Page 4 | Returning to work in real life

AtPanAtPan · 29/07/2021 19:46

www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210713-why-introverts-excelled-at-working-from-home

This article was shared with me by a work colleague who feels the same as me, in that the original ‘normal’ was just accepted because there wasn’t an alternative. Now there is an alternative and I personally have flourished during this time being able to focus on my work. I read this article and I felt understood and I actually felt quite emotional (call me snowflake if you want).

Everyone will have different opinions and preferences and that’s ok, I thought the article was very well written and might help anyone with the complete opposite view see where we are coming from

WoodPell · 29/07/2021 19:50

@Persephonesgrove

a member of staff has said that she can find quiet places to work at home, and she is stressed and anxious about people coming in and out of the office and will find it distracting

@woodpell What part of this sentence could say that she point blank refused to come in?

Op hasn't hinted or said she is refusing to come in. Not even said that she was saying in a combative way.

In the absence of op saying she was a dick about it, why would any assume she probably was?

Infact, she didn't even enquire. Enquire wasn't the right word. As far as we know..she simply made a statement about how she feels about it.

Its you are reading things into it that aren't there.

She when has it ever been assumed that people talking about how they feel about something, means they must be demanding their own way?

The same part that caused posters to insist on the following sentiment?

But the point is the person op is talking about simply enquired

The nonexistent bit of the post.

Persephonesgrove · 29/07/2021 19:54

The nonexistent bit of the post.

Yes, I said enquired wasn't the right word

Because The employee didn't even do anything as strongly as enquire. They simply stated their feelings. The employee did less than enquire.

But you said you read it that she is could point blank refuse. Which is a million miles from anything op stated.

TheSmallAssassin · 29/07/2021 19:58

It's ill judged to make people come into the office just for the sake of it. Some people are more sensitive or anxious than others, you can call it "snowflakey" if you like, but if their contribution is valuable and they are just as, if not more, productive at home, then who cares?

Having people who experience life differently in your organisation makes for a better workforce.

WoodPell · 29/07/2021 20:01

Yes, and I pointed put that the OP gave absolutely no context to the remark and yet there was an awful lot of insistence that the employee simply enquired if WFH might possible. Why is it more likely to be that she asked nicely and gave anxiety as a reason than saying she doesn't want to come in with anxiety as a reason?

Pebbles16 · 29/07/2021 20:03

I used to be in the office 4 days a week and survived (rather than thrived). Today had a workshop in the office with my lovely colleagues who are delightful and it was really productive BUT... I am exhausted by the interaction and will be so pleased to get back into the home office tomorrow.
Luckily I work for a very understanding employer and we will have an employee-led hybrid approach

Shirleyphallus · 29/07/2021 20:05

I feel hugely anxious about being back in the office full time. From a sensory perspective having worked from home for 18 months in near silence it’s horrible now being back on busy trains and in an open place office. Technology has fucked us slightly in that multiple people dial in to the same call from their desks, adding to the noise.

My feelings on it are perfectly valid and I’m entitled to feel like it. I think all the “covid is over get back to work” people must work in very limited industries and not realise the strength of employee satisfaction

FrankButchersDickieBow · 29/07/2021 20:05

The world of work has changed now.

People have realised they are just as productive, if nor more, working from home.

I personally like a mixture of office and wfh and as it has been proven that people don't have to be chained to their dests for 8 hours a day, why should we be?

Expenses are being saved on travel now people are used to attending meetings remotely and where they could visit 1 site a day for 1 meeting, you are now able to have 2/3 meetings a day.

It makes good business sense to allow hybrid working.

Persephonesgrove · 29/07/2021 20:11

Yes, and I pointed put that the OP gave absolutely no context to the remark and yet there was an awful lot of insistence that the employee simply enquired if WFH might possible. Why is it more likely to be that she asked nicely and gave anxiety as a reason than saying she doesn't want to come in with anxiety as a reason?

She didn't ask, as far as we know. We established that

Op says she basically said how she felt. I would imagine she wasn't a dick about it and was refusing to come in because

A - most people aren't dicks and demand their own way all the time

B- OP thinks derogatory things about what she said, so why would she leave out the very revelation information that the woman, point blank, refused to go back.

AntiWorkBrigade · 29/07/2021 20:12

Woodpell- it’s precisely that lack of comment that makes it unlikely the individual in question is refusing or creating a fuss as opposed to making a comment or tentatively sounding out others. Refusal would be worthy of comment (and would strengthened the op’s argument that their colleague is BU). That, and the fact that people who point blank refuse to come back into the office are likely to be a small subset of those who don’t want to go back. It’s relatively extreme behaviour.

WoodPell · 29/07/2021 20:15

Good lord. I was simply stating that it was being taken as fact. Was it fact? No!

WoodPell · 29/07/2021 20:19

She didn't ask, as far as we know. We established that

Yes, we did, when I pointed it out. Thanks for the support.

