Honestly - why are you not going back to work?

[SpaceOP]

I've spoken to a lot of firms, read lots of news reports, all saying that the UK workforce are not going back. I know many firms are doing internal surveys and the feedback is universally that people aren't planning to come back yet.

My question is, genuinely, how much of this i because of covid and how much is because quite frankly, WFH is nicer? Or if there's a list of reasons, is Covid number 1 or number 5?

Certainly, in my case, I have worked from home for years but I admit that I am enjoying barely ever having to go into town. It's time consuming and painful and often means I lose out on time to do other work and/or home stuff. So the more my clients continue to work from home, the better it is for me. I'm not staying away because of Covid as the main reason, although I would say it's a consideration - I feel like the risk doesn't feel that worth it but if I had to go in, I would?

Anyone else?

Honestly, covid doesn’t really feature on my list of reasons I don’t want to go back. If I’m going to get it I’m far more likely to get it from DD catching it at nursery, and we sent her back in June.
I just prefer life like this. I know it’s not for everyone, but for me, the positives outweigh the negatives. More time with DD, less stressful/rushed mornings, can get the housework done in bits across the week during lunch breaks rather than doing it all on the weekends.
I’ll go in quite happily when they tell me to, but I’m certainly not going to push for it.

I work in the arts and so I'm furloughed and will be until the scheme ends. There's not much sight of any income to the company after then so I don't know what will happen . But for me, it wouldn't be the office (small team, quite a lot of space) but the travelling - 30 minute commute into central London by tube. When it's busy there is no way you can travel without someone breathing in your face and vice versa. I've got myself a bike but I'm not ready for Zone 1 roads just yet.

I miss being in an office. I’m wfh still because it is my company’s policy to wfh unless there is a specific reason to be in the office, which I’ve only had twice. Those days were excellent. I dislike working on my dining table, it’s difficult to concentrate and very unproductive to have to phone or text someone every time you need a quick chat about something. There are a lot of benefits to working from home if you choose to do so, and I do enjoy some aspects of it but I hope it is only temporary. As soon as we’re allowed back I will be there.

Because our office hasn’t reopened and won’t until next year at least.
I hate working from home. I’d go back tomorrow if I could.

My company is remaining WFH for the most part, only opening offices for people who have an urgent need (e.g. no WFH space or need office services etc.).

Once we get to the next phase of re-opening, we will all have a choice. I will choose 2-3 days in the office for work-life balance purposes (used to do 4 office, 1 WFH). Once everybody has chosen and we've factored in growth for 5 yrs, I have no doubt we will rationalise some of our office spaces (we have 2-3 buildings in a couple of towns).

COVID doesn't feature as part of my decision re mixed home/office preference.

Um, well they made me redundant so I can't go back

But, they weren't planning to open any offices until at least January 2021, and I suspect that will get pushed given how numbers are currently creeping up.

I run a business. Everyone is wfh because it is easier and cheaper. They get more done. I expect I will have a choice in the new year - keep the office or keep all my staff. I'd rather keep them all in jobs and cancel our lease on our overpriced city office.

Can only speak for my husband who is not interested in going back because he gets far more done at hone and, more importantly, now sees our children 3 hours a night rather than less than one!

The quality of my children’s life has improved hugely.

Because my city is on local lockdown with 1100 cases in a week. DH is city centre based (Birmingham)

Cases at both DCs' schools. Expecting their year groups to be impacted soon as they are inner city schools.

DH's city centre office is massive. How do hundreds of staff share one lift to access the floors stories high?

However, time saved on commute has been beneficial, so it is a mixture of both.

Because I was on the Shielding list and my job is considered high risk when face to face. My employers have made the decision for me that I will be working from home via Zoom.

I will miss being IN work and having the actual social contact and going for coffee and lunch etc AT work. But instead of visiting our Starbucks at work, I’ll do order ahead at the Starbucks half way down my road so economically not a huge difference. I’m still buying clothes and food etc online so I’m not depriving the economy. The only huge financial difference for me will be petrol (I usually have an hours commute with zero public transport options). But then that will be better for the environment. So swings and roundabouts.

I will suffer from the lack of real social contact but other than that I’m ok with it. I prefer going out to work but this way is currently safer.

Sorry, that sounds very mercenary I know. But also, if one of my staff gets coronavirus while wfh, that's one person ill. If they are in the office, we are all likely to catch it. Why would I put them all at risk?

