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Original poster

What do you think will happen over winter?

253 replies

brideyb · 29/07/2021 19:47

Restriction wise. I'm feeling very gloomy / anxious about it! My sister is getting married and I desperately hope it can go ahead.

OP posts:
schoolmoveworrier · 31/07/2021 11:52

Oh and if you think idle chit chat can't be done remotely you are wrong, very very wrong.

schoolmoveworrier · 31/07/2021 11:54

It's not that great when the team you manage have a looming deadline and they're sat on the sofas chinwagging about their weekend plans

Mhm. Well perhaps manage them better?

Thankfully WFH has cut all this shit out and everyone now focuses on the actual work

That's what you think. You have no idea that they're not texting or emailing eachother. You don't know what they're talking about in teams calls you're not present for, do you?

Spudlet · 31/07/2021 12:10

Don’t even mention Teams to me. I have never found anything more stressful than trying to get DS to sit down and take part in a Teams phonics session. He basically had no education from Christmas to March other than what I could cobble together because he can’t engage remotely. I did it, but it nearly killed me.

It’s not a substitute for everything.

MRex · 31/07/2021 12:49

I've never seen a functioning team who don't like each other enough to have some "idle chit-chat" about their lives and enjoy spending occasional.time together over lunch or drinks. Team bonding is essential to have everyone pulling in the same direction, happy to pitch in to help colleagues and most importantly enjoying their day, because people who enjoy their work are more productive. It also really matters if you are in a skilled profession where you want to actually keep people at your company instead of having high staff turnover (productivity again!). Team drinks online are ok, as are side chats, but it's noticeable (and lovely) that most of the people I work with have made the effort to meet at least one of the team living near them since pubs reopened. So they're hanging out even though the company haven't gone back to the office. I've had a couple of pub meetings and they've been fabulous; the colleagues are great people, we got a lot done and we had fun. I wouldn't hire nor retain a "manager" who didn't understand how to get the best out of their team, and that has never included treating people like slaves.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/07/2021 12:55

Work is not for idle chit chat.

Thankfully WFH has cut all this shit out and everyone now focuses on the actual work.

So you're as miserable in work as you are on here @NannyAndJohn? I'm glad I don't work for someone like you, my company has set up online 'coffee mornings' where we can chat and catch up with each other. My director also spent half an hour chatting to me when I broke down as I couldn't cope any more and has told us we're to contact her or anyone else if we need support.

I'm glad I work for a human being who cares about their staff and not a robot who thinks work is the be all and end all.

NannyAndJohn · 31/07/2021 13:00

I couldn't care less what they get up to during their lunch breaks and outside of working hours.

But while at work they need to do what they are contracted to do.

I have a very high opinion of (the majority of) my team so it's extra frustrating when they drop the ball.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/07/2021 13:03

I couldn't care less what they get up to during their lunch breaks and outside of working hours

That's big of you!

Our virtual coffee mornings are during work time. The more I see on MN the more I realise I work for a pretty good company

schoolmoveworrier · 31/07/2021 13:07

@NannyAndJohn

I couldn't care less what they get up to during their lunch breaks and outside of working hours.

But while at work they need to do what they are contracted to do.

I have a very high opinion of (the majority of) my team so it's extra frustrating when they drop the ball.

I wonder what they think of you....

I

MRex · 31/07/2021 13:07

It really doesn't sound like you're cut out for management @NannyAndJohn. If you don't like people then just get a more senior role without the people responsibilities.

TheKeatingFive · 31/07/2021 13:21

Christ imagine working for Nanny 😆

Bordois · 31/07/2021 13:27

@schoolmoveworrier

Oh and if you think idle chit chat can't be done remotely you are wrong, very very wrong.
Haha, thats true - our WhatsApp is full of chit chat as well as memes, gifs and tiktoks sent during work hours

🙀

NotMyCat · 31/07/2021 13:29

@Jackgrealishscurtains definitely - I'm pretty much permanently neutropenic and it sucks (CEV because of it)

countrygirl99 · 31/07/2021 15:29

I was in a meeting the other evening and there was a lot of chit chat with other team members gojng on via WhatsApp. Largely focused on trying to work out whether that really was a vibrator on someone's shelf.

