Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

So, when do you think ‘wfh if you can’ will end?!

145 replies

Hairybaker · 13/02/2021 16:02

The only upside of COVID for me has been no commute! Do you think it’ll be when you get vaccinated or when every adult has been vaccinated....or later?!
I know no one knows but just interested!

OP posts:
GintyMcGinty · 13/02/2021 19:38

I also believe it will open up the job market. No longer will people have to travel to/live in the big cities to get a good job. We've already had a few hires from people to live in remote and rural areas who would never have applied in pre-covid times as they would not have wanted to relocate.

It could be all be very interesting.

Hollyhead · 13/02/2021 19:47

I’ve noticed a number of people telling me how much more productive they are at home, but at the same time they haven’t asked for any additional work to do not have they produced anything new either. I’m not against WFH at all, but people need to be all together 1-2 per week in my opinion. And yes to all those who say that admin/data analysis/graphic design etc will be the next thing to go offshore. U.K. workers are very expensive and we have high rights to leave etc in comparison to global neighbours - be careful what you wish for!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 13/02/2021 19:54

HR asked for my feedback about work life balance and I told them I no longer have it, I feel like I’m sleeping in the office. DH no longer feels he can sit in his own living room as I’m on calls. I can’t wait to go back!

ginghamstarfish · 13/02/2021 19:55

I'm sure a lot will never go back to the office, or maybe one day a week. My DH is now WFH, and his IT company has employed some new staff who live in other parts of the country. They can't really then order everyone back to the office but leave the new staff WFH. I know it wont' be the same for everyone, but DH says he works so much better from home without all the distraction of a large open plan office, and also does more hours as he seems to think he should add on the commuting time he saves ....

Avidreader12 · 13/02/2021 19:56

Lots of big employers are closing big offices as making staff work from home with minimum Skelton/ rota office staff has saved them so much money. Lots of people I know have been told to expect to work from home forever. I can’t see the same businesses strategy changing just because governments says it’s ok to return.

Changeythenamey · 13/02/2021 20:01

I work for a large Corp in the city. I was already WFH one day a week pre-pandemic. I’m going on maternity leave for a year in May. When I mentioned return to the office, my boss said ‘I doubt we’ll be back in before you’re back in’. Like many others, I’d guess we’d be back in 2 days a week as the office is oversubscribed anyway.

Frazzled2207 · 13/02/2021 20:01

This is fascinating and potentially exciting as I will be looking for a return to work soon after being a sahm.
Broadly it seems positive especially for working parents but but I feel for young professionals in shared houses or living with parents.
And it doesn’t bode well for city centres does it. I used to work in Manchester and it will be a very different place during the week if you take out the vast majority of office workers.

Original poster
Hairybaker · 13/02/2021 20:09

I know lots of companies, including mine, will not be going back to five days in the office. The question is more around when we think the gov advice may change. I know no one knows but just hoping that particular part of the ‘roadmap’ is later down the line (purely for selfish reasons!!)

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 13/02/2021 20:12

If my company says I have to work from home permanently I’ll have to leave, I don’t have the set up and I refuse to make my husband feel as though he can’t sit in his own home. I’ll try for something in retail, at a vets or something like that, anything rather than this shit

Abracadabra12345 · 13/02/2021 20:17

@FlameHairedRachel

I hope my NDN has to go back to the office soon! It’s like neighbourhood watch now, her little head bobs up every time we leave the house! Just get on with your work ffs!
It’s quite claustrophobic with everyone at home, isn’t it? I remember the old days when people went out to work. Now everyone is just there, all the time.

Of course all this has been exacerbated by lockdown and not being able to go anywhere!

MintyMabel · 13/02/2021 20:20

Will it matter. A whole lot of people are going to work when they shouldn’t be, just because they don’t like being at home.

NothingIsWrong · 13/02/2021 20:25

@MintyMabel

Will it matter. A whole lot of people are going to work when they shouldn’t be, just because they don’t like being at home.
For a lot of people it's more than "don't like". It is seriously affecting their mental health. If my job didn't involve a significant amount of being out of the home, I would be one of them. I am demotivated and stressed at home. The setup I need is taking up space I can't afford to lose. It's shit all round.
TheKeatingFive · 13/02/2021 20:29

Well we’ve been back on a rota basis since June. We’re not ‘required’ in the office right now, but plenty of people are there anyway.

The MD has already said he wants everyone back
4 days a week as soon as that’s feasible (1day from home will be accommodated).

I can’t wait to get back to a normal working pattern.

flippertygibbit · 13/02/2021 20:31

I've managed to get back in to the office a couple of days and can't wait to get back in permanently. My DP has lost his job due to Covid, I've got a tiny desk in the corner of my living room and I absolutely hate it. Also, a permanent workspace in the home will in due course change your house insurance and make it a requirement for revaluing for business rates. Also having to heat it is costing way more than the £6 from the government.

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 13/02/2021 20:34

I'm happy to never go back. I get far more work done, no distractions. No commute. I love it!

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 13/02/2021 20:38

I work for a large financial services organisation and just before lockdown one of our major offices was moved to another part of the city, in the new office everyone is hot desking, you’ve got to “book” to come into the office and you had to WFH at least 2 days a week.
Think they were ahead of the curve tbh and most of the organisation will go the same way. The pandemic just acted as a catalyst.

In some ways I feel like it could be a good thing for my career - a lot of the best jobs were London based, now we can work from anywhere and “go in” a few times a month for key meetings. Opens up options for me.

PaddingtonsSister · 13/02/2021 20:40

I really hope we can still wfh but I don’t expect we will be able to Our organisation say this is a decision for individual managers and ours likes us all in.

Flumpypie · 13/02/2021 20:41

Usually my job would going to the office in the morning, having a debrief and cup of tea with the team, then home visits to people all day or going to meetings. So I was physically active and had human contact all day long.
I’d then have a home admin day once/twice a week.
Now it’s just screens and the phone all day long, I can’t wait for it to go back to the way it was, although god knows how long it’ll be before I’ll be allowed to go from house to house like I used to.

Scottishskifun · 13/02/2021 20:42

In Scotland it's not even if you can it's you have to unless it's essential office.

I can't see us being back in the office before October at the very earliest and even then we hot desk so can accommodate 35% with social distancing..... I think my office will go back max 2 days a week but I would give a day to colleagues as quite happy wfh mostly

MargosKaftan · 13/02/2021 20:50

Well, when all adults have had at least the first vaccine, the government push will be to go back, and get all those support companies back up and running. (Coffee shops, dry cleaners, taxis, office cleaners etc).

Many companies won't want everyone in the office 5 days a week, but the "stay home" message will stop.

When that is seems to change depending on many factors, but most are saying may /June.

Dogsarehairy · 13/02/2021 20:56

@GintyMcGinty

I also believe it will open up the job market. No longer will people have to travel to/live in the big cities to get a good job. We've already had a few hires from people to live in remote and rural areas who would never have applied in pre-covid times as they would not have wanted to relocate.

It could be all be very interesting.

Or there won't be 'good' jobs left in the UK

Interestingly my DH works for a largish company where all the staff think they are WFH home permanently (they were told so last year). They are not- the productivity has been significantly impacted and they are going to get them all back asap.

Katie517 · 13/02/2021 21:02

I’m on mat leave until October but am really hoping to be back in the office 4 days a week then. I hated working from home in the run up to going on leave. We have a big house but with me and my husband both working it felt cramped and my dining table is not designed to be a full time working space nor do I want to devote another room to becoming a second office. I miss the social side of working in an office and the clear boundary between home and work. If my work sell the office space and move to a full WFH model I will get another job as it’s really not for me.

tentative3 · 13/02/2021 21:08

@Frazzled2207

This is fascinating and potentially exciting as I will be looking for a return to work soon after being a sahm. Broadly it seems positive especially for working parents but but I feel for young professionals in shared houses or living with parents. And it doesn’t bode well for city centres does it. I used to work in Manchester and it will be a very different place during the week if you take out the vast majority of office workers.
I think as soon as the government are no longer advising people to wfh some employers will make very clear their expectations around working and having children in the home. They are forced to accept it now but I don't think they will long term. It will still be good for working parents in that I suppose the morning school run will be easier and there will probably be some flex around finish times but I do wonder whether employers will say it's OK to nip out to pick the kids up when they finish but what are your childcare arrangements for the rest of your working day?

Of course, some employers don't care as long as the work is done, but those kind of employers probably already had staff working from home/flexibly.

tentative3 · 13/02/2021 21:11

@MargosKaftan

Well, when all adults have had at least the first vaccine, the government push will be to go back, and get all those support companies back up and running. (Coffee shops, dry cleaners, taxis, office cleaners etc).

Many companies won't want everyone in the office 5 days a week, but the "stay home" message will stop.

When that is seems to change depending on many factors, but most are saying may /June.

I'll be interested to see if there is another backlash against 'propping up pret'. Whilst I understood the sentiment a bit last year, I think it was shortsighted of the general public plus I think there will be a counter expectation that "we" will no longer facilitate the drop in customer service that has gone hand in hand with people working from home. We have a legal matter ongoing at the moment and the amount of delay that has been explained away as caused by staff working from home is quite astounding.
santanddec · 13/02/2021 21:12

@MargosKaftan

Well, when all adults have had at least the first vaccine, the government push will be to go back, and get all those support companies back up and running. (Coffee shops, dry cleaners, taxis, office cleaners etc).

Many companies won't want everyone in the office 5 days a week, but the "stay home" message will stop.

When that is seems to change depending on many factors, but most are saying may /June.

The government tried that last summer but most office workers still couldn't go back due to social distancing reducing capacity. I'm sure the government will try and push it again but the 'covid secure' regulations mean you just can't fit many people in.