Some people have just gave up?

[lovioli]

On our daily teams meeting many colleagues are declaring how they never want to return to the office . They are very adamant they want to continue to work from home and are even talking about selling their cars

Why are so many people embracing this insular life ? Giving up their independence of having a car ? So they can be chained to the house working off a laptop.

I gave up my car before lockdown happened. I cycle, walk or get the bus, or if I'm going further afield, train. I can also hire a car on the rare occasions I need one. I much prefer traveling this way.

My car was costing me £50 per month to sit and go nowhere (not including petrol, repairs and depreciation), so financially it makes sense. Environmentally it makes sense. For my life, it makes sense.

I am self employed, so don't have an office full of colleagues.

Wouldn't change a thing. You might think I'm insular, but I'm very content with my life thanks. Colleagues are overrated imo. Friends and family is where is at.

It seems weird now getting in my car to commute to a dank office to do the work I can do exactly the same at home.

Nice light warm bright home office with accessible kitchen and food and good WiFi. Finish work in time to see kids, eat proper meal with them and help with music and homework

V

Cold dark basement office in listed building with poor kitchen and not in walking distance of shops or food places and poor WiFi home after meal time

No brainier

I love it and fortunately can WFH permanently.

I am a healthcare provider - I would love to keep working from home if it is an option. Why? I can get all my chores done in the time i am not commuting or on breaks, so my time off is really time off. My house is full of stuff I like and is really comfortable. I dont really have any contact with other staff at work, as I work 1:1 with clients, so in terms of contact with other staff in my service, this is no different than usual (except my managers are making an effort to stay in touch with me for the first time in 10 years). I wouldnt get rid of my car though. I am hoping I can do a blend of days at home and back at work but to be honest, would be really happy not to go back into the office at all.

I don't think it's giving up, just that different people want different things from work. Personally, I'd much rather work from home forever and I don't particularly miss the people or the environment. Colleagues are not friends to me and my equipment setup is better than the office and the workday is generally more enjoyable.
If I end up having going back 2-3 days a week, I think I'll still feel a bit hard done bym

@lovioli

I am just surprised so many people want to sell their cars and are settling for this life. I work with healthcare professionals . I am surprised they wouldn't want to keep their car in case they returned to face to face practice.

It's your opinion that they are settling. If you are surprised, it just highlights your lack of general social awareness and the opinions of those in the industry that you are in. You keep your car, if it makes you think you are reaching for the stars rather than settling. :|

I’m inclined to agree with you, OP. I’ve had enough wfh to last me a lifetime this past year. I miss human interaction.

I have never had a car. I hardly know anyone who has one. I like working at home. I used to have to commute three hours a day and now I don’t. It’s brilliant.

@Hexuba I would imagine working with healthcare professionals it would be odd if all of a sudden they are happy to do office work only - forever !

Work from home for me 100% I'm less stressed, happier, healthier, more productive.. before lockdown I was close to quitting because of the stress of colleagues and office life EG getting to 4pm and someone putting at meeting in at 4pm -6pm it would infuriate me. Especially being in work since 8am. Then an hour commute home with traffic then household chores, homework, reading with Daughter, cooking tea. It was depressing me. Now I don't mind if someone wants a late meeting because I'm already home and can quickly do the odd job in the house in the day to compensate for it. WFH all the way! 🙌

I hated wfh, luckily I could retire so did that, still kept my car though.

I miss the joy of getting home from work and having a home day at the weekend.

This has given the push that was long overdue to remind employers that people all have different circumstances and she be offered flexibility.

A happy workforce is more productive.

DH chooses to go into work when he can, so no doubt he will go back as normal once it’s allowed, but if he was wfh permanently we’d probably get rid of his car. He only uses it for commuting. And we have my car if he needs to go somewhere. It’s not worth the expense to have it sat unused

I’m not working currently, but if it was my previous job then yes I’d chose wfh v a long commute. Maybe go in once a week just for some variety!

As a nation we have overcrowded roads, stress and long hours from commuting, parents afraid to let children walk to school because of traffic, pollution that's too high and all the associated health and climate risks, a sedentary lifestyle and a lot of that can be addressed by reducing the number of unnecessary car journeys.

It's great that people are giving up their cars!

I love wfh but my job is only a small part of my life.

It suits me, don't want the commute and rushing around. I sleep better

There are many many benefits to WFH.
I love WFH and do not miss the commute and putting children in childcare 8-6pm (including school hours).
It is helping a lot of families, especially women.
Quality of life and family time together has improved.

I hope healthcare professionals go back to face to face meetings with patients.

I’m not comfortable with medical treatment by phone or video call, I find it impedes communication and is definitely a lesser service

@willFOURbagsbeenough

I am surprised they wouldn't want to keep their car in case they returned to face to face practice.

Do you know that people are allowed to purchase a second car after selling the first one? It’s not forbidden.

😂

I actually prefer the telephone appointments with the doctor or nurse for actually being able to tell them what's wrong.

I always feel rushed in face to face appointments, so end up avoiding them for as long as I can.

I hate working from home.
I am much better in the office - and I think that businesses are suffering as the people who can WFH are ignoring the needs of others who struggle WFH.

I am lucky in that I have a 20 minute bike ride to work.

I am so looking forward to being back with actual people and not a screen.

I'd much rather work from home than go to the office.

As a family we're saving over £600 a month in travel expenses and we're getting to eat dinner together in the week for the first time in 7 years.

It's not about giving up - we're better off and happier.

[quote deroo23]@Hexuba I would imagine working with healthcare professionals it would be odd if all of a sudden they are happy to do office work only - forever ! [/quote]
Obviously it depends on the type of work but I can imagine it will result in a lot more people going to A&E.

I'd happily work from home for the rest of my working life but wouldn't dream of selling my car. When we do get back to normal I'll use my car at the weekends for leisure activities that in the 'olden days' I'd be too tired to make the effort for after a hard week commuting. I've gained at least 2 hours a day during covid wfh.