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Original poster

Don’t want WFH to end

272 replies

GuessWho57 · 26/04/2021 22:29

Vaccine roll out has just ramped-up here so I expect we’ll be back in the office at least partially from June. I am dreading it. I am really happy working from home. I don’t want to go back to the office.

My role is pretty senior so I’ll can’t swerve it.

I walk the kids to school, in jeans, chat to my husband in between calls, see the kids when they get in, don’t have to bother with work clothes or make up or putting your bloody game face on. I much much prefer presenting online HATE doing it f2f.

As an introvert, I am more than fine Witt the current set up.

My heart goes out to those struggling with wfh, but really I feel gutted it might end soon.

Sad
OP posts:
Mmmmdanone · 27/04/2021 12:54

I've loved and hated it equally! Loved as I don't have to get mysey ready as well as the kids. Don't have travel on the bus. Can make lunch in the kitchen rather than carry a sandwich to work. Hated as I miss interaction with people and although I don't like having to get dressed as think it does my mental health good but can't be bothered if not going to be seen by anyone but family.

ContadoraExplorer · 27/04/2021 13:38

Same here but we're likely to be hybrid of both; I'm expecting compressed 2 days from office and 2 days from home with one day off.

I do miss miss social interaction with other people but I also like the peace to get things done without people stopping at my desk for a chat (not working related) and it's great to be able to take 5mins to stick the washing out etc. so the weekends are more about family time. I do way more than my contracted hours anyway but at least I don't have commuting adding to it.

PrincessNutNuts · 27/04/2021 15:05

@converseandjeans

majorneville

I don't think people are saying they want lockdown to stay though. I love wfh but I still want to go out to shops, pubs, concerts, sports games, it's just the wfh I want to keep. Luckily I can, although I'll probably do a mix.

So you want the luxury of wfh and later start, no commute etc while people in hospitality, retail etc have no choice at all?

Don't people choose their jobs?
PrincessNutNuts · 27/04/2021 15:14

WFH has pluses and minuses for me, I can't claim it was easy homeschooling and working FT from the kitchen work top.

However, seeing more of my husband and my children, and having less useless wasted time in my day are big pluses.

All of us are happier. Even the cats.

I won't choose to work anywhere that arbitrarily expects me to present myself to an office building between certain set hours ever again I don't think.

And certainly not one where the culture is to come in when ill.

HelloMissus · 27/04/2021 15:30

I’m currently discussing with my staff what we should do going forward.
I’m not averse to some people WFH some of the time. But it has to make sense for me as well as them.
And I can’t agree to set days, because that’s not really the nature of the business.
For example if I put together a writers room for a few weeks, I can’t just run it Tues-Thurs because my office staff WFH on Mondays and Fridays.
Similarly if our clients (the TV networks) want face to face meetings, it’s not really up to me to go - no it’ll have to be zoom.

BanningTheWordNaice · 27/04/2021 15:33

That’s nice for you 🤷‍♀️ But why should that affect someone wanting to wfh?

Thewiseoneincognito · 27/04/2021 15:35

I have a feeling you won’t be back to work, or at least if you are it won’t be for very long. Our next wave is brewing despite what the vaccine roll out looks like.

RubyTrees · 27/04/2021 15:36

Worth remembering the law of unintended consequences too. One of our large local employers, faced with large numbers reluctant to return and a deteriorating business, is already planning to offshore their provision ... and suddenly the reluctance is disappearing like mist in the sun

Offshoring UK jobs has very little to do with employees preferring to wfh - in financial services it's been going on for 20+ years, it's all about cost cutting.

bathsh3ba · 27/04/2021 15:40

@PrincessNutNuts some people don't have a lot of choice as to whether they take a job that allows wfh or not. You take the jobs you're qualified for that are available in your area and that people will give you. In times of higher unemployment, employers naturally prefer people with more qualifications/experience and those still trying to climb the ladder get kicked off.

This is one of the divides that worries me a lot. By and large, with exceptions, it's the higher earners that are able to work from home and the lower earners that are not. It's not necessarily 'unfair', it is what it is. But it reeks of privilege to suggest everyone can choose their job.

IcedPurple · 27/04/2021 15:44

Similarly if our clients (the TV networks) want face to face meetings, it’s not really up to me to go - no it’ll have to be zoom.

I think this sort of thing is going to be more and more of a factor as normality (hopefully) resumes.

Right now clients will accept Zoom meetings and poor customer service 'because of Covid'. But as restrictions ease, clients will demand better. If your competitors are happy to set up f2f meetings but you can only do Zoom because some of your staff are WFH, then you're at a disadvantage. Similarly, if clients complain of poor service because staff are WFH then that's also a problem.

I really don't think we'll know how this purported move to WFH will play out for another few years. I think those who have moved out of the city in the expectation of WFH permanently are taking a massive gamble.

TheKeatingFive · 27/04/2021 16:25

If your competitors are happy to set up f2f meetings but you can only do Zoom because some of your staff are WFH, then you're at a disadvantage. Similarly, if clients complain of poor service because staff are WFH then that's also a problem.

