ban be sourced from abroad, we need workers who commute, now and get back to work because there aren’t many socialist business owners out there to be fair.

Just a thought.

Very good - if not alarming, point!

Totally agree OP, can't wait to go back.

What makes you think you know best? & other people are 'overlooking' things? Perhaps they simply do not agree with you!

I’m a freelancer and even when I wasn’t I never socialised with co-workers aside from idle chatter over lunch. I’d rather chew an emery board than attend a work Christmas party.

@Undercovermuvver I think you're absolutely right and it's (another) disaster waiting to happen for our young people but these people determined that home working works are only thinking about themselves and they're confident that the changes you mention will take long enough to become widespread, that it won't affect them during what's left of their working lives.

The other thing of course, is that all the money they love saving on travel, clothes, lunches, even the demise of the dreaded Christmas party, is other people's jobs. Again no one sees cares about the wider picture. It's all I'm alright Jack.

I am in the fortunate position of having dedicated office space at home. So while I am stuck looking at 4 walls at least I get to decide what colour those walls are! So much better than the bilious green in the corporate office!

Yes I am also fortunate to have a dedicated room. One of my friends was hating wfh but has finally sorted out her spare room, put in some office equipment etc and is now much happier.

I am more than happy for the people who are missing the social aspects of work to go back into the office. What I dont want is to be dragged back into the office to provide another face for them to be social at.

Agree completely.

[quote FinnyStory]@Undercovermuvver I think you're absolutely right and it's (another) disaster waiting to happen for our young people but these people determined that home working works are only thinking about themselves and they're confident that the changes you mention will take long enough to become widespread, that it won't affect them during what's left of their working lives.

The other thing of course, is that all the money they love saving on travel, clothes, lunches, even the demise of the dreaded Christmas party, is other people's jobs. Again no one sees cares about the wider picture. It's all I'm alright Jack.[/quote]
Well said FinnyStory

Ideally we could have all the introverts working from home and the extroverts office based, then everyone would be happy.

Ideally we could have all the introverts working from home and the extroverts office based, then everyone would be happy

Too simplistic. I’m an introvert and I miss the office. I may not actively want to engage socially with people all day long but having people milling about makes me feel less isolated.
I also started to resent being in my own home because it became synonymous with working. I needed a change of scenery. 50/50 wfh and office is my preference.

I disagree. I think most parents especially mothers would not count a social life as being around their partners and children 24/7. Yes, it is social interaction but being around partners and children constantly for many women as OP had also mentioned is exhausting, tiring and can also lead to mental health issues

I agree being around families, and in particular trying to work and do childcare simultaneously is draining and exhausting. But a lot of people on here don't seem to realise that lots of people don't have anyone at home at all, they literally won't see another soul unless they think of a reason to walk to the corner shop. Seeing your partner, and interacting with your children might be tiring, but it is human interaction, which some people working from home are going to be entirely lacking.

I hated the last office I worked in. It was all hot desks so we had a locker where you got your laptop out in the morning and had to put it away in the evening. For that reason you couldn’t have anything personal as it wasn’t your desk. The walls were all white and sterile as were the desks. With that awful strip lighting overhead. The lack of any colour/personality/warmth to my work space/environment made me feel really depressed. At home I have a lovely desk set up with everything I need at hand. No need to pack away every night. It’s a huge improvement. I’m more than happy to have my 4walls around me rather than the previous depressing warehouse style!

Some colleagues were nice but working in close proximity you have to deal with all the noise (something I struggle with) and annoying habits!

As many pp’s have said, a lot depends on your age and stage in life. I’m 50 and would happily never set foot in an office again. I think a good way to do it is to take people’s preferences into account.

I'm an introvert too, there's lots about being in the office that I don't like and my natural inclination would be to hide from that but it's not actually good for us to hide in our comfort zone IMO.

But more than that, I feel a responsibility to contribute to the rest of the economy, the future of my organisation and the next generations coming through, even if my life might be easier if I stayed at home.

But a lot of people on here don't seem to realise that lots of people don't have anyone at home at all, they literally won't see another soul unless they think of a reason to walk to the corner shop. Seeing your partner, and interacting with your children might be tiring, but it is human interaction, which some people working from home are going to be entirely lacking.

I agree with that. Some people are happy with that lack of interaction and some people aren’t, but I also think it depends on how someone likes to have human interaction. Are they the type that need to physically speak, see and/or touch a person or are they happy to have it from a distance like talking to people on the phone, video chats or through the internet, maybe even both.

I’m 50 and would happily never set foot in an office again.

I'm 61 and can't wait to be able to interact with actual real life people again. A lot of my workmates won't see 50 again and want to get back to the office as well. I guess we are just more extrovert than many mumsnetters.