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Original poster

Is working from home going to be forever?

126 replies

Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 16/02/2021 06:40

i believe it may be,
it doesnt apply to me but i am concerned about the welfare of those who it does affect.
their social skills
their physical health
it is also a consideration when moving home

OP posts:
KatherineJaneway · 16/02/2021 11:53

Many jobs will be offshored overseas instead.

It's not as easy to do that as you think.

waitingforgranny · 16/02/2021 13:12

Yes. I think so. My company closed its office. Couldn't afford the rent. There are no plans to open a new one. We don't actually need it to carry out our work

Original poster
Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 16/02/2021 18:09

i think it might lead to joint problems, eye strain, with the wrong equipment for the job.

OP posts:
MixedUpFiles · 16/02/2021 18:13

Many of us have much better MH when we get to wfh. Offices are absolutely torturous for a good portion of the workforce.

user85963842 · 16/02/2021 18:26

@Inthevirtualwaitingroom I can do a lot more stretches without glaring eyes and find it easier to get up and walk around to give my eyes and body a break than I did in an open plan office. My health, physical and mental, are much improved WFH.

bijouou · 16/02/2021 22:27

@Inthevirtualwaitingroom I agree as we are expected to use a laptop 12.5 hour shift. In the office we would have dual screen a keyboard and mouse a desk and proper office chair .

PersonaNonGarter · 16/02/2021 22:29

In the office we would have dual screen a keyboard and mouse a desk and proper office chair.

I have this at home - can’t you get your office equipment delivered to your house? The only thing I don’t have is a proper desk.

Kitkat151 · 16/02/2021 22:31

I love working from home....it’s the best thing to have come out of this lockdown

RedcurrantPuff · 16/02/2021 22:33

In the office we would have dual screen a keyboard and mouse a desk and proper office chair

I have all this at home, been lucky

Helloyouthere · 16/02/2021 23:04

My place are saying we will just be doing a couple of days in the office when things are back to normal.

When the kids are in school I love it. Backgarden on my lunch in the summer, walk the dog on my lunch.

My work get more out of me as I log on whilst having my breakfast and morning coffee. Before with commute they wouldn't see me until 9:30am.

I've learnt more about my customers and their lifestyles than I ever have before. I find I have much more personable conversations with them now than what I did before.

ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia · 16/02/2021 23:07

No but it's a new blended option for future working lifestyles with technological advances making it possible for those who prefer it as an alternative.

Frozenintime · 16/02/2021 23:10

Please no!! I can't stand this constant invasion of our home by DH's work

StarCat2020 · 17/02/2021 03:35

There was a reason why the Government was so eager to get people back into their offices last year.

Meredithgrey1 · 17/02/2021 07:58

[quote bijouou]@Inthevirtualwaitingroom I agree as we are expected to use a laptop 12.5 hour shift. In the office we would have dual screen a keyboard and mouse a desk and proper office chair . [/quote]
My company will send all of this, except the desk, to people who request it.

Beaniecats · 17/02/2021 08:02

@PersonaNonGarter

In the office we would have dual screen a keyboard and mouse a desk and proper office chair.

I have this at home - can’t you get your office equipment delivered to your house? The only thing I don’t have is a proper desk.

I have been waiting since march 2020 for office equipment to be delivered
RedskyBynight · 17/02/2021 08:24

My company has allowed people to take home their work office equipment (except desk). This does raise an issue if blended working is the way forward - as it's just not possible for everyone to take all their office equipment back and forth between home and work. And having a full extra set of office equipment at home is a PITA unless you have a dedicated work space.

Biscoff2020 · 17/02/2021 08:55

I can't see office workers returning in any significant numbers until the 'covid secure' guidance is dropped- maybe in spring/summer 2022? Certainly not until we've got through another Winter.

However I do think that people will return pretty quickly after that if the office space still exists with maybe 1 day a week WFH. I'm sure after 2+ years of WFH people will be desperate for a change of scenery- I know I will be!

