Anyone surprised at how long they will be wfh?

[reallythislong]

DH's company finally ordered some office equipment for the staff, delivery date in 8 wks time! He & I never expected to wfh this long & lots of our friends have been told they won't be going back till the NY.

Anyone else in the same boat?

I think - based on questions I've been asked, I won't be in my home 'site' full time ever again. Certainly not before August at all.
My role (Regional Manager) means I'll have to go there sometimes but I don't need to be there full time. It is 42 miles away (countryside driving so an hour) and although I used to care share, to be there a few days a month will save me money. I'm desperately missing my car share gang though.
We have another site 26 miles in the opposite direction and I used to only go there a couple times a month? But as it's much quieter and more spacious there's talk of it becoming my home site.
I don't know when I'll get back to my Europe sites (tho there is talk of September)
I'll still be able to wfh the rest of the time. I think realistically a day at each site and the rest of the time at home would give me the best balance financially and job efficiency and my mental health, I'm so social usually.

Problem is I'm in a rented cottage until my settlement agreement is finalised with exH and I can get my equity to buy a place. I'll definitely be looking for one with office space now 😂.
My working space is currently a corner of my living room on a vanity desk 😂 I just don't want to buy a one til I see the size of my 'office' space in my new house.

I am worried about my heating bill if this goes on into Winter.

I am worried about my heating bill if this goes on into Winter.

Worth buying some thermal bits and pieces before it gets cold again.

Regarding DSE assessments, we were supposed to do them until I pointed out to our manager that most people would fail and I really don't have the time to check them. They've agreed that we can hold fire as these are exceptional circumstances.

I’m seriously considering ordering an air conditioning unit if I have to wfh all summer. Will offset the cost of running it on the £15 saved on commuting, £5 on lunch each day and by not buying any work clothes or shoes for the next however many months.

I thought we might be back by the end of the school year here in NL. It was only meant to be 3 weeks initially (as of mid-March). Now only teachers of practical subjects requiring specialist equipment will go back in, as of June 2nd. I teach English and we won't go back until at least September. So chances are the initial 3 weeks will become at least 6 months!

good to hear @tokoyosushi

I understand the negatives for some. There are so many positives too though - the environment, saving cash, no time commuting

I’ve not been told anything. Very frustrating

I no longer have a stake in the game as I am old and my DC is a young single adult. Might we be returning to an era where small children don't actually start school until they are nearly six? Finnish kids don't start school until they are seven, and seem to thrive on it. Childcare may have to change a lot though. My niece needs nursery for her 2 yo and her next baby will need looking after once the next mat leave ends, if her employer expects her to stay at work or WFH. Grandparents are still working FT. Who picks up the childcare?

For those asking why I think one reason is saving office costs. Those shiny huge buildings in the centre cost ££££ with the subsidised gym, restaurants, etc.

@Doryhunky

I wfh anyway a lot and I have slipper boots as I find it's my ankles that get cold and wear a 'loungewear' fleecy top. and I have a small oil filled radiator I have by my desk. I can then keep heating on fairly low and just plug that in when I get chilly.

Agree with @lyralalala

My niece needs nursery for her 2 yo and her next baby will need looking after once the next mat leave ends

Totally, I’ve got a 15 month old and work full time. Thankfully my parents are retired and willing to lend a hand but anyone without this is a bit screwed.

I suspect women’s careers will once again take a hit🙁

I have a space heater. It will be like uni days but if my kids and lodger are all at home I am going to have to heat the whole house!

I don’t know when we’ll be back - we closed our office well before lockdown and have been toldwe won’t be trailblazing in go8mg back

I really don’t like WFH - apart from the back neck and shoulder ache from absence of a ‘home office’ and the usual Office IT set up,of mini your, mouse, proper keyboard etc, I resent the intrusion of work into my home. Plus having a crippling workload seems worse when WFH than in the office (for some reason)

I saw the question why? we’ve been told that we are safer at home, not wanting to overload the public transport system and the office will feel very different with social distancing in place (staggered start times so less flexibility, masks in communal areas, very restricted lift service, one way staircases, likely back to allocates desks rather than hot desking in which case they don’t have enough desks)

@Lovelydovey I get that, but what I struggle with is the notion that life as we knew it is fucked forever due to this virus. Like there’s no sense that we could carve out a functioning version of the way things were by taking extra precautions?

sexnotgender yes all the research shows that it's women who are doing the bulk of distance learning with their children, plus most of the housework, plus most of the caring for elderly relatives on top of working.

This wfh with no childcare will have a huge impact on women's self-esteem, productivity, confidence, opportunities for promotion etc.

I don't think the mental health aspects can be pushed under the carpet much longer. Although some people are either used to wfh or are loving it, and the vast majority of us are having good days and bad days and just about getting by, there are lots of people who are really suffering.

My friend's organisation is prioritising planning to return to the office based on who is struggling most at home, rather than a top-down directive, which is a great way to do it.

My middle child lives in England and said that he was told that the IT staff will be working from home for at least a year and they’re actually considering making it a semi permanent thing.

I'm undecided about the effect of working in cities. I think there will be some impact. For example I can't see myself travelling back into zone 1 to meet friends on a weekday even though I'm not far by tube.

I saw the question why? we’ve been told that we are safer at home, not wanting to overload the public transport system and the office will feel very different with social distancing in place (staggered start times so less flexibility, masks in communal areas, very restricted lift service, one way staircases, likely back to allocates desks rather than hot desking in which case they don’t have enough desks)

For the next several months, fine.

But a year from now? 2 years from now in one case above? How can anyone know what the situation will be by then? Seems an awful long time to make definite plans in advance - unless of course they're planning to make the move permanent to save money (because that's what it's about for them).

I used to wfh whenever possible as well - can't understand why anyone would not want to do it if possible.

I can think of lots of reasons.

- They have inadequate facilities at home
- They like the home/work divide
- They like the social aspect of work
- They find it hard to motivate themselves at home
- They don't consider virtual communication as efficient as face-to-face communication

And probably lots of other reasons. WFH is great for some, but not for everybody, at least not all the time.

T H I S!,,

@IcedPurple I guess they just don't know though & companies have to be extra careful as they can't be liable.

We haven't been told officially yet but the leanings are towards 2021 before we are back in the office.

I WFH anyway and like it.

DH likes not having to get up at stupid o clock and commute. He may start to work one day a week in the office at some point - his boss thinks September.

We are converting ds' bedroom into an office and hoping to get a garden office too but apparently they are overrun with requests for quotes! DH has been working at the kitchen table for weeks and it's not an ideal solution by any means.