IcedPurple · 31/07/2021 19:12

@NannyAndJohn

I couldn't care less what they get up to during their lunch breaks and outside of working hours.

But while at work they need to do what they are contracted to do.

I have a very high opinion of (the majority of) my team so it's extra frustrating when they drop the ball.

Do your 'team' know how much time you spend on here, Nanny and Con?

I hope it's not on company time. Work is not the place for idle doom mongering.

Oh, and I think you've now lost the abiity to pretend you aren't enjoying restrictions and don't want them to continue indefinitely. That was rather silly of you.

NannyAndJohn · 31/07/2021 21:39

  1. I don't work a full week.

  2. WFH is not a restriction.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/07/2021 21:50

In your opinion it's not a restriction. I'm mine it is - why should I have to give up my living room permantly so I can work from home as I have nowhere else to work?

DH used to feel he couldn't walk through the living room if I was on a call, how is that not a restriction? I've told him to walk through when he likes, it's his home so why should he have to stay out of the way?

Perhaps you need to think beyond your own situation @NannyAndJohn. not everyone is lucky enough to have space to work or only work part time.

Jourdain11 · 31/07/2021 22:02

Practically every one I knew got super fed up when working from home. I wouldn't say depressed, but definitely decreased wellbeing.

I'm very happy to be back in the workplace. Apart from anything else, confidentiality issues were a massive headache and I imagine that must be the case across many sectors.

What is good is that hopefully more people will have the opportunity to work flexibly. But at the same time, I hope that doesn't = all the women working flexibly and missing out on promotion opportunities = more gender imbalance in senior management roles.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 31/07/2021 22:34

We were told we had to remember confidentiality. I live in a one bedroom flat so the only way DH won’t hear my calls is if he goes out and I’m not asking him to do that!

My view has been all the way through this that work will have to accept my living arrangements and if they don’t like it let me go back to the office.

Wellbythebloodyhell · 31/07/2021 22:42

WFH is a lovely idea long term IF you've got a space in the home to actually practically work from. Sitting on the edge or your bed with a tiny desk and laptop just to try and get some privacy and quiet away from the rest of the busy household ,and also then spend another 8-10 hours sleeping in the same room, so possibly upto 20hrs a day in the same surroundings, that's not conducive to a healthy work/life /physical/emotional balance.

XenoBitch · 31/07/2021 22:49

@Wellbythebloodyhell

WFH is a lovely idea long term IF you've got a space in the home to actually practically work from. Sitting on the edge or your bed with a tiny desk and laptop just to try and get some privacy and quiet away from the rest of the busy household ,and also then spend another 8-10 hours sleeping in the same room, so possibly upto 20hrs a day in the same surroundings, that's not conducive to a healthy work/life /physical/emotional balance.
Agreed. My BiL WFH on his bed... shared a shift with my DS (worked for same employer). That coupled with having young kids at home too... his mental health went in the gutter. Some people need to be in the office.
DownstairsMixUp · 31/07/2021 23:15

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

YarnOver · 01/08/2021 11:07

It might snow. :)

Spudlet · 01/08/2021 12:32

@YarnOver

It might snow. :)
Oooh I hope so! DS loves snow, especially as we get some good big drifts in a few places that you can sink right into. And we have a puppy who I’d love to introduce to the snow too! Also, I feel at least 50% more hardcore and adventurous if my morning run has taken me through a few drifts 💪 Grin
YarnOver · 01/08/2021 12:44

@Spudlet my eldest asked if she could go sledding in winter. Unfortunately we live in a place with absolutely no hills whatsoever

Obviouspretzel · 01/08/2021 12:44

@PigeonPink

Just read an article in the guardian with the most depressing quote ever from a professor of intensive care medicine I’m afraid I agree. I can’t foresee a time when I’ll feel safe in a pub or busy place. Maybe in 20 years time.

In winter I think masks and distancing will return. Nightclubs may close. There won’t be any more furlough so other places will have to remain open. Schools will remain open too.

Feeling unsafe in pubs or busy places for the next twenty years would be worse than just dying of the virus tbh.