Do you think the government will change the ‘WFH if you can’ advice before there is a vaccine?

[Ethelfleda]

I personally can’t see them doing so. If people are able to work from home then there is no economic need to tell people they can go back to an office.

I ask because I am starting to feel depressed WFH. I work in the same room as I sleep and it’s starting to have a massive negative effect on me. Our house isn’t really big enough to change this right now but I guess if I knew I would have to WFH for say, another 12 months then I would do something more permanent to rectify the situation.

Our employers have had certain people back in offices this week but have made it clear it is only a select few - I think probably people who don’t have proper screens at home or computer chairs etc
And have said they will follow the government advice for everyone else the whole way.

I’m trying to come to terms with the fact that my current work situation may not change for a very long time but it is hard to get my head around!

Anyone know what the advice is in other European countries??

I've been wondering the same but from the other side, as I really don't want to go back to the office! I heard a rumour my employer might allow those who are keen to return the first spaces. This would have another advantage of then not having to get into health/childcare/caring discussions with lots of people, as it would seem a waste of energy to force those back who want to WFH and can do so just as productively.

Plus we need to prioritise space for customer-facing interactions.

I think given today's publication on airbourne transmission very unlikely.

Regardless of government advice, my company and my husband’s company are both talking about not bringing people back until at least late 2021

I don't really understand the thinking behind predictions like this - not having a go at you at all, I just don't see what people believe is going to change a year and a half from now, but not before then? Are they going to continue to rent offices just to leave them empty for maybe 2 years?

Being able to wfh is a very privileged position to be in. There are vulnerable people and those on the shielding list who are currently or will very soon be working in or travelling in potentially unsafe environments.
Many people have lost their jobs all together. You are saving, time , money and working in a safe environment.
Teenagers and students spend years studying in their bedrooms am struggling to see why it would it be such an issue. As it is obviously an issue for you then change your house space around. Could you not get a gold away desk for the lounge or wirk from the dining room table?

*Regardless of government advice, my company and my husband’s company are both talking about not bringing people back until at least late 2021

I don't really understand the thinking behind predictions like this - not having a go at you at all, I just don't see what people believe is going to change a year and a half from now, but not before then? Are they going to continue to rent offices just to leave them empty for maybe 2 years?
*

It is just what they have told us. Honestly, I don’t think we are ever going back in full. For our particular work, wfh works very Regardless of government advice, my company and my husband’s company are both talking about not bringing people back until at least late 2021

I don't really understand the thinking behind predictions like this - not having a go at you at all, I just don't see what people believe is going to change a year and a half from now, but not before then? Are they going to continue to rent offices just to leave them empty for maybe 2 years?

*

It’s just what they have told us. I suspect it is them easing into the idea of wfh with only occasional office visits being what we do forever. Wfh works well for our particular work.

Yes I think that's almost what I mean as well @PleasePassTheCoffeeThanks .... i agree that it may well be generally a good thing to have less need for sandwich shops and childcare, but those businesses pay taxes and employ people too. As I mentioned, huge cultural or societal change like this usually happens slowly, and people have time to adapt or choose a new model or new sector even, but that hasn't been the case here.

There might also be a lot of people who e.g. have sandwich shops or run after school childcare might not easily re train for the kinds of jobs that can be from from home, which are necessarily office type roles. And there could be a knock on impact on low level office roles as well.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a reasonably happily adjusted home worker, I can just see there are others who will be affected by officers closing on a large scale.

@Purpleartichoke

*Regardless of government advice, my company and my husband’s company are both talking about not bringing people back until at least late 2021

I don't really understand the thinking behind predictions like this - not having a go at you at all, I just don't see what people believe is going to change a year and a half from now, but not before then? Are they going to continue to rent offices just to leave them empty for maybe 2 years?
*

It is just what they have told us. Honestly, I don’t think we are ever going back in full. For our particular work, wfh works very Regardless of government advice, my company and my husband’s company are both talking about not bringing people back until at least late 2021

I don't really understand the thinking behind predictions like this - not having a go at you at all, I just don't see what people believe is going to change a year and a half from now, but not before then? Are they going to continue to rent offices just to leave them empty for maybe 2 years?

*

It’s just what they have told us. I suspect it is them easing into the idea of wfh with only occasional office visits being what we do forever. Wfh works well for our particular work.

Also I suspect it means a whole load of things can now be planned in the knowledge staff will be at home, rather than the constant wondering. Uncertainty wastes a lot of time having to have contingency plans in place.

Think it is time my work clarified a little now, would like to know what's what!

I don't know but i feel the same as you. I'm working in my living room so there's no separation of home/work life during the week (I pack it all away at weekend) and I live alone so it's really isolated. I would go back in the office tomorrow if they'd let me but they seem to be sticking to the "you're safer at home" and finding reasons why we can't reopen any time soon. Currently they've said offices won't open before September but that's recently slipped from August so i think they'll keep creeping it rather than deciding it won't be before January for example. I'm also reluctant to redesign my home around work until we know what's happening long term and I'd probably be looking at a property move if we were at home more than in the office. New Zealand would be interesting to look at as I think they're practically back to normal now but I haven't heard what offices are doing.

