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?

I'm not going in because my workplace hasn't opened for people who can work home - as per Scottish Government guidance. I will go back in when my office re-opens, assuming I will be able to share an office with my colleagues and have face to face meetings - otherwise there is no point.

At the start of it all COVID was my main reason for not going back. Now, honestly, its more just because its become apparent to me how much time I waste on my commute.

Lockdown was pretty horrific for me as I had no childcare etc but one of the things it did reveal to me is that the nearly two hours I previously spent commuting (during the busiest part of the day for my firm) was so much more productive when not spent on a train. It seems madness to carve out such a big part of the day when you can get so much more done at home. When you throw into the mix that there are going to be more people on public transport (unless there's another national lockdown) and a greater risk of catching COVID, it just seems insane to build that back in again.

My firm are now putting pressure on people to go back into the office. I'm resisting it like mad, mainly because its such a total waste of my time and productivity. I'm fine to go in for critical meetings but hauling myself in twice a day five times a week just so I can be seen to be at my desk in the current climate just seems batshit.

Laiste on the negatives I would add that it's fine for someone like me to WFH who is quite senior and has built up relationships over time and is experiencing all the positives on your list. The only negative for me is being able to get suited and booted for the office, leave my "mum" self behind and become just my work self. Our more junior team members, especially the ones without kids or partners, are wanting to go back to the office a lot more than I do so the pros and cons are not the same for everyone.

I'm am dying to go back and only cos the neighbours two doors done are gutting the place and I want to escape the noise!!!

Was already wfh one a day before and would prefer a flexible approach where its 2 or 3 days when it suits you. But i do want to go back, not looking forward to gas bill this winter and having to heat house more as we have to still be wfh.

I am not because the office is still shut and the employer is saying no one in and I do what I am told😂!

Why are they saying that? I think it’s a bit of covid because if we can work from home well enough why risk office spread and the reputational risk, partly to reduce costs (they have been hit financially by covid giving up office space is an obvious saving).

Personally I prefer being in the office but the uncertainty re schools probably means wfh is best for now but as I said I don’t actually have a choice.

DH's office simply is not open and I work from home by preference (SE).

It was hellish during the summer but now the kids are at school, very pleasant. I am already thinking about dedicated office space for us both, but I appreciate that's a very privileged position to be in.

Capacity in the office is limited due to social distancing - they are only allowing people in who are unable to WFH.

I prefer WFH anyway, for the sorts of reasons pps have stated, but even if I wanted to, I'd have to make a strong case to be allocated a desk.

@Xiaoxiong that's interesting - so in a way going in retains a sense of 'self' away from home life. Whilst almost the opposite for the newer/younger members of the team; going in develops a team spirit.

Another arguable neg. mentioned is the cheap workforce sourced abroad.

School holidays become less of an issue? More of an issue?

I've always preferred working from home but I don't want to return to the office specifically because of covid and commuting.

My office is closed until further notice and we're low in terms of priority for desk space as we can work from home with no loss of productivity so I'm hoping that I won't have to endure the germy commute for quite some time I despise commuting at the best of times because people as a group are generally gross and unhygienic

Because I
now have a life outside of work,
have gained 20 extra hours a week of home time
Sleep for 8 hours a night
Am way more productive at home

No way am I giving that up. I’d rather leave and find alternative employment than return. It is not my job to prop up Pret & co. They need to adapt or die, just like any other business.

@AiryFairyMum

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.

Good for you!

have not been back until September as I have kids who had no childcare. so WFH for that reason. Was going to return for 1 or 2 days now but based in the NW and management decided to close the office again.

It did turn out that I can do my job 100% from home. I am just as effective (I do 20h/week). I used to have a long commute and not having to spend 2h /day in the car did wonders for me well being (and my bank account). I don't miss my colleagues and I am very happy WFH. I work in an industrial estate without a pret and always had a sandwich with me so my continued WFH will have zero impact on the economic recovery and it is a greener lifestyle as barely need the car now.

I've given up a job I was due to start and DH has pushed to stay WFH for the forseeable to limit our youngest's (extremely vulnerable and on the shielding list) exposure.

