AIBU To Think Remote Work Isn't Sustainable?

[HighlandsExpat]

I work a very stable, secure 9-5 corporate job. I have been in this role for 1.5 years. I work in the office three days a week but my team is in another city so I don't see them in person.

I realized today I often go the entire workday without speaking! Which is probably good for my facial wrinkles but actually detrimental to my mental health. I am social outside of work and feel happy with my life and friends, but do feel like my job is incredibly lonely and isolating. Which is odd because I just got a promotion and am taking on lots of responsibilities, but hasn't translated into actually meeting new people or even having to speak more. I send a lot of emails and am chatting on MS Teams all day. I know we aren't pre-pandemic when it was five days a week and you would sort of naturally form relationships at work, but I cannot imagine being in this job in a few years.

AIBU to think this isn't sustainable? Do others feel this way sometimes? All of this is triggered because an old colleague emailed to wish me happy birthday and organized a virtual coffee chat. It made me a bit sad because I haven't had one of those (coffee with a colleague) since I left my old job.

It might not be sustainable for you. But it is for many others. If you're not happy there are plenty of jobs where being in the office is compulsory.

Tell Nigel to bore off to Dubai or wherever this "man of the British people" actually lives.

I've been doing it for 13 years.

I don't know if "not sustainable" is the right way to describe it, but I do agree that 100% remote working isn't healthy for most people. Convenient, yes sometimes. I think homes and work should be separate (it drives me mad that a whole room in our house is set up for my dh's work and I can't go in there for much of the day) and that most, not all, people need some human social interaction. When I was younger a lot of my social life stemmed from work - it was fun! You also get to negotiate relationships with people who are a lot older or younger than you, from different backgrounds etc.

You’re speaking from such a narrow view point I don’t know why you bothered. I wfh pretty much 100% and am almost constantly in meetings, talking all day.

I wfh in two jobs and I am very happy most of the time. I see enough of people in video calls. I don’t need to see anyone in person for work. I’ve been doing this for 9 years so clearly sustainable.

It might not be sustainable for you but many are happier and more efficient working from home because commuting can be time consuming. Many would also say that chatting on Teams is talking about work?
I work in a job that can’t be done from home so understand that you can’t use Teams for chatting about non work stuff as work will be monitoring but many don’t want to gossip or hear about their colleagues’ lives out of work which is fine too.

I think hybrid is the best balance . There’s a lot of positives to being in an office and also being at home . I did hybrid and not commuting was the biggest plus on my wfh days . The biggest ballache was not being able to get hold of other wfh personnel because they were setting their own day around other goings on at home , taking the kids to and from school . Office based is definitely best for young people and new starters learning the ropes . WFH works best for those proficient in their role but also jobs not related to being available at certain times , it’s very frustrating doing a piece of work needing someone’s input to find them not at their desk and no idea when they will be .

Your choice really here isn’t it?

for some of us remote or mainly remote suits many families/home lifes better - and some people can only do the job because it is remote

I am the happiest I have ever been since working ( mostly ) remotely .
Wish I had the same opportunities when the dc were young .

Bloody hell. Don't know why I bothered posting. Of course nuance goes over the head of most!

I actually think it will be really damaging for the younger generations who may already have social development issues from covid and then won’t have a typical office environment to flourish in and build relationships like we did. However, I do think there are enough offices that are back to normal and it works for some people.

my dad has always worked from home and as he lives alone, I watched him become more of a social recluse over the years and it’s really affected him. He almost has no idea how to act correctly after 30 years.

Also, I think most of us just think we are happier because it’s cosy. It’s not “good” for us.

For many the office politics & drama was not sustainable for their mental health

Sounds like it isn't sustainable for you if you're unhappy. Not sure I would go on to then apply that to the entire concept. Plenty of people either do a lot of work calls or don't mind not talking during work.

I love it.

L'enfer, c'est les autres.

Why are you only sending emails and messages on Teams? Surely you have Teams meetings and follow that up with emails and messages?

I know what you mean about occasional loneliness. But then when I do go into the office and people are there, it’s nice for a bit then they start doing my head in. Slurping tea, yawning, eating smelly food. Stops me concentrating. Hybrid is perfect and absolutely sustainable for most. If you don’t like it then the solution is simple, get a job where you’re unavoidably with people the whole time. I heard there are shortages in teaching, nursing and policing for a start. Or go and work in a shop. Cleaning trains? Hairdresser? Or maybe given those options, your terrible situation isn’t all that terrible after all?

Nige, is that you?

So its unsustainable because you didnt get a F2F happy birthday and in-person coffee?

Meh.

Whats unsustainable for you, is for many others,

I am fully WFH - couldnt give a hoot about traipsing to an office to meet people that I can connect with remotely - especially those that arent even in my region.

Happily never work from an office ever again. Reset your expectations.

You hate it, many don’t. Before Covid some people were working like this anyway- it’s not a new thing. New for the masses perhaps.
We’ve had people go to their GP and they have evidence to say due to their mental health they must be office based, perhaps speak to your employer and ask to go in more often. Or look for a new job that isn’t remote- there are plenty, because most people don’t want them!

When Farage gets in many of us will be dragged back to the office - silver linings for you OP.

Not really a choice for many. If you want any health services, your child to be educated, to be able to dial 999 for an ambulance/ police/ fire services, then you really should be grateful that those people go out to work. But times are changing and what happens when the majority want a slice of the easier life working from home? The country will cease to exist.

I had to wfh for 8 weeks and hated it. I felt completely detached from work even though I was online talking to people. I really dislike mixing work and home and I also really enjoy the company of work colleagues. I know it is great for some people though.

I do think if you can do your job entirely remotely from a computer then chances are AI will be doing your job instead of you in about 10 years time.

Well those people 999/Service jobs are free to leave and do something else, arent they?

As for the country ceasing to exist - that landmark was passed long ago. The state of the UKs roads tells you what a complete and utter fucking shithole it has become.

I would hate to work from home and so would the majority of my colleagues. Different people suit different things.