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Original poster

Back to office?

33 replies

purpleme12 · 04/11/2020 11:17

Would you go back to the office if you could? Office work
It's 2 metres apart
And screens getting installed as well now
I don't like working from home
But the advice is to with from home now
Will it be too different at work, too clinical? And too hard to not go near people when you're walking around going to people?
If you can't go near people it'll be hard to hear them anyway won't it?

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 04/11/2020 11:21

I'd like to go in a couple of days a week but it's only been open for a few weeks to get new starts up and running and it's closing again tonight for the foreseeable.

BarbaraofSeville · 04/11/2020 11:29

Even if desks are 'safe' you also need to consider communal facilities and travel to work.

Your employer should be allowing everyone who wants to WFH to do so, while at the same time accommodating those who want/need to come into the office due to the nature of their job, what their home environment is like in terms of peace, space etc and if the office is deemed oversubscribed, set up a rota so everyone gets the best compromise.

whatswithtodaytoday · 04/11/2020 11:30

No, because the virus is spread through the air and screens offer very little protection without good ventilation. Our office's windows only open a crack.

Anyway, the office has closed again during this lockdown.

pinkbalconyrailing · 04/11/2020 11:33

no.

what do you not like about working from home? if it's colleagues then it wouldn't make a difference as they won't be there either.

MaverickDanger · 04/11/2020 11:34

It depends on your journey there.

DH’s office is very distanced and well ventilated. He feels very safe going there a couple of days per week and needs to get out the house.

He drives there and there is adequate parking. For my office, I’d need to get the train and I just don’t feel comfortable doing that.

Our office guidance has been to drive in if you can, otherwise stay at home to work, unless your mental health is really suffering.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 04/11/2020 11:38

@pinkbalconyrailing

no.

what do you not like about working from home? if it's colleagues then it wouldn't make a difference as they won't be there either.

Yes it is colleagues but they will be there, a lot of them But you're sat 2 metres away with screens now Which I'm wondering if that will make it hard for me anyway
OP posts:
plixy · 04/11/2020 11:41

My office doesn't see a problem with carrying on as normal. No adjustments have been made and no one is allowed to work from home.
I would love to be working from home right now.

bathsh3ba · 04/11/2020 12:07

I work at a university, so obviously some staff have to come in. Others are mostly given the choice but a lot have stayed working from home since March. The rules don't state that businesses other than certain non-essential retail and hospitality have to close, do they? So there's a loophole. It feels like this lockdown is a lot less strict (though I still think it's an over-reaction.)

Original poster
purpleme12 · 04/11/2020 12:12

@bathsh3ba

I work at a university, so obviously some staff have to come in. Others are mostly given the choice but a lot have stayed working from home since March. The rules don't state that businesses other than certain non-essential retail and hospitality have to close, do they? So there's a loophole. It feels like this lockdown is a lot less strict (though I still think it's an over-reaction.)
I wonder if it is an overreaction? I feel like I've no idea about anything anymore But yes this lockdown is definitely keep strict. There's a lot more that's open
OP posts:
Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 04/11/2020 13:05

No. I hope to never go back!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 04/11/2020 13:10

I'd go back in this afternoon if I could! I hate working from home as there's no break from work. I have a short drive to work and that makes the difference between home life and work life to me.

PrivateD00r · 04/11/2020 13:15

I don't think its a good idea, given the choice. Sorry Sad

You would have to wear a mask all of the time because you are all breathing in the same air in an enclosed space, it would be incredibly uncomfortable. It will not be the normal office chat or anything, I honestly don't think there is anything to be gained by going back.

ComtesseDeSpair · 04/11/2020 13:15

We’ve been open for those who wanted or needed to go in from August and I’ve been going in two or three days a week since. Now closed again as from today and I’ll really miss it. Even if only a few of my colleagues were actually in it was still nice to have that interaction; plus the routine of getting up, dressing in something smart-ish, riding my bike in, getting a coffee from my favourite coffee shop and so on. The office is huge so just being there also meant more basic activity. I feel sluggish at home, even if I take exercise breaks.