Exactly. It’s all about being competitive. F2F is often the better option.

This also applies to attracting young talent. Not many ambitious youngsters want to work from their bedrooms. They’ll gravitate to the businesses with the nice offices in good locations, like they always did.

poppycat10 · 27/04/2021 17:39

You can WFH and still do face to face meetings, you just go into your own office or the client's office when you need to see someone face to face. Obviously it depends how many face to face meetings you have to have, and some people will probably find they need to go to one every day. However, even then, you have lots of people who work from home but go to client meetings. Back in the 1980s my father was home-based, visited customers Monday to Thursday and did his paperwork on a Friday.

Some people will be able to continue doing video calls especially if other people aren't based locally or even in the UK, so it's not the case that every client will insist on face to face meetings. It depends on the sector and the client.

poppycat10 · 27/04/2021 17:40

I am also going to make my usual point that WFH does not mean working from your bedroom. Youngsters after a posh office might also be happy with a 5 minute walk to a co-working hub if there's one near them.

poppycat10 · 27/04/2021 17:41

I think those who have moved out of the city in the expectation of WFH permanently are taking a massive gamble

Completely agree with this.

poppycat10 · 27/04/2021 17:42

@littlepieces

Oh and forgot to mention the hideous, time wasting London commute!
And very expensive. How much money have we all been saving (not me so much as I was home based anyway but DH is saving about £4K a year out of taxed income).
Eyevorbig0ne · 27/04/2021 17:42

Me too. But with 2 desks to 12 ppl, not sure when I'll be in.

newnortherner111 · 27/04/2021 17:43

I am with you, as there are only a small number of things where it will be better to be in an office or at least meet face to face.

I also want to give space on public transport to those who really have no choice and have not been able to wfh, at least to give them some reassurance.

neveradullmoment99 · 27/04/2021 17:44

@GuessWho57

Vaccine roll out has just ramped-up here so I expect we’ll be back in the office at least partially from June. I am dreading it. I am really happy working from home. I don’t want to go back to the office.

My role is pretty senior so I’ll can’t swerve it.

I walk the kids to school, in jeans, chat to my husband in between calls, see the kids when they get in, don’t have to bother with work clothes or make up or putting your bloody game face on. I much much prefer presenting online HATE doing it f2f.

As an introvert, I am more than fine Witt the current set up.

My heart goes out to those struggling with wfh, but really I feel gutted it might end soon.

Sad

Well its the way it goes! Some people have had to work all the way through in work. Others have had to go back earlier. Just be grateful that you have been able to have the time you have had. Im grateful that I was not in work at the worst of it.
starfish4 · 27/04/2021 17:47

DH has had to work in office one day a week, from one week May it's three days a week. At some point there'll be trips to other parts of the world. Not sure how long they can hold off on the later, as other areas really need their face to face support.

starfish4 · 27/04/2021 17:48

Forgot to say, although, I'd prefer him at home to reduce family risk, I've had to work throughout in two jobs which at times I've found hard to cope with.

User135644 · 27/04/2021 17:49

Same. I actually wouldn't mind going in now while it's quiet, for a change of scenery, but busy open plan offices are just awful, unless you're some extroverted chatterbox (who these places are increasingly catered towards).

MysteriesOfTheOrganism · 27/04/2021 17:54

I'm hoping that it becomes the new normal. Unless there are overriding business needs for office attendance, people should be encouraged to WFH. Fewer cars on the road, so less pollution. Less congested public transport, so nicer for those who have to travel. Less need for office blocks to be built. Perhaps a boost to local economies. No commuting means a chance for better work-life balance. This was a trend that was happening anyway, so this is a great opportunity to reinvent work for good.

TinyGlassOwl · 27/04/2021 18:07

I went into work yesterday, with my whole team. We've not seen each other for over a year. It was nice to see everyone, have a chat, catch up, and the work we were doing necessitated everyone being in the same room at the same time. So I was more than happy to go in for that.

But... that was a specific need that brought us all in together. Every single person (including the boss!) was of the opinion that nothing is gained by coming into the office 'just because'. Luckily we have the capacity for those who want/need to be in more often to do so, but no more presenteeism for the sake of it. Thank god for that.

And on the off-chance that that attitude changes significantly, I'll be looking for something else.

I've seen my future, and it does not include paying extortionate amounts to stand on a train for 60 mins twice a day with my nose stuffed into a stranger's armpit EVER AGAIN.

Hardbackwriter · 27/04/2021 18:07

Less congested public transport, so nicer for those who have to travel.

I think there are lots of advantages to more people working from home, including for the environment, but my big fear is that all of this has been a death blow to public transport that it won't recover from. Trains and buses won't continue to run near empty forever, but slashed timetables will make using public transport a less viable option for many people, and push them further towards cars.

Hardbackwriter · 27/04/2021 18:09

@poppycat10

I am also going to make my usual point that WFH does not mean working from your bedroom. Youngsters after a posh office might also be happy with a 5 minute walk to a co-working hub if there's one near them.
... that they pay for themselves?