About the level of fear over returning to the office?

[Hilyie]

We all currently WFH, our employer has said that this is the way forward, and we won't go back to working even weekly in the office - indeed we can't as our building has been partly sold off so there's only room for a limited number at any one time . The suggestion by our organisation is that within our teams and workgroups we try to attend the office 'a few times a year'. Apparently the ideal is once a month but there's no hard and fast rules.

As a department, we're currently trying to make arrangements to get people in the office a couple of times before the end of the year. But the level of anxiety is unbelievable.

Most people are vaccinated (personally I'm not, but the majority are), under 50, and with no underlying health conditions, not carers for those who are high risk etc. Very few have had Covid (that they know of)

Yet so far we've had some refusing outright to come in at all because they don't feel safe, others saying they would come to the office but refuse to use public transport as it's too dangerous, some saying they would come in if everyone had done a LFT beforehand (this is not required by our employer, though they are doing other checks) some saying they'll come in but want to sit 2m apart from anyone and if we get together for a meeting insist on everyone wearing masks or that we'll have to sit outside. Someone else wants to go home at lunch because 'its not safe to eat in the office' and so on. There are probably even more examples of what people won't do.

These people all worked side by side 18 months ago, ate lunch at their desks, chatted by the water cooler etc, all very normal. Yet now it feels like they're scared to leave the house.

Are we just unlucky or are other people this concerned? It feels like any semblance of our work environment will never return!

If someone has been inside for 18 months then it will be a big step coming back and I think softly softly is right.

But if you have kids at school then you're better off in the office than at home from a covid point of view. So I'd be pissed off at their anxiety as its rooted in stupidity

A lot of people are scared shitless, pretty much the only thing the government did successfully right from the start of Covid was to scare people.

I feel for these people, they must be living a very shitty life.

To be honest. And very honest I think that a lot of those people refusing aren't anxious or worried in the slightest (I speak as one of these people) - it's just that WFH has been so bloody brilliant that I'd rather continue to do so. I hate office politics, I don't like eating and chatting with my colleagues and I've achieved a great work/life balance like this. I'm still getting my work done but I don't want to hear about Linda's new baby nor James' recent trip to Dubai over the water cooler. Of course I can't word it like that so I'd rather go for the 'worried and concerned' approach.

I'm no longer spending stupid money and time on commuting. Let people be.

I think there is an element of genuine fear, but also a lot of people have gotten very very comfortable with WFH.
More flexibility, opportunity for breaks, not as visible to the bosses and customers, work at your own speed etc etc.

I find it quite ironic that you think the level of anxiety about going to the office is "unbelievable" when you are presumably too anxious about vaccine side effects to have it. It's also interesting that you seem to know all about everybody's risk of getting Covid and that of their families. Interesting that you and others can't believe that not everybody is going to the cinema or pubs either. Not everyone has the privilege of being able to pretend this is all over and not all of them want to tell you about their private business.

And no one has to come back to the office regularly, it's a few times a year. If they were being asked to come in 2 or 3 days at week I could get people realising they like the ease of being at home more. But it's maybe 10 days over a year at most!

@Strawbsaturno

I think there is an element of genuine fear, but also a lot of people have gotten very very comfortable with WFH. More flexibility, opportunity for breaks, not as visible to the bosses and customers, work at your own speed etc etc.

Sorry I’m not saying that being less visible to bosses and customers is a good thing!! I mean some people aren’t going to give this up easily!!

Lol at all the snobbishness to the op about her not being vaccinated, we have no idea why she isn't.
She might be pregnant, trying to get pregnant, allergic to something in most vaccines, have a compromised immune system (I learnt recently from r4 that some people with compromised immune systems can't get the vaccine as they have no immune system for the vaccine to stimulate)

People think the op is selfish but calling her out on her vaccine status without the facts is nasty in itself

I don't want to go in as my hair needs doing, I'm too fat for my work clothes and my shoes give me blisters as I haven't worn them for ages. I also hate getting up earlier and lugging all my stuff around. Do you think they might be making excuses for similar reasons?

How nice that they have the choice.
Shame other workers don’t get the same choice.

@RollerGirl7

Lol at all the snobbishness to the op about her not being vaccinated, we have no idea why she isn't. She might be pregnant, trying to get pregnant, allergic to something in most vaccines, have a compromised immune system (I learnt recently from r4 that some people with compromised immune systems can't get the vaccine as they have no immune system for the vaccine to stimulate)

People think the op is selfish but calling her out on her vaccine status without the facts is nasty in itself

I caught Covid at work from a double vaccinated colleague as well so you're not safe even if everyone is vaccinated!

@Hellocatshome

Personally I think if these people have been to the supermarket, their kids sporting events, the pub etc they need to get over themselves. If they have been keeping themselves locked in doors all this time they might have a realistic concern.

