Who still has to go to a place of work?
Who is working from home?
Who is off work for a while and how long do you think you'll be off for?

I'm still going to a factory, manufacturing, told we'll be finishing Friday for at least 2 weeks. Personally I think its likely to be at least 4.

Working from home for a few days now. A fair bit of my work is office based so that's OK although I can't say I've been pulling up trees. Not something I've ever liked. I find it hard to work at full effort when at home.

Worked from home for 5 years in August so still working same old.

JarrowClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:40 am

Worked from home for 5 years in August so still working same old.

Tyne Tunnel must be losing a fortune with everyone staying at home.

Working from home since Monday, our provisional return date is the second Monday in May very strange times.

Four of us working from home (family firm) other working at their homes, leaving 1 to man the office. Arrangement in place so if anyone has to go to the office they use a second building, so individuals are never in the same building.

I am still working. In fact as of yesterday work has moved to a whole new level. As many schools are closed the level of orders and deliveries has dropped dramatically, though there are schools still open.

As we are a Herts County Council owned business, we are turning the warehouse space and our drivers and vehicle fleet over to supporting food deliveries to vulnerable people in the county. Yesterday I took delivery of the first 10 of 40 additional hire Van's needed to provide this service and I have 60 additional drivers on standby through recruitment agencies I use in readiness. Everything to be finalised in meetings today and I expect this new service to be up and running no later than Monday. We are talking thousands of deliveries per day so this is going to take some doing.

Still it makes me thankful I have a job that I enjoy doing, that is able to continue through troubled times and our resources and skills can be put to use supporting those who need it most in the county.

I’m still working at a train depot in Norwich. We might be changing slightly to work 2 days a week from home soon but nothing confirmed.

Still working, busier than ever delivering all the rubbish people order online.

Selling medical equipment into the NHS, almost embarrassed to say it but never had such a successful few weeks and it’s only getting crazier. Potentially looking at employing more people to keep up with demand. I’m one of a very few people who will come out of this very well financial.

How crazy that that almost felt embarrassing to write and without the anonymity of the board I would never ever feel comfortable saying that I’m going to benefit from this terrible situation

MRG wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:32 am

Selling medical equipment into the NHS, almost embarrassed to say it but never had such a successful few weeks and it’s only getting crazier. Potentially looking at employing more people to keep up with demand. I’m one of a very few people who will come out of this very well financial.

How crazy that that almost felt embarrassing to write and without the anonymity of the board I would never ever feel comfortable saying that I’m going to benefit from this terrible situation

Hope you do benefit in that you, and your family stay healthy. More to life than money.

I’m at home for the foreseeable after being furloughed. I’d honestly continue working for nothing to save the business if it was possible, I’ve never had a day sick or not worked in the 15 years since I left school, it’s just not my nature. I love being busy.

MRG wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:32 am

Selling medical equipment into the NHS, almost embarrassed to say it but never had such a successful few weeks and it’s only getting crazier. Potentially looking at employing more people to keep up with demand. I’m one of a very few people who will come out of this very well financial.

How crazy that that almost felt embarrassing to write and without the anonymity of the board I would never ever feel comfortable saying that I’m going to benefit from this terrible situation

Absolutely nothing wrong with what you are saying, that’s the way of the world. Some companies will always do well out of a pandemic or tragedy. Good luck to you, without companies like yours we’d likely run out of supplies

We are still working with some key partners who are part of NHS and military supply chains. I don't think we will stop even under total lock down as we provide on site maintenance to these key industries.

Still working, am told by my company I continue to do so until they tell me different and nobody else. Engineering firm in the south west, unsure whether the business will close for a period depending on what is classed as essential.

claretandy wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:20 am

Still working, busier than ever delivering all the rubbish people order online.

Claretandy is a white van man. Who'd have thought?

Who knew Emily thornberry posted on here

Still working, Burnley College. Essential maintenance etc.

Skeleton staff in the biology department.

Will be working straight through the pandemic it seems.

Produce agricultural chemicals and there are a lot of farmers and governments around the world who are stocking up massively in fear of either a lockdown on transport to them and also to replace all the panic bought foods. Orders have risen from around 1mil a day to 6-8mil a day for a the past week and it’s just getting stupidly busy.

I came in early today so I could grab a few bits from Asda before starting work, lazy feckers don't start till 8 o'clock!

gawthorpe_view wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:35 am

I came in early today so I could grab a few bits from Asda before starting work, lazy feckers don't start till 8 o'clock!

