Is everyone WFH again (corporate)?

SlavOz on 24/06/2021 - 16:19

After the announcement yesterday that masks are compulsory in all indoor places, my company sent us all home. They offered to hand out masks to all 600 employees but there was a lot of resistance from people refusing to come to the office if they have to wear a mask for 8 hours everyday (this would be an OHS concern as masks aren't designed for long term use and they restrict breathing).

We're now WFH for the next 2 weeks (at least). I have a feeling it will be more. Did this happen to everyone else too or is your employer forcing you to keep coming in?

Education & Work

Comments

  • netjock on 24/06/2021 - 16:21
    +33

    Been working from home for the last year (Melbourne). But then we have a government that is good at stuffing up containment measures.

    • bobwokeup on 24/06/2021 - 19:24

      I was too was WFH in Perth for a GTE and then moved to another GTE who prefer seeing you in the office (no where near as productive when in the office). When it was masks indoors we are allowed to WFH at least.

      • nomadspartan on 25/06/2021 - 16:11
        +12

        What's a GTE?

        • akeno on 25/06/2021 - 19:30
          +8

          Must be a common abbreviation used in Perth lol. Government Trading Enterprises…

    • ribze1 on 26/06/2021 - 10:01
      +12

      @netjock, yep the Federal Gov't has royally stuffed it up

    • Franc-T on 28/06/2021 - 12:44

      Federal or State? NSW,VIC QLD OR SA?

      • Forfiet on 29/06/2021 - 00:28

        TAS :P

  • Chewiebacca on 24/06/2021 - 16:29
    +34

    Melbourne here, beside a handful of self-organised work socials (colleague farewells etc), I've been fully WFH since March last year. Personally, I prefer working in the office more, however with the majority of my team opting to be 100% remote, it's made it pretty pointless for me to go in alone.

    • netjock on 24/06/2021 - 16:37
      +29

      pretty pointless for me to go in alone.

      Someone else paid for quiet space. Priceless.

      WFH, the other half thinks I am working part time for them.

      • frankfu1122 on 25/06/2021 - 11:09

        Yep.

      • idonotknowwhy on 25/06/2021 - 11:39
        +3

        WFH, the other half thinks I am working part time for them.

        Any suggestions for managing this?
        (asking for a friend of course)

        • macrocephalic on 25/06/2021 - 12:04
          +2

          Noise cancelling headphones and a lockable door.

        • netjock on 25/06/2021 - 12:27
          +5

          Book a lot of meetings. Pretend you got meetings. Repeat how much you actually are doing at work. I'm working 1.5 jobs at the moment.

        • john_conner on 25/06/2021 - 13:05
          +6

          But what about all that time you save commuting. You can spend that doing housework right? RIGHT?!?!!

        • PleasureMe on 25/06/2021 - 13:40
          +17

          play this whenever you need to and tell her that you're in a Zoom meeting :)

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53yPfrqbpkE&ab_channel=Waipa…

          • arcticmonkey on 25/06/2021 - 22:39

            @PleasureMe: This is brilliant!

            • BadHorse on 25/06/2021 - 23:15
              +2

              @arcticmonkey: Wow I watched about 30 seconds of that and skipped through - do they have to ask for someone to move a motion and then second it every time someone sneezes?

        • Dr Techno on 26/06/2021 - 19:54

          This is my problem as well. my other half decided to pickup son and left me with a crying baby that I had for one meeting then next meeting when son is back home he's yelling in the background for my next meeting. ha I dont have a private room :(

          • netjock on 28/06/2021 - 15:40

            @Dr Techno: Sounds about right. You wonder how they survived in the past when the other half was at work.

      • MessyG on 25/06/2021 - 14:37

        Does the other half WFH too?

    • macrocephalic on 25/06/2021 - 12:05
      +2

      Same time period for me. I wouldn't mind going into the office sometimes, but I don't really want to be back there 40+ hours a week. One or two days a week would be good - just to get out of the house.

  • spackbace on 24/06/2021 - 16:29
    +32

    WA here - Covid, what covid?

        • studentl0an on 25/06/2021 - 16:30
          +8

          Maybe it's to do with the hyperbolic 'threat of human extinction'?

      • MagicMushroom on 25/06/2021 - 20:27
        +8

        By the measures imposed you'd think we're losing thousands of hard-working Australians a day.

        And if this actually had happened with no lockdown at all, you would say "Why didn't the government act earlier when it wasn't too bad!"

    • Baysew on 24/06/2021 - 19:20
      +55

      WA safe behind its Iron Ore Curtain.

    • chriise on 24/06/2021 - 19:45
      +3

      WA, what WA?

    • boomramada on 25/06/2021 - 10:50
      +1

      Been ACT is even better, no travel restrictions, no covid. Been travelling around Aus except WA (SA x3, SYD x1, NT x1, Qld x1), thought of visiting WA, but anything good there? lol

      • spackbace on 25/06/2021 - 10:53
        +12

        Well, I'd rather visit WA than ACT 😂

        • boomramada on 25/06/2021 - 11:11
          +2

          Me neither, I'm too young for that, work ACT visit everywhere else is a lot better option haha

      • pauly85 on 25/06/2021 - 21:08
        +4

        Enjoy your beaches over there in sunny ACT

        • pauly85 on 25/06/2021 - 21:10

          Also sorry, I didn't mean to downvote your comment 😅

        • boomramada on 26/06/2021 - 18:33
          +1

          ACT do have a beach you know 😜

          • abb on 27/06/2021 - 17:41

            @boomramada: Jervis Bay has multiple very nice beaches, but it's a fairly long drive from Canberra.