Going to a supermarket or sitting outside a pub is not as risky as sitting next to someone all day in an office who hasn't bothered to get vaccinated.

I personally don’t know anyone who is anxious. Just pleased to have not had to commute for a year and half and now begrudge the thought of spending a large portion of the week doing so when WFH worked out fine (despite years of ‘that will never work’ from middle management). Makes sense to me, but I look at it that we get the best of both worlds now (fortunately do not have to come in at all but are encouraged to at least once a week).

We have to face up to living with this. I think your lot are using it as an excuse - and your company sounds very decent, only asking for guest appearances a couple of times before the end of the year.

@Belladonna12

I find it quite ironic that you think the level of anxiety about going to the office is "unbelievable" when you are presumably too anxious about vaccine side effects to have it. It's also interesting that you seem to know all about everybody's risk of getting Covid and that of their families. Interesting that you and others can't believe that not everybody is going to the cinema or pubs either. Not everyone has the privilege of being able to pretend this is all over and not all of them want to tell you about their private business.

As a manager it's part of my role to know about the health of those who report in to me. We had a lot of discussions as a business in the early Covid days about supporting staff members who were vulnerable or who had family members who are/ were. It's something we are expected to know about, part of doing my job properly.

Ditto I talk to the people who report in to me about how they spend their time outside work, I know how many children they have, they tell me when they go to local festivals, out with their kids, for a meal for their dad's 60th, or their wedding anniversary or whatever. We talk about non work things regularly.

They are probably concerned about their unvaccinated colleague who might very well infect them

The level of anxiety in some of my colleagues has surprised me. I've spoken to two this week who have both said they won't be seeing anyone face to face for work until this time next year. My first thought was that it will impact their careers quite heavily, they won't be there for the socialising and chats that help people get along so may get left out of things and forgotten about over the next year as everyone else moves on.

I had a worker say he was too anxious to come in, again our company encourages rather than demands, 2 days later he booked a holiday abroad and had no issue with the plane travel, crowds at airports etc.

I wish people would be honest, advocate for why they should work from home so businesses can weigh up the pros (happy, content staff ) v cons (less oversight, any possible result in productivity)

If wfh is just as good and productive there shouldn't be the need to lie.

That being said I understand some companies and bosses are dicks!

@anniegun

They are probably concerned about their unvaccinated colleague who might very well infect them

My vaccinated colleague infected me.

@CallMeNutribullet

I just think it's that people enjoy wfh and are finding excuses not to come in

This

@RollerGirl7

Lol at all the snobbishness to the op about her not being vaccinated, we have no idea why she isn't. She might be pregnant, trying to get pregnant, allergic to something in most vaccines, have a compromised immune system (I learnt recently from r4 that some people with compromised immune systems can't get the vaccine as they have no immune system for the vaccine to stimulate)

People think the op is selfish but calling her out on her vaccine status without the facts is nasty in itself

People with a compromised immune system can get the vaccine. It just doesn't work very effectively sometimes if they are severely immuno compromised. These people are now the most vulnerable to Covid and they certainly wouldn't have OP's attitude. If OP is pregnant then she would also be vulnerable and would be very stupid to have her attitude.

(I learnt recently from r4 that some people with compromised immune systems can't get the vaccine as they have no immune system for the vaccine to stimulate)
@RollerGirl7 yes we can get the vaccine. You've misunderstood. I am fully vaccinated but it's had almost no effect.

@Invasionofthegutsnatchers

Pffft. Try being a teacher breathing in 32 people's air all day as they paw at you and lick things.

Always one!

@Hullbilly

I don't want to go in as my hair needs doing, I'm too fat for my work clothes and my shoes give me blisters as I haven't worn them for ages. I also hate getting up earlier and lugging all my stuff around. Do you think they might be making excuses for similar reasons?

It's a fair point although we have Teams calls several times a week so we know who's got fatter (me for one!)

The dress code in the office has been dispensed with because our office days are now meant to be for team building/ face to face meetings etc rather than formal work so we've been told that we can basically wear anything we want, no need for smart/office dress (fortunate as I've not worn heels for 18m and I think I've forgotten how). No one has to bring anything in either - at most maybe a pad/ pen for notes, or a laptop or iPad if they prefer to make notes on that.

It's possible I misunderstood but it was a segment about the reasons people don't get it rather than how effective the Vax is in different ppl. I remember clearly he said there's no immune system in those cases for the vaccine to stimulate. I could be wrong though.

Either way jumping on the OP for not getting it is wrong imo.

I have 2 pregnant friends, one chose to get the vaccine the other will after she delivers. I respect both those choices and wouldn't call either selfish so don't think anyone should judge without the facts