I don't think Tesco open until 10 o'clock, at least in Padiham.

gawthorpe_view wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:35 am

I came in early today so I could grab a few bits from Asda before starting work, lazy feckers don't start till 8 o'clock!

I found it a bit odd that supermarkets are shortening their hours. I thought it being open longer would result in less people being in at any one time. Although I guess they are also losing staff to self-isolation as well.

Yeah I'm still working.

I've got 2 jobs and both are considered key workers at this moment in time.

Primary job as a mechanic and we maintain a fleet of private ambulances so we are able to work anyway regardless, but garages are still able to operate as normal and the motor factors are doing the same, using garages as an excuse.

Weekend job I work in a BP/M&S petrol station so again key work.

If the garage closes for this pandemic then I'll probably pick up more hours at BP.

Funkydrummer wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:41 am

I don't think Tesco open until 10 o'clock, at least in Padiham.

Tesco in Padiham is open from 6 am till 10 pm. 10 - 4 Sundays.
Might call in on my way home tonight.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:59 am

I found it a bit odd that supermarkets are shortening their hours. I thought it being open longer would result in less people being in at any one time. Although I guess they are also losing staff to self-isolation as well.

It's so they've got time to restock the shelves before the panic buyers rock up.
People were panic buying in the middle of the night, it wasn't fair on those who were unable to go shopping in the night.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:03 am

It's so they've got time to restock the shelves before the panic buyers rock up.
People were panic buying in the middle of the night, it wasn't fair on those who were unable to go shopping in the night.

That would make sense but hasn't the panic-buying spree finished now. I guess it makes sense not to have staff in the aisles during open hours; I called into a local shop yesterday for milk, two staff were filling shelves, firstly making it impossible to access items without getting close to them and impacting on the flow of customers in the shop. They were operating queuing spacing but what was happening in the actual shop was ridiculous; they had a 5 customer only policy but weren't policing it. I didn't buy anything and walked out.

Currently working from home as I work in a office role for a manufacturing firm, who make food packaging. We're trying to mitigate the risk of transmission to the manufacturing floor by sending to work from home who don't need to be there.

As the manufacturing staff have seen this as everyone else having a holiday, whilst they work, I'll no doubt be working on the manufacturing floor from next week, to make sure we still have a business to return to when this is all over. No manufacturing = no revenue = bye bye business.

I'll be covering one of those who unbelievably has said they would rather be layed off.

still working.....i drive kids with SEN to school (and the children of key workers)...though numbers are really low now.

Yep still going as work for a medical company , no need to say anymore .

I've just been told I'm now a furloughed worker until at least 30th May. I was working in sales in the events industry which has obviously halted to a stop.
Given that I now have nothing to do, I've volunteered for the NHS which should be going live today or tomorrow.

I'm a project manager who already worked 2-3 days from home depending on f2f meetings and workshops. The company's I work for are in and around the energy industries so my work continues as normal but working 100% from home.

Work for me has got a bit busier as we are now providing additional support to help the businesses manage their workforce, production and customers around the COVID-19 issues.

As im gonna be stuck at home 5 days per week with work I've signed up for the NHS volunteering to try and support if I have some free time in the evenings and at weekends.

Work in the Finance dept. of a company that makes aircraft parts and as I can probably do about 85% of my role remotely have been working from home since Monday.

Engineering, despatch, inspection depts etc are still working on site though which I find surprising as I wouldn't have thought we are an 'essential' business.

Darthlaw wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:32 am

Currently working from home as I work in a office role for a manufacturing firm, who make food packaging. We're trying to mitigate the risk of transmission to the manufacturing floor by sending to work from home who don't need to be there.

As the manufacturing staff have seen this as everyone else having a holiday, whilst they work, I'll no doubt be working on the manufacturing floor from next week, to make sure we still have a business to return to when this is all over. No manufacturing = no revenue = bye bye business.

I'll be covering one of those who unbelievably has said they would rather be layed off.

Are you really surprised that people would rather protect their health? Than a job they would be replaced in within 5 minutes?

I'm working from home. I work for a company that sells refurbished IT hardware, and similar to what MRG said it's been very busy, not just with laptops and the obvious work from home kit but servers and the like as well.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:16 am

Are you really surprised that people would rather protect their health? Than a job they would be replaced in within 5 minutes?

We've already taken steps to minimise any risk to their health by taking non essential staff out and ensuring social distancing in the workplace. It's already a food safe business, so we're used to working under sterile conditions, Im not sure what more protection a company can offer.

As for replaced??? They are skilled workers, trained in what they do. I am a desk jockey who will be, frankly, bodging it to make sure they still have a job to come back to. I'll be risking my health, so that I can continue to provide for my family, whilst also playing my part in keeping the nation's food supply going.

Given that, yes - I'm a little surprised. You might not be, but hey ho.

Im working from home 3 days a week and part of a skeleton team in the office two days a week. I'm a solicitor so some things have to be physically attendee to. On a floor of the office where there is usually around 30 of us, there are now 4 of us on the days the skeleton team work in the office. The city I live in (2.5m people) is deserted in the central business district at the moment. Its very surreal.

Finished work yesterday done my bit for 49 years was going to start my world travel on Friday now lockdowned at home.

Darthlaw wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:50 am

We've already taken steps to minimise any risk to their health by taking non essential staff out and ensuring social distancing in the workplace. It's already a food safe business, so we're used to working under sterile conditions, Im not sure what more protection a company can offer.

As for replaced??? They are skilled workers, trained in what they do. I am a desk jockey who will be, frankly, bodging it to make sure they still have a job to come back to. I'll be risking my health, so that I can continue to provide for my family, whilst also playing my part in keeping the nation's food supply going.

Given that, yes - I'm a little surprised. You might not be, but hey ho.

Obviously a general comment when I haven't a clue what you do, but anyone who would rather be at home should be able to.

WFH this week after 2 weeks out sick. due to previous history i'll be WFH for the foreseeable

I wouldn't say my job is essential, as a writer, although it is easy to WFH. Might be an interesting discussion when they try to claim it isn't possible after this all blows over.

I can work from home anyway, so just staying that way.
I think this will be 2-4 months, and a lot will change come the end of it... such as people working from home.

Does anyone actually like working from home though? I genuinely don't mind going into the office, though I appear to be in the minority. My colleagues are a good bunch and we have some decent banter that makes the day more enjoyable. WFH I now only talk to customers during the day, which given I work in IT sales (despite having no interest in IT) can become pretty tedious with nothing to break it up.

SammyBoy wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:30 am

Does anyone actually like working from home though? I genuinely don't mind going into the office, though I appear to be in the minority. My colleagues are a good bunch and we have some decent banter that makes the day more enjoyable. WFH I now only talk to customers during the day, which given I work in IT sales (despite having no interest in IT) can become pretty tedious with nothing to break it up.

Its easier to focus in the office, but the trade off of the commute and being miles from any decent lunch options gets old very quickly

I was layed off last Friday. Sent an email requesting to be furloughed was told that they're looking into it but can't garuntee it. So it's a case of applying for other jobs. Just a **** situation that's left me with so much anger but not knowing who to be angry with.

ZizkovClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:41 am

Its easier to focus in the office, but the trade off of the commute and being miles from any decent lunch options gets old very quickly

I didn't really think about the commute but mines only 20 mins so I'd rather go in, if I was driving an hour or so then perhaps WFH would be worth it.

SammyBoy wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:30 am

Does anyone actually like working from home though? I genuinely don't mind going into the office, though I appear to be in the minority. My colleagues are a good bunch and we have some decent banter that makes the day more enjoyable. WFH I now only talk to customers during the day, which given I work in IT sales (despite having no interest in IT) can become pretty tedious with nothing to break it up.

I like to mix it up a bit. Some stuff I can just crack on with at home and get more done and if im really busy find it earlier to work into the early evening. Other things I need to do f2f and catching up with friends and colleagues a couple of times a week is good for the mental health and positive mindset

If I have a heavy weekend or want to get out early doors on a Friday then working from home is a godsend

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:19 am

Obviously a general comment when I haven't a clue what you do

My mistake. I assumed you'd read the first sentence in my post, when trying to score points.

Darthlaw wrote:I work in a office role for a manufacturing firm, who make food packaging

Darthlaw wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 11:58 am

My mistake. I assumed you'd read the first sentence in my post, when trying to score points.

Not trying to score points at all, I was just surprised you value jobs more than a deadly virus.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:16 pm

Not trying to score points at all, I was just surprised you value jobs more than a deadly virus.

I'm not surprised you incorrectly gleamed my values, given you couldn't even read the first sentence of my post.

Then again, moral high ground p1ssing contest and all that...

Although in NHS I’m not clinical so able to work from home and have been for the past week although if & when we ever get the delivery of laptops I’ll be redeployed out get them set up and out for others.

In the meantime I’m able to continue with most of routine work along with remotely helping set Teams up for video calling

I'm splitting work one week on, one off with a colleague, so back in next week.