Anyone else not going back to the office?

[november90]

So I've just been lucky enough to have an extended maternity leave of 13 months in total, but I went back today and was given all of the coronavirus updates because I actually left just before the first lockdown so I haven't experienced anything firsthand. Anyway I was told that working from home is now going to be semipermanent, and we will all go into the office on reduced hours on a Rota basis. To be honest I'm feeling pretty sad about this. I am a single mum to 2 children, as much as I have dreaded returning to work and I miss my children terribly and would do anything to be able to be in a position to be a stay at home parent, the positive that I saw was that it was going to be an opportunity for me to see other people and socialise a little bit because due to childcare I find this quite difficult.
Has anybody else's employers made this decision? And how do you feel about it? I know there is a lot of positives from working from home, especially for people who live in bigger cities and have to commute etc, but I just feel like our "new normal" is still looking to be quite lonely :(

I think when my children are both settled into school I'll probably loom for another job but at the minute my hours really support my childcare arrangements so I'll just have to bite the bullet and wfh :(
I just think it's sad. I think that the future is a lot more isolated then the past! I get it's a good thing for some, but it isn't for me.

We will not be going back at all until at least June 21st, and then not full time. Probably one or two days per week. Some seem keen to be back in an office, others would like it to be by exception.

I am fortunate to have a large space to work in at home, and being near to the town centre can leave and walk for a couple of things for say 15-20 minutes for a change of scenery. It may be very different for you OP, and it also depends on how much you like working with your colleagues. Mine are excellent at their jobs, but not friends, so as long as we are speaking to each other, I don't miss them.