Many of you don't w*rk but . . .u ready to go back?

[Time2]

I'm retired 1.5 years.

I was at my neighbors the other day and he said, I'll see you later I'm going to work. I replied, " Working for a living sucks doesn't it?" He looked at me, and I thought he was going to hit me. Then he said ya, it does. He doesn't like his job to begin with and now with Covid 19 he likes it less. His job requires him to go in and out of convenience stores multiplel times everyday.

 

[Aerides]

I specifically took a role that allowed for WFH as part of my plan to ER, about 4 years before I did.

I knew that it meant I'd have zero chance of a future promotion, but that was fine with me.

If I were temporarily WFH due to covid, and still working, I'd for sure push to stay WFH for as long as needed to be safe, but no longer if I still needed to climb the ladder. Corporate culture does not change quickly in the US.

 

[JoeWras]

If I were temporarily WFH due to covid, and still working, I'd for sure push to stay WFH for as long as needed to be safe, but no longer if I still needed to climb the ladder. Corporate culture does not change quickly in the US.

Good point about ladder climbing.

I had a much liked boss at one Megacorp. He was fantastic. Then one day, he announces he is moving to the headquarters' city and will manage us from there, essentially WFH. That stunk for us, but worked for him because he could schmooze with his bosses. It was only a few months before he got a different assignment there, then a few months more he was promoted. No way that was going to happen at a satellite site. He was essentially WFH in his bosses' eyes.

There's no substitute for face to face to get promoted. (Or brown nosing, to be crude.)

 

[scrabbler1]

No way, nope, never, not gonna happen. And the way you describe it, being less than 6 feet from people? That's flat out dangerous right now, especially for those in the vulnerable group like many of us are. Would I risk my life for a few bucks? No, I haven't lost my mind entirely, YET.

I wouldn't even want to work from home. I did my time and now I am OUT....

Reminds me a little of my exit interview in 2008 when I mentioned to the HR flunkie about how the company's end of open-ended telecommuting in 2003 contributed a lot to my resignation and ER. I also told the flunkie how I had become so sick of the commute, even only 2-3 days a week in the intervening 5 years, that even if they offered my old telecommute deal (1 day a week), I would turn it down.

 

[db79]

They haven't announced when my office will reopen, but with schools closed indefinitely I won't be able to go back with any consistency.

 

[steelyman]

My thoughts about returning to work are the same as Wayne’s (Mike Myers):

https://youtu.be/BZVgl49yPzg

 

[Montecfo]

The only reason I would work is on part time project type work for enjoyment/diversion.

But I am so selective I think I am virtually unemployable. My requirements:

1. Shorter commute than last job (30 min)
2. Not required to be anywhere before 10 am
3. Casual dress
4. Max 3 days a week
5. Summer work totally flexible
6. No recurring deadlines

 

[pacergal]

Retired from Public Health. No way do I want to go back now.

 

[candrew]

Retired from Public Health. No way do I want to go back now.

Retired after 35 years w*rking in a large, acute care hospital that serves a predominately older community. Glad I'm not there now and would not want to go back - 2 weeks ago received their first confirmed COVID case. Knowing how overrun we were during past influenzas, can only imagine the potential carnage this pandemic could bring.

 

[CaptTom]

Wondering if this will push some out that can retire. I am waiting to qualify for retiree health. . . Or that is what I THOUGHT I was doing. But the thought of being crammed into a building full of potentially sick people in the next week . . . uh. . . . Not so much. Of course it may extend.

I got what you were saying. Seems a lot took the "back to work" concept a bit differently from what you meant.

At any rate, a lot of organizations are pulling end dates out of thin air. Nobody knows yet when it might be OK to go back. I assume these end dates will be re-considered as they get closer.

I'd say if enough employees let the employer know they weren't comfortable going back, that might factor into the decision. Or get them fired. it all depends on where you work and what you do. Personally, I'd avoid going back at this point. Everyone who can is being allowed to WFH. It's not too much to ask.

 

[badatmath]

I am absolutely 100% able to WFH given my role is IT remote support. But about 1.5 years ago my employer fired all the people that did WFH full time. No offer to move back into the office, Just "your last day is x". It is all part of being agile . . . so I think they will not give us much of an option. JoeWras, thanks for reading my question I really should have asked it in a place most people actually still w*rk for it to make more sense. They did extend it 2 more weeks today. So that is delayed for now.

 

[SeattleRocks]

If I did go back it would require a lot of flying (200,000 miles a year) . That isn't going to happen. Before the virus, even the thought of getting on airplane made me nauseous. Now with the virus, the is absolutely no way I am getting on a plane...