    • mdavant on 27/06/2021 - 13:32
      +2

      How's it going today spackbace.

      Better get some bog rolls.

      • spackbace on 27/06/2021 - 14:21

        No lockdown 😉

        • mdavant on 27/06/2021 - 14:30

          True.

          I hope you enjoy the footy at Perth Stadium today.

          Should be a good game.

          Hope you enjoy your overpriced pie and beer.

          PS. I'd still stock up on bog rolls if i was you.

          • spackbace on 27/06/2021 - 14:31

            @mdavant: Never had plans to go to the game, thunderstorms here so went out for breakfast and now chilling at home with a Sunday roast later 😁

            • mdavant on 27/06/2021 - 14:41

              @spackbace: A Sunday roast!!

              Can me and like 30 other guests come over for a feed?

              • spackbace on 27/06/2021 - 14:50

                @mdavant: Sure can

                Well, could do if you were in Perth…

                Shame, not an option for you is it

                • mdavant on 27/06/2021 - 18:38

                  @spackbace: Nah all good. I am as entitled to do it as you are ;)

    • mecusherb on 27/06/2021 - 19:15

      Hahah this aged well didn’t it?

      • spackbace on 27/06/2021 - 19:20
        -3

        shrug still not a lockdown

        • mecusherb on 27/06/2021 - 19:27
          +1

          That’s not the point you were making though was it?

          Enjoy

        • boomramada on 30/06/2021 - 10:24
          +1

          Speak too soon bahahahawa

    • meowsers on 27/06/2021 - 21:48

      Don't worry. It's coming soon to a state near you.

      • spackbace on 27/06/2021 - 21:49

        Well, NT is a state near me…

        • Forfiet on 06/07/2021 - 01:13
          +1

          Territory :P

    • spackbace on 28/06/2021 - 22:16
      +2

      Ah fk 😕😂

      • mdavant on 29/06/2021 - 05:32

        Hope you got those bog rolls

        • CheeseBeans on 29/06/2021 - 14:06

          Please confirm if you got the bog rolls

    • boomramada on 30/06/2021 - 10:22

      @spackbace covid said HIIIIII ;)

  • uG on 24/06/2021 - 16:29
    +117

    Melbourne based too and WFH 4 out of the 5 days.

    As for masks, I believe it is misconceived that it restricts breathing! Shout out to all the healthcare workers wearing masks all day - thank you :)

    • netjock on 24/06/2021 - 16:36
      +5

      How dare you call out the heavy breathers!

    • GG57 on 24/06/2021 - 16:59
      +26

      Yes, tell my neighbour who is a theatre nurse and wears PPE for hours non-stop, or any of those working at COVID testing sites, or vaccination sites, or in Intensive Care units.

      At least we have options to not wear masks.

      • ausmechkeyboards on 24/06/2021 - 19:36
        +51

        I imagine you have something in your mouth stopping you from talking which is why you're here subjecting us to this nonsense.

        • arkie0 on 25/06/2021 - 11:16
          +5

          A pen?is that what's in his mouth?

          arkie0 on 25/06/2021 - 11:16 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
          • No ONE on 25/06/2021 - 13:11
            +2

            @arkie0: Pen!s

          • Telios on 25/06/2021 - 22:49
            +1

            @arkie0: Certainly not a succulent Chinese meal…

            • Forfiet on 26/06/2021 - 17:20

              @Telios: Are you willing to receive my succulent Chinese meal….. get your masks of me! :P Ozbargain manifest!

      • morse on 24/06/2021 - 20:11
        +15

        It doesn’t restrict breathing, it catches some of the droplets you exhale to reduce risk of being exposed to pathogens for others (so if everyone wears one risk is reduced overall). If your breathing is restricted, you’ll know about it, quickly.

        • Mortal Krumpet on 25/06/2021 - 09:59
          +1

          I’m not saying I agree with some of the ridiculous comments here, because of course we need to wear them, but actually when I wear a mask I do genuinely find it harder to breath. It may be because the air feels hotter, not sure, but doing a bit of strenuous movement and it becomes more difficult than if I had it off.

          • cloudy on 25/06/2021 - 10:29
            +1

            @Mortal Krumpet: Dude, it’s hotter because some of the air you’re breathing in is the air you exhaled, which has less oxygen.

            Does that constitute restriction in breathing? I’ll let others debate that.

            • Mortal Krumpet on 25/06/2021 - 10:53
              +2

              @cloudy: …Dude. I know. I was just saying that when I wear a mask, breathing is more difficult for me personally. Not saying much more than that really. It’s just my experience.

              • Jackson on 25/06/2021 - 12:00
                +4

                @Mortal Krumpet: of course it restricts your ability to breath, it's a mask that's meant to restrict how freely particles move in and out of you, it's going to somewhat restrict breathing. How much and if it's a problem is the question, probably not, no one is asking you to run a marathon in one.

                I think the downvotes have more to do with the fact that it's SlavOz talking than anything else, something I only really clued on to the other day

                • cydia9k on 25/06/2021 - 14:13
                  +3

                  @Jackson: I can't sugar coat this - anyone claiming their 'ability to breathