Working From Home Megathread

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118578332#Comment_118578332

Unlike others on the thread, I don't pretend to have greater medical knowledge than anyone else. Viruses attack healthy cells. That can overwhelm the body. The immune system's response can also overwhelm the body. Secondary infections can set in. Somebody who dies from a secondary infection is still dead, regardless of the pedant arguing whether they died from COVID or with COVID. Ultimately, we all die from lack of oxygen to the brain...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118579291#Comment_118579291

So explain to me why Denmark has chosen to live with the virus as opposed to fighting a futile battle that they cannot win like most other countries?

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118574852#Comment_118574852

Many who can work from home are still doing so. But yet, traffic levels are higher than they were pre-covid. What does that say about those who are travelling? Fewer people are travelling more. I'd hazzard a guess that they are coming to/from newly-moved-to locations that are no longer within public transport commute

There will not be a magic moment when people suddenly become comfortable catching public transport again. If they are nervous of close contact now, they will most-likely continue to be - especially once masks are no longer required. It will be YEARS (if ever) before public transport gets back to where it was in terms of modal share.

Traffic hell is only just beginning. You might even use it to convince your manager to let you work from home.

martingriff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118579352#Comment_118579352

Not sure what your point is should we just put down lack of oxygen to brain as cause of death for everyone. My point was a virus can make a person's condition worse and she sooner so it does matter what the cause is. However I am not hear to dispute numbers or mortality rates. Bar a few places to wear mask we are restriction free and living with covid. Working from home or a hybrid model is at least something positive to come out of it

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118579352#Comment_118579352

you dont think the with Covid or from Covid distinction is important? and if not why?

thefallingman

the few of us in the office are now walking around with no masks, it's great and the rest of the staff will be brought back soon. If you can sit at the bar again with no mask, you can come to work. Happy days

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118579352#Comment_118579352

okay, put it another way….the UK CMO and government have said that in at least 50% of reported deaths, Covid has been incidental to the cause of death. ie, an irrelevance. Not the cause of a secondary infection, but literally irrelevant

no reason to think that is any different here

Covid is no longer a reason to not go back to normal, including to the office if required, unless someone has a specific vulnerability. Covid needs to no longer be an excuse

there are other reasons why there should not be a full return to the office, but Covid is no longer one of them

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118579408#Comment_118579408

Why the **** would I do that? I know **** all about Denmark. But unlike others, I don't pretend to be an expert on things I know nothing about. How are you enjoying your purchase?

Anyway - on topic - blended working? It's great. Best of both worlds.

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118580232#Comment_118580232

people are giving fact based opinions, no one is pretending to be an expert, you just dont like their opinions.

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118579484#Comment_118579484

There's also the issue that many of those doing blended working don't want to use public transport, even if they previously got the bus or train, and so they're driving in. Fewer people in the office means there's parking available, which may not have been available to them previously.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118580230#Comment_118580230

/shrug. Never said it was a reason. Personally, I've been in the office for two or three days a week, every week, for the full duration of COVID.

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118580252#Comment_118580252

Most people are giving reasonable enough opinions, whether I agree with them or not. One or two are coming out with weird-ass made-up shite. See post #6078 above from our resident professor of immunology wot I learned on facebook, for example.

And you're saying "it's only the old and those with underlying conditions who are dying" - what was it you called them, "edge cases" - as if older people or those with diabetes, cancer, heart disease, obesity, a transplant or just **** asthma don't matter. Yeah, good call - that's an opinion I don't like.

gauchesnell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118580230#Comment_118580230

not sure about that. We are in our second workplace outbreak this year and its barely February. Yes I work in third level so much higher incidence than a normal office but not much as changed really.

Lots of reasons not to return an old way of working and to embrace change but any employer cannot dismiss the risk of a highly infectious airborne virus (similar to any other risk in the workplace).

We were back and then was interrupted again due to outbreaks. No interruption to work except for those who tested positive which is the benefit of having a remote set up.

crinkley

It looked like we were going to be back in the office from March but thankfully yesterday that was pushed out until the summer, and long may it continue. Hasn't stopped my manager being mad for coffee catch ups though

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118580325#Comment_118580325

Sounds like you need a serious look at your ventilation.

gauchesnell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118580413#Comment_118580413

nah we have ventilation strategies/filter etc etc. Its petty good. Its the second outbreak in just my School. Across the wider university I dont know.

We just have a lot of people in one building. Infection rates are very high in education at all levels and doesnt help with a couple of thousand people indoors everyday. We can mitigate but not eliminate. Its an ongoing thing.

The benefit of remote working is that work can continue with no interruption. Same for our teaching etc.

I dont have unlimited sick leave - I dont think anyone does anymore.

But for my employer work mostly continues as normal but is great. We have adapted.

gmisk

Will be going back a day a week from start of March.

Then likely up to 2 after that for all staff.

fits

I haven’t heard from my manager about our return to office yet but I have started looking for a fully remote role. I don’t even want to commute twice a week now. But I took this job during pandemic and my commute is 130 km one way which is crazy at any frequency

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118579484#Comment_118579484

I think you are very wrong there wrt return to public transport. People are putting Covid behind them very very quickly. The fear is disappearing very fast. Omicron has changed everything, it is a mild cold for the vast majority. Our hospital numbers are trending downwards despite the huge numbers relatively speaking. Cold never put people off public transport before and I think people will revert to normality a lot sooner than you think. The change in attitudes since mid January is amazing. Masks will be gone soon enough too.

That said, many people should use traffic as a reason to continue WFH. Commuting is a complete waste of time.

We are hiring now and know full well that we need to offer fulltime WFH or else we are wasting our time and simply wont get the candidates.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118580232#Comment_118580232

Oh really, do keep up! why do you think the Danish have moved on, because the virus has changed so therefore the situation has also changed. Please sent that chair to them Danish Health Authority, Islands Brygge 67,DK-2300 Copenhagen S

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118582446#Comment_118582446

Do keep up? Why? I don't live in Denmark, and don't know anybody who does.

Who knows, maybe they're right. But maybe they're wrong. Maybe we should do what the Austrians are doing, instead - mandatory vaccines for all! Austrian president signs law making Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for all adults (thejournal.ie)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118582474#Comment_118582474

Perhaps you would like to live under such a regime, you're more than welcome to go there.

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118582851#Comment_118582851

Grand. I'll go there when you go to Denmark, so. 🙄

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118583540#Comment_118583540

I don't need to, the Irish government have finally woken up to the fact that the virus cannot be controlled and defeated, that's why with cases still high, they're relaxing restrictions.

Catching up with Denmark and some other countries that have "woken up and smelled the coffee"

Phil.x

600+ people in the office this Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Three weeks ago it was 110.

martingriff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118583648#Comment_118583648

What do you mean catching up with denmark we are nearly 2 weeks ahead of them and they still have restrictions for unvacinated

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118584348#Comment_118584348

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/land-covid-now-no-worse-cold/?WT.mc_id=e_DM1543364&WT.tsrc=email&etype=Edi_GHS_New_Daily&utmsource=email&utm_medium=Edi_GHS_New_Daily20220202&utm_campaign=DM1543364

And if you don't trust the Torygraph then the government website says the same.

https://en.coronasmitte.dk/rules-and-regulations

martingriff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118584509#Comment_118584509

Our laws are gone really rather then spending x time in the Dail debating it there just going to let them lax out when they were meant to. On my phone now but had read there was some laws staying but they maybe for people coming in. Also as the piece does say Denmark did this 1 before not so long ago and we're back not weeks later. Bar a mask in 1 or 2 places we have ben doing what Denmark can do since the 1st a week earlier. You know what if you don't want to wear them who is stopping you. Now back to our regular schedule about working from home the 1 positive imo covid has brought

Ashley02

Our office haven't said a word about the plans about returning to the office as yet. It's like a morgue in our office, you're lucky if 10 people are in at the moment. I find it hard going to be honest and quite demoralising coming in when there's basically no-one around.

gauchesnell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118590902#Comment_118590902

just out of my own interest why are you back in the office then. Is it a personal preference?

innuendo141

Is anyone else back since last Monday and feel like they never worked from home?

Mad how long ago it all seems now. "New normal" indeed.