To wonder why....

[MonkeyDoodles]

There are so many people out and about on a weekday, surely should be at work? I've noticed the high streets and cafes are all packed out early on in the week also. Makes you wonder why. I know people work flexibly but not so much surely?

Flexible working
Part time
Annual leave
Shift work
Lunch break
Students
Unemployed
Retired
Work weekends so have days off mid-week

Plenty of reasons really

Exactly this, many people may work night shifts etc or similar. If it's a busy town, some of them may simply be out and about due to appointments etc. many understandable reasons for them to be there 🤣

Because not everyone that works, works 9-5 M-F behind a desk in an office!

Apparently local towns are doing well at the moment due to people popping out to their local high street when wfh.

Only half the adults I know work standard 9 to 5 type jobs.

WFH and a slow day. I just walked up to the village to the butchers and greengrocers then grabbed a quick drink in one of the pubs. Thee pub was full of half drunken pensioners and it was only 1.30pm!

Well you're there so what's your excuse?

Just anecodtally, out of my 4 closest friends and I (plus partners)

DH works in a town centre so often goes out on his lunchbreak
I work near one, and again do the same if I need anything

Friend 1 and husband - he works 10 days on 10 days off. She works a normal 9-5 but site based so travels around stopping for lunch nearby
Friend 2 and husband - she is a midwife doing 3 x 12 hour shifts a week, he's a binman working 6am-2pm.
Friend 3 and husband - she is part time hairdresser, he manages a bar.

so out of 8 of us you're possibly likely to see all of us in the high street at one time or another in the middle of the day.

Why are you there?

All of the above ⬆️

What were you doing out and about in the middle of the day? Why aren't you chained to your desk?

What's with the crazy assumption that M-F 9 to 5 is some kind of norm? Hardly anyone I know has such a working pattern.
What century do you think you're in?

How do you know? Are you not at work?

It really cannot be that hard to understand that not everybody works Monday-Friday 9-5. What days off do you think all the shift workers, retail, hospitality, transport workers etc get? Then there’s part time, unemployed, flexible hours, annual leave.

🤣🤣🤣

I had a hospital appointment.
It just never used to be this way so was surprised

It just never used to be this way

Um yes it did. You’ve probably just not noticed before, bizarrely.

Lots of people are using up their annual leave before April.

When exactly did it use to be that the streets were empty on a weekday lunchtime?

OP wandering around town rounding everyone back up to the mill where they belong.

Plus... People who work in an office job 3 or 4 days a week are most likely off on a Friday...

You have answered your own question really - flexible working is here to stay!

I work 35 hours a week. Totally flexible.

I can work 8-1. Then 6-8pm having had the whole afternoon off if I want.
Or 9-5.

Before WFH many people might have worked in business parks, out of town offices or rented industrial units. They may have had an office canteen or a small range of shops for lunch or breaks. Unless you worked there as well you wouldn't have seen them locally.

Also people WFH a bit more flexibly. I might start work an hour early if I'm awake. When I had a 75 minute commute I would have to get up far earlier than I would fancy to do that. Also, I would want to get away on time if possible to get home at a decent time. If I'm in the zone I can put something in the oven that I've prepared and do another hour or even two. If you do that for a day or two and you don't have to be available for client contact, you can justify an afternoon shopping.