Side note, what sucks for me is I FIRE'd on Jan 27th and went directly into this virus thing meaning I haven't been able to do a lot so all retirement has been to me is a lot of days stuck in the house lol. Bad timing.

 

[Montecfo]

If I did go back it would require a lot of flying (200,000 miles a year) . That isn't going to happen. Before the virus, even the thought of getting on airplane made me nauseous. Now with the virus, the is absolutely no way I am getting on a plane...

Side note, what sucks for me is I FIRE'd on Jan 27th and went directly into this virus thing meaning I haven't been able to do a lot so all retirement has been to me is a lot of days stuck in the house lol. Bad timing.

That's does kind of stink. It's like they took away recess.

I retired last year so got in a bunch of travel, with last trip ending first week of March. Just in time!

But have planned trips that are not happening looks like. At least for now.

 

[Rustic23]

NO!

 

[Aerides]

It is all part of being agile . . .

My mega was converting to agile when I got RIF'd, and being in a non-hub location I couldn't even switch from WFH to office unless I moved cross-country, which was a nope as I was ready to RE and take the package.

But i do wonder if agile itself is now going to get a big 2nd look, as well as the open varied office seating arrangements now (the picnic table setup shared spaces, that so many adopted the past few years.) Both the idea of daily in person "stand up" meetings, scrum rooms, and open random shared seating seem to be things many folks might object to for some time.

It's one thing to go back to "my old desk" every day, quite another to go back to an agile setup.

 

[badatmath]

Yep, Agile is like being in kindergarten you have to do everything huddled together. It seems that the old farts like me hate it but the younger ones seem to like it.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

Yep, Agile is like being in kindergarten you have to do everything huddled together. It seems that the old farts like me hate it but the younger ones seem to like it.

Yup, you nailed it!

 

[Dash man]

Seven years ago tomorrow I retired! Even after this gut punch in the market, we are ahead of where we were back then. We’re doing just fine and no way going back to work.

 

[Jerry1]

OP - Go in wearing a mask, tell them you don't want to get anyone sick so your are wearing the mask.
They might offer to let you work from home

I think that's a great idea.

badatmath: if I were you, I'd push to keep WFH for as long as possible, especially if you are working around reckless spring breaker types. I know all my Megacorps through my career would support that. I'm fortunate. But retail workers have no choice. My niece is on the front lines at Costco. She's becoming a hero to me!

Agree, I'd push very hard to continue to WFH. And, assuming the employer states that they'll do things to keep you safe (cleaning and distance) and they don't, I would challenge them on it. Basically, I would push back to the point of almost being fired. I certainly wouldn't have walked away from my well paying job for this, but I'd push the envelop.

Yes Joe - Your niece is a hero. I hope one good thing to come from this is a different level of respect for these folks. Retail level involvement with the public is rough work that has now become dangerous - if it wasn't already (colds, flu, jerks . . .). I'm very thankful. At the start of this, my DD called me very worried. I told her, as long as the food keeps flowing, we'll be fine. People will tolerate a lot until they get hungry.

 

[atmsmshr]

Retired last summer - it is glorious, even stuck at home with DW and the market's swan dive.

But really, if they needed me part time to WFH, I might consider.

 

[JoeWras]

Yep, Agile is like being in kindergarten you have to do everything huddled together. It seems that the old farts like me hate it but the younger ones seem to like it.

Some of it was OK. But some of it was ridiculous.

Our group (from Millenial to Bommer) dealt with it and felt it was a fad that will have its day until the next thing.

I suspect the virus will change agile-scrum forever.

But frankly, I don't give a damn. I'm done with w*rk.

 

[foxfirev5]

Not that I would be asked, but the answer is a clear no thanks.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

!@#k!

 

[goingtotravel]

No way!

No way either DH or I are going back into the office. DH is high risk and plans to retire this year anyway. Any mention of going back into the office and he's filing his retirement application. He's stuck at home until there is a vaccine or containment.

I had been approved for FT telework about 2 years ago. Due to increased telework the office reconfigured the work space and we were all sitting way too close to each other. AND, 3 people in that building were diagnosed with COVID as of 2 weeks ago. They are still trying to work out how to sanitize the entire building so even for the people that do work there it will be a long time until they are allowed to go back.

 

[Toocold]

OP, is there a reason for this question? The vast majority of the early retirees here have been so for such a long time. Is the thinking that some may have lost too much funds and will need to go back?