We've had to balance up the older kids going to school for their education and DD4's safety. They've gone back and we're balancing things up as best we can to do the best for all three younger kids. The older ones have curbed completely their mixing with other people until they go off to uni, again for DD4's sake.

A number of reasons, in no particular order:

1. no hateful commute
2. saving money
3. better work life balance as can get housework done etc. yet also working an hour extra a day due to no commute
4. can do all school drop offs
5. not allowed into the office as capacity is so low and others need the desks more than I do

The risk of catching covid doesn't really factor into my list at all tbh.

I do miss my colleagues but the above outweighs that entirely.

School holidays become less of an issue? More of an issue?

less. most parents who WFH since march had kids around. cannot see how the odd week here or there can now be a problem. At least I hope it won't.

because the Scottish govt won't let me so I continue to go slowly insane trying to work from a kitchen table in a flat with 3 other adults.

Covid only features in my list of reasons because I have primary age children who my mother looked after while we were at work she is over 70 only just and is quite fit and healthy but I fear for her if she got the virus.

I will in reality have no choice when I go back I don't think when we are recalled we will have to go.

I am hoping they see the value of home working and employ a mix of office based and home based working, at least then perhaps me and my partner could take it in turns to stay home/go in and not have anyone look after them. This would be my ideal.

I cannot imagine going back after 6 moths at home, I do not miss the hour commute to and from work, i feel healthier because i now employ this time to exercise and have lost a stone and hope to loose a few more pounds.
Lunch's at home are far healthier because I can make a soup or put on dinner and the girls can eat when they come in form school too.

We are also there to do homework and read to them more now and we also get family time in the evening to go for a walk/cycle or watch a movie together.

I am also an introvert so not missing the people of the office at all I get all the chats I need over email and IM's.

Certain parts of our job cannot be done from home so if we want to keep afloat, we need to meet with the team anyway to do those bits (off site in various locations). Being in central London, most people have to get public transport to work though and that’s the bit we’re trying to avoid where possible. We currently meet twice a week but avoid peak hours travel and I am happy with that and would love to do that long term. Certain bits of my job are much easier when I am in the same room as my colleagues but other bits are fine if not easier to get done from home so it’s a good balance. Plus I hate mornings so the extra time in bed really suits me!

1, I'm in Scotland where the default position is to work from home
2, there's no way my employer can get all of us back at one time and fit us all in safely
3, I'm in the vulnerable category
4, I can't do social distancing or wear face masks due to point 3
5, I save money and time on commuting
6, I am going to put a permanent flexible working request in

I would go in 2 or 3 days a week. But my employer does not want the non-essential people in. They are very clear about that. This is to reduce the risk of those that have to go into the office catching Coronavirus. Bear in mind that if one employee on a site gets it there is a world of deep cleaning and quarantining pain.
We have A and B shifts to ensure that there is continuity and dual site resilience. But if both shifts have to quarantine / stay off site and we lose the other site for any reason. Then the lights go out.

So it's a corporate risk reason.

45 mins on a packed train doesn't appeal usually, but particularly at the moment. I have a child at nursery so am likely to get it from him anyway, but I don't want to add to my risk.

Our office is only allowing 30% back in at the moment, and I have one of the longest commutes (1 hr 20 overall). So it makes sense for me to stay at home.

And yes, of course WFH is nicer. I used to do it one day a week. I do miss the office, the city, Pret, even the commute as a separation of work and home, but I don't want to go back to doing it every day. It's such a waste of time.

A bit different for me, but I had a couple of jobs and none of them wanted me back after maternity leave.
All my flexi requests for each job were denied and I was told it was due to coronavirus uncertainty.
So now I’m unemployed, yey.

My dh has been a couple of times but it takes so long now with all the 'covid secure' measures just to get into the building and obviously the risk is greater the more people go on the train/ underground. He says he is just as productive at home but he does really miss seeing colleagues.

If I'm working from home DS is in nursery for an hour less each day and I'd rather have the extra time to spend with him. I also have about 2 hours per day when I don't have any work to do but have to be available incase something comes up. In the pffice I spend the time drinking tea, chatting and reading the news. If I'm at home I can use those hours to get jobs done so I can dedicate myself to DS when hes at home rather than be trying to look after himand try to keep on top of all the household tasks at the same time.