Iggly · 29/07/2021 20:22

Maybe 18 months ago people also had the same issues with working in the office??

I hate open plan offices when I need to concentrate. Too much noise and nowhere to hide. Fine for when I want to chat and socialise and bounce ideas, not fine when I need to get some fucking work done.

Persephonesgrove · 29/07/2021 20:24

@WoodPell

Good lord. I was simply stating that it was being taken as fact. Was it fact? No!

That's seems a bit of an over reaction.

Theres no evidence the woman was refusing to come in or rude. What's been written so far, suggests she just gave her view.

Why would anyone assume she doing anything different?

You posted, people responded. Now you irritated that people are responding.

Apologies, I didn't realise that you didn't want responses.

WoodPell · 29/07/2021 20:40

I was "irritated" at the several posts @Katedanielshasakitty was aiming at @Waxonwaxoff0 stating that thw colleague simply asking and stating her reasons for WFH is not snowflakey when we do not know that that is what she did.

Thanks for apologising for being irritating. I appreciate it.

Persephonesgrove · 29/07/2021 20:46

@WoodPell

I was "irritated" at the several posts *@Katedanielshasakitty was aiming at @Waxonwaxoff0* stating that thw colleague simply asking and stating her reasons for WFH is not snowflakey when we do not know that that is what she did.

Thanks for apologising for being irritating. I appreciate it.

If that's how you took that apology that's fine.

I can see why you assume people are rude and demanding. We often judge people by our own behaviour.

WoodPell · 29/07/2021 20:48

Where was I rude or demanding?

You agreed with my original point so I'm not sure why you're attempting to bully me off the thread. Sniff.

Original poster

Sandra15 · 29/07/2021 20:59

@WoodPell

Yes, and I pointed put that the OP gave absolutely no context to the remark and yet there was an awful lot of insistence that the employee simply enquired if WFH might possible. Why is it more likely to be that she asked nicely and gave anxiety as a reason than saying she doesn't want to come in with anxiety as a reason?

We were on a Zoom call this morning, a team meeting, and this lady stated that she found working at home more productive than being in the office because of people coming and going in and out of the office. She didn't refuse to come in or say anything that she was stressed or anxious. I was asking for thoughts. I find it difficult to understand as she has been in this job for many years and done a great job. In normal times it is a busy office and people do come in and out very often. Being at home has probably highlighted this for her.

She didn't ask anyone to work from home permanently, or cite anxiety, simply said how she felt. And I said how I felt about it (on here, not in the meeting, which I thought inappropriate).

I imagine there will be hybrid working going forwards, but we'll have to see how it pans out.

OP posts:

Original poster

Sandra15 · 29/07/2021 21:01

@Sapnupuas

"Snowflake" is up there with "Karen" in terms of an insult.

Overused and unimaginative.

I agree with you, but I used it as a form of shorthand to get the point across.

OP posts:

WoodPell · 29/07/2021 21:03

@Sandra15 You did use the words stressed and anxious which is why there are a load of posts about anxiety, adjusting for mental v physical health conditions and Dr's notes.

Oblomov21 · 29/07/2021 21:04

I agree Op. Her claims aren't valid. This never bothered her before for the last 25 years, but is now an issue since covid?

Original poster

Sandra15 · 29/07/2021 21:07

[quote WoodPell]@Sandra15 You did use the words stressed and anxious which is why there are a load of posts about anxiety, adjusting for mental v physical health conditions and Dr's notes.[/quote]
You're right. She did, my mistake. Looked at the call again, she said it was stressful when people come in and out of the office and she felt less anxious at home.

OP posts:

Persephonesgrove · 29/07/2021 21:08

@WoodPell

Where was I rude or demanding?

You agreed with my original point so I'm not sure why you're attempting to bully me off the thread. Sniff.

Bullying you off the thread?

You posted and I responded. That's how mn works. That's bullying you off the thread? Or is that just a stock response to anyone who disagrees, that they are bullying you?

When I read you posts, I read them as rude and demanding. Especially, since you get upset from people responding to you. I, generally, find that people who assume people are rude and demanding, do so because they are. I am only reading into your posts, what you read into the op.

I didn't agree with your point at all. I agreed it was a miss wording and according the information given so far it wasn't even a question. Simply a statement. It was less demanding than a question would be. So saying it was a question was implying it was more demanding that if actually was.

enoughforme · 29/07/2021 21:11

@CrouchEndTiger12

Absolutely snowflakish.

Funnily enough those who are too scared to come to the office are quite happy to go out drinking in pubs and post the photos on social media...

Exactly this!!

WoodPell · 29/07/2021 21:16

Sorry OP, I'd best go as apparently I'm demanding... something and I'm not allowed to respond to people who willfully musunderstand my posts. Because posting on MN means I have to agree with @Persephonesgrove when she calls me rude.

I hope your workplace sorts out a fair outcome.