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?

@GnomeDePlume

How frustrating for you. I wish these dinosaurs would come into the modern age.

I'm still working from home.
Scotland is still in phase three so people are encouraged to work from home if they can and my employer is respecting that.

In an office with over a thousand desks, I’m happier at home.

DC1 has started school this year, and it’s just easier to be at home. I get logged on earlier, take a break to drop her at school, then finish early enough for pick up.

DC2 is still at our workplace nursery, so we do drive to the office 3 times a week. But school is closer to our front door, than nursery was to my desk. I’m really wishing DC2 was due to go to school next year, rather than the year after.

The other parents think I’m a SAHM because I’m there for the school runs, and have been very surprised when I’ve said I work full time. Particularly when DC2 comes for the walk.

I would be sitting in a room by myself and there would be 2 or 3 noisy (young) sales people in the next room. The manager made ageist jokes against me until I told him to fuck off. At home I’m working fine.

Plus I’d need to walk there and back and that’s another 2.5-3 hours of my life. Work expect me to work late and take work home.

Nope, not happy to go back and will put it off if I can.