User7458 · 17/02/2021 09:03

@RedskyBynight

My company has allowed people to take home their work office equipment (except desk). This does raise an issue if blended working is the way forward - as it's just not possible for everyone to take all their office equipment back and forth between home and work. And having a full extra set of office equipment at home is a PITA unless you have a dedicated work space.
Yes, DS has company equipment including 2 screens at home, and he does not have a car, his manager brought it round his flat for him, that wouldn't be able to happen weekly. DS has not got a laptop anyway, like many young single adults he mainly just uses his phone for everything and has my old iPad if he needs something bigger and for watching TV on, he has no need for a laptop. There must be many people in the same situation, DS is lucky he rents his small flat and does not share with anyone, many are in shared accommodation which must be difficult to wfh.
Meredithgrey1 · 17/02/2021 09:08

@RedskyBynight

My company has allowed people to take home their work office equipment (except desk). This does raise an issue if blended working is the way forward - as it's just not possible for everyone to take all their office equipment back and forth between home and work. And having a full extra set of office equipment at home is a PITA unless you have a dedicated work space.
We haven’t been sent our office equipment, we’ve been bought additional office equipment to have at home (screens, mouse, keyboard, chair, not desk). So for us blended working wouldn’t be a problem. I work for a massive multinational though. Bigger firms will have an advantage in being able to supply what’s needed for people to work well at home.
user85963842 · 17/02/2021 09:09

@User7458 if an employer wishes to commit to WFH they should be supplying laptops, I haven't had a desktop computer since 2015, 3 employers ago, I think laptops are becoming much more common place and only expect this to continue. I would never expect to supply my own equipment, it isn't secure for one thing.

onlychildandhamster · 17/02/2021 09:25

@RedskyBynight I was given a tiny work laptop by my company which i hook up to a monitor (paid for by myself). we have always used laptops hooked up to monitors in the office. I would just bring the laptop to and from work if we switch to blended working, it fits in any tote style handbag.

Cherryberrypies · 17/02/2021 09:29

We’ve just been approved to move out of the city we live in if we want to. We have to make sure we are happy travel into the office one or two days a month for ‘team days’ but other than that it’s totally up to us how often we are in.

I’m over the moon as it means I can move back nearer my friends and family but still keep a job I love. We won’t be moving anytime soon but the fact it’s a possibility has really boosted my morale.

In normal times working from home when you can still be social outside of work will make it not feel so shit.

I know not everyone is happy with wfh but if you have the choice going forward Of home or office what’s the problem.

Runnerduck34 · 17/02/2021 09:36

I think for many it will be.
Before covid my local authority employer was planning to sell our offices and build something smaller in a cheaper out of town location.
They are still selling existing office building but now have no plans to replace it but instead will be renting out a small office hub for meetings or where you can book desk space if required. I dont think I will ever work in an office with my team again, employers have recognised the cost saving of not paying for office space and realised people can work efficiently from home.

wizzbangfizz · 17/02/2021 09:36

I hope not, I hate it and it is having a serious affect on my mental health. I've also a wardrobe full of beautiful work clothes SadSmile

wejammin · 17/02/2021 10:26

When the schools are open and the weather is nice I have definitely found working from home enjoyable, but I have hated using a laptop all day, and there's no way DH and I could both bring all our office equipment home, there's just not the space anywhere for 2 x dual screens, keyboards and PC units. We're squashed round our kitchen table as it is.

I'm a family children lawyer and really miss being face to face with clients - we're talking about the most personal aspects of their lives and I take so much from body language, from really connecting with clients, to understand their case. I just can't do that on a remote platform.

I also feel that the juniors in the team are missing out a lot in terms of experience and people skills, plus no opportunity to network and socialise.

There's definitely pros and cons but I think a balance would be preferable.

Home learning/toddler wrangling on top is just impossible so I'm really unproductive and exhausted at the moment generally though.

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