I’ve been told wfh until Jan at least. In some ways I’m fed up. I don’t feel as productive, my dining room table is covered permanently in work shit. I don’t have a proper desk or chair and my back hurts. But I get to walk the dog every morning, go for a bike ride every lunch time, cook dinner without rushing, settle down and watch The Chase. So it’s ok.

OP, you should talk to your boss and HR. Most big / medium / successful firms who can are going to carry on WFH. But you should be able to go back if you explain your depression, especially as office will be much more socially-distanced with the majority WFH.

We have been told not to expect to go back to the office this year.

I love WFH so am very happy with current situation.

I think it’ll be work from home forever.

The government isn’t going to dictate how private businesses run “forever”, even with a vaccine. Totally ridiculous to make such an OTT prediction 4 months in. Ultimately it will be for companies to decide.

That said I do think the wfh advice will be one of the last things to change.

I can think of at least 5 independent sandwich(+) shops in the city that are cheaper and better than anything locally. I wish just one would relocate to near my house in outer London. Such deliciousness, they'd be very popular. I don't know how realistic it is to move the little independent businesses from the city to vacant shops in the suburbs, could there be some scheme to help them move?

A lot of pension plans are invested in commercial property. There is going to be carnage when thousands of businesses won’t renew their leases or take one floor instead of six.

We have been told we probably won't ever be back in the office, only a select few roles will need to be in the office. I'm quite happy as they're sending us full office equipment-desk,chair,screen, keyboard etc for our laptops. Luckily I have a spare room I'm going to use as an office but some of my colleagues are not so fortunate

FizzFan - how is my comment “totally ridiculous” when many posters on Mumsnet are saying they are never going back to the office and their companies are shutting offices?

@FluffyKittensinabasket

I think it’ll be work from home forever.

It can't be for a lot of people as they don't have the right set up. I work at the dining room table and wouldn't pass a risk assessment if this was permanent.

Teenagers and students spend years studying in their bedrooms am struggling to see why it would it be such an issue. As it is obviously an issue for you then change your house space around. Could you not get a gold away desk for the lounge or wirk from the dining room table?

Talk about short sighted! You do realise it's not possible for some people to change their house space around? I've been working from the dining room table and because of the layout of the room and the furniture we have there's no way I can move everything around. I don't have another room so I'm stuck with it for now and I know I'm not the only one in this situation.

All I can say is my public sector workplace has said we will never go back to normal. Some people, mainly the military, are going in one week on, one week off. Civilians are being told to WFH unless they have to go in. There are a very small number of roles where people have to be in and even then they rotate which days they go in.

All the desks are being ripped out and turned into hot desking hubs. You will be able to book a desk by the hour. They’ve saved millions by not paying military travel to work and electricity costs.

The future will not be going back to the office full time. We can go in one day a week and book a place to sit in a hub. But if you don’t have to go in, you won’t.

I'm hating it. Really hating it. I feel like I'm living at work rather than working from home, it's taking up space that I would normally use for my hobby which I now can't do because of having two screens set up. I'm depressed, anxious and desperately missing social contact. I'm back on medication and have had some seriously black thoughts.

If they turn round and say it's this forever I have no idea what I will do. It's hell.

WFH is the New Normal.

Overall, this a really good thing for society - less commuting, pollution, more time with family and friends etc. But lots of people will need time for the penny to really drop, and to make arrangements.

@PersonaNonGarter

WFH is the New Normal.

Overall, this a really good thing for society - less commuting, pollution, more time with family and friends etc. But lots of people will need time for the penny to really drop, and to make arrangements.

And what arrangements are those of us with no home office and no space to permanently work from home supposed to make?

I'm sure all the people who think it's such an amazing idea have an office and can shut the door on their work equipment. Not all of us have that luxury. I'm sick of my living room looking like an office, I want to be able to use my dining room table for, you know, eating off.

I'm finding out what's happening next about us returning tomorrow. Thankfully it looks as though we'll be going back at some point, if not I'll be looking for a new job in retail so I can get out of the house.

You do realise it's not possible for some people to change their house space around?
@PinkSparklyPussyCat I think you are the short sighted one. I simply meant , clear the dining room table or buy a cheap fold up desk and stick it in the lounge. Not build an extension!

Overall, this a really good thing for society - less commuting, pollution, more time with family and friends etc.

More insular society, bigger divide between those who can WFH and those who have to be physically at work, removal of geographical barriers meaning more outsourcing, a load of job losses, those with money and designated spaces to work in much better positions than those working from their room, reduced salaries. Sounds good, sign me up.