Oh yes, my husband isn't going back because in Scotland we're still advised to WFH as the default, instead of cramming back into offices to keep Pret going.

My reasons are not covid related because I went freelance and started working from home in March 2019. One huge reason for me was the commuting. I can't afford to have the kind of a house I want anywhere near the area where the majority of jobs in my sector are. So it was approx 90 minutes commute each way consisting of a walk, train and the tube (Northern Line). Add to that the inevitable train delays, bad weather and a low key fear of terrorism as my route was route some of the busiest transport hubs and it was a nightmare.

Other than that the sense of freedom and more time. Even after a long/busy work day I don't feel as exhausted as I did when I then had to make my way home in the dark on public transport.

I'm an introvert and communicating with colleagues online is enough work related social interaction for me. Friends who have started WFH full time due to covid seem to share those feelings and so many have said they don't want to go back. I certainly feel designing my business and work life so that I can always work from home if I choose to is a top priority.

Recently told work i will not be going in as lockdown / curfew about - i can not be home by 10pm - this is driving me nuts - i have had enough .

And actually I’ve just realised...at work my only options for food are big corporations like Starbucks for example. Whereas in my hometown I can support local businesses which I feel is more important. I wouldn’t sit in but I’m happy to take out and most of these small family business mean more to me than corporate tax dodgers.

My office isn’t purpose built. It’s a converted 2 bed terrace and it’s not big enough to socially distance in... the kitchen is narrow and the toilet is very small too.

@SpaceOP is that ok?

People seem very quick to assume everyone works in a huge open plan offices

Saying that - our local council is working from home and it’s the biggest office space in the county. I don’t get this. They could at least have 25% in at a time on a rota.

No shops nearby though so I doubt it’s harming local traders.

Not remotely bothered about the virus - had it (confirmed) and was totally fine after a day or two. But just don’t see the point of going in. Our office is open for people who need it in accordance with the ‘Covid-secure’ guidance - so no meetings, not your own desk, no communal areas, mingling discouraged etc. Frankly I can sit alone at my a desk and only speak to people online from the comfort of my own home. I’d love to go back, but really no point right now it seems.

Simply I’m still not allowed to some of our offices are reopening but it’s on an access as necessary basis our team is not allowed to request access at the moment unless it’s due to a failure of equipment or for mental health reasons
Simply I’m still not allowed to some of our offices are reopening but it’s on an access as necessary basis our team is not allowed to request access at the moment unless it’s due to a failure of equipment or for mental health reasons
I already worked from home two out of four days so this wasn’t a massive adjustment for me I don’t have much of a team in the office now so I wouldn’t be returning to the office for social reasons with the winter coming I’m quite happy remaining at home avoiding the commute it’s easier with the kids and I spend less money

However I don’t want to talk myself out of a job long-term so when the expectation becomes that we will go back in I shall continue to have a balance

I’m choosing to WFH to avoid getting Covid from colleagues : it’s optional return in our office and vast majority are choosing to WFH

I have effectively taken same precautions as shielded and will continue to do so as I neither want this illness nor want to pass it on to very vulnerable family

My offices aren't opening for the rest of the year, the choice is out of my hands. I'd quite like to go back at least 2-3 days a week out of 5, but reopening would be a major issue for me as I'm a single mum of 3, the childcare situation around here is very patchy, and kids are already going in and out of isolation with colds etc and I have noone else around to help.

If I was in a job where I needed to go back in the office I'd probably end up handing in my notice and trying to scrape by on savings then benefits.

So, lots of reasons I'm not going back in.

I’m still WFH because my work says I have to. We don’t get a choice. DH is doing a mixture but then he always has done.

Extremely vulnerable and no room for me

In order to maintain the Covid secure workplace guide;ones dh's office can only have 50-60% if staff in at any one time. Hence they are working out at work and or at home. Those who can't work from home due to the nature of their job are in full time. Those who do more days at home.

My workplace hasn't reopened. I work for the LA and they are being very cautious with most council buildings still off-limits. I'm very grateful.

Covid risk is pretty low for me on the scale but my role is patient facing in several gp practices which are full of other germs I don't want to get

I am more productive at home and can do the school run with my DC who is autistic - I cant begin to tell you how much better this makes his life