Kljnmw3459 · 04/11/2020 13:16

I'll need to take 2-3 trains and a bus, all of them crowded so it's not appealing to me atm. I expect to be back part time in January and full time in spring.

ComtesseDeSpair · 04/11/2020 13:19

Also - and I know it shouldn’t be the case - but in our office, because it’s was entirely voluntary, the people who were in were by definition those not really worried about Covid. So whilst Facilities had ensured everything was safer than safe, it didn’t feel at all clinical or weird because everyone was very relaxed.

thedevilinablackdress · 04/11/2020 13:24

Noone should really be choosing to work in an office at the moment if they can avoid it per govt advice. My employer has facilitated a very small no. of people to go back in who were really struggling e.g. due to being in a shared flat or similar. But they're all very spaced out and wearing masks when not at desks.

JinpingShuffle · 04/11/2020 13:56

If you are able to continue to work at home it will be much nicer and safer. I don't understand why anyone would want to return to an office at the moment.

WhiteChocTwix · 04/11/2020 14:00

I'm currently in a role until xmas, recruiter told me it would be remote after initial 2 week training period in the office. On week 3 still stuck in the office, seems they want me in 5 days a week! We've had no direction as to what happens from tomorrow onwards. Word on the street is we're still expected in. Some ppl have protested and said they don't feel safe going in. Personally I have a great WFH set up with fast internet and my role can be done 100% remote so seems mad to me putting myself at risk. Worried if I make a fuss I could loose the contract though. Confused

ginberry4 · 04/11/2020 14:12

At my office we have clear perspex screens up between the desks, so we can still all chat as normal. Up to now we’ve been 1.5-2m apart & facing each other but they’ve spread us out a bit more now. No-one wears masks. We’re still required to go in during lockdown (manufacturing) although most of our jobs can be done from home. I’m not too happy about that but not a lot I can do.

thedevilinablackdress · 04/11/2020 14:26

@JinpingShuffle since people have really unsuitable set ups for WFH, as I mentioned earlier. Maybe they live in a flat share and have several other people all using the same WiFi and only one room to live work and socialise in 24/7. Maybe they gave people at home who, for one reason or another, make it difficult to work. There are many reasons.

thedevilinablackdress · 04/11/2020 14:28

Apologies for typos.
(One of my most used 2020 work phrases, along with "you're on mute")

applesandoranges221 · 04/11/2020 17:29

I’ve been back in the office for a month and am loving it, pretty much my choice whether or not to go in currently ( I work in a uni so we are open) but I will continue to choose to do during lockdown. You get used to everything looking different very quickly and it’s been really great to collaborate with colleagues.

WhiteChocTwix · 04/11/2020 17:47

Now been told it's up to me whether I WFH or come into office. 👍I think that's a fair approach. Office will be open but ppl can do what's best for them.

batman7654 · 04/11/2020 17:59

Remember going into office will also involve touching lift buttons/door handles/toilet door locks etc. From a virus spread perspective it's definitely more risky.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 04/11/2020 18:00

@JinpingShuffle working from home can be shit if you're not set up for it. I have to work in the living room so DH spends most of his time in the bedroom reading and feels as though he has to ask if he wants to walk through the living room as he feels he's in the way. I've told him not to worry, if he appears in a call so be it, but he does.

I now have a desk which makes very slightly better but it's between the sideboard and the dining table and facing the wall so not brilliant.

We've also been told to remember confidentiality but how I'm supposed to do that I don't know. I wear earphones but if I'm on a call DH can hear my side.

I'm completely fed up with it now, I want my living room back, I don't want to look at screens every time I walk through. I don't feel as though I can switch off and I do longer hours than when I'm in the office, although I'm going to stop that.

Sorry, that's turned into a rant but I'm certainly not feeling any happier!