WFH

[Notsurehwhattdo]

As I hybrid work, I'm only in the office Tuesday and Wednesday. Does anyone else avoid Monday and Friday and are they also really pleased about this as you avoid the following conversations with (some) people that you would have nothing to do with, had it not been for the fact that you happen to work in the same office/team as them:-

On a Friday - what are your plans for the weekend?!

On a Monday - how was your weekend?!

It's brilliant now, come Tuesday the weekend is a distant memory and on a Wednesday no one is thinking of the weekend!

I was just thinking about that a couple of days ago. I've hated those questions for years as there are only so many ways to say 'chilling', 'pottering about' etc. as I'm not very social. Now I just go in on a Tuesday, say hello, and get on with work, which is fine with me.

Me too - go in good morning the empty office because I’m always first in, get my work done have my lunch, wash my cup at the end of the day and leave - wash rinse repeat on a weds and that’s me back to wfh for the rest

No. I'd rather put up with those conversations for the benefit of a guaranteed space on the all but deserted station car park and half empty train on Monday and Friday.

Oh god the question I hate the most which seems to get asked every single day in my office: "what's your plans for this evening?"

Get so sick of finding different ways to say:

I'm going to pick my child up from nursery, feed her, bath her, and most likely spend an hour fighting with her to go to bed following which I may or may not bother to eat my own tea as I'm too fucking knackered by then, shower and bed. Rinse and repeat!! Every evening is like this, no need to ask me tomorrow. Thanks.

Interestingly the colleagues who ask me this incessantly do not have children, although one is currently pregnant with her first so I cannot wait to ask the same question when baby arrives - oh how she will get sick of this 😂🥴

Unless other people with small children have interesting and varied mid week evening plans and I am just a sad case with no life - this is entirely possible 🙈🤣

I love going in on a Monday and a Friday as the office is empty as everyone comes in Tues-Thurs. I tick off my obligation to go to the office 1-2 times a week and I still don’t have to deal with inane office chat.

I find people ask that because they are doing something and want to talk about it so ask you first to appear polite. I work in school so have to be in every day. I like the daily chat, I miss it in the holidays.

@iamstrugglingalot - your evenings sound exactly like mine!

No, I WFH on a Monday but we have a weekly meeting and so of course "how was your weekend?" is always the standard chat at the start.

My condolences! At least we're in it together 😂

I deliberately go in Monday and Friday as no one else does. It's a lovely huge empty office building and I stick headphones in 🤣

I wfh but all teams calls on a Monday begin with did you have a nice weekend and calls on a Friday with have you got any plans.

I go to the office on Monday and Fridays because the traffic is so much lighter and the commute doesn't take as long. I have to go 1 other day as well and it takes at least 20 mins longer each way no matter which day it is.

I used to hate this small talk too. Then I spent years self employed/wfh and you dislike it more/get out of practice.
But I’ve recently been temping at an in person role and doing these convos non stop has made me realise the value.
Sure 9 out of 10 are totally banal but often it’s also “might go for a hike if I can be bothered” “Oh where?” — followed by interesting conversation that even results in other person trying different area.
Or you think something up “need to get my hair cut”, “Oh I cut all our hair since lockdown” etc.

I’ve had random chats with directors, security guards, hungover IT workers like this. And realised even for an introvert it’s quite nice!

But again, had years of just kids and self employment so maybe more desperate for banal interaction than I realise 😂 (a lot of catch up with my friends gets quite heavy quite quick at our age, hitting 40).

But also, YANBU, “happy friday” is annoying.

It’s being human. Random chats / social interaction are the stuff of life and cheer me up in a world where heads are increasingly looking down at devices.

That too. Commute soooooooo much easier!

Oh no, I love asking people these questions! I ask because I am genuinely interested though. I very rarely am up to much at the weekend but I love hearing about what people are cooking or any good shows they’re going to watch on TV. This thread has worried me though now, I really hope I’m not annoying people. Think I will stop asking 😂

This thread has worried me though now, I really hope I’m not annoying people. Think I will stop asking

Don't let the Misanthropes of Mumsnet stop you from being a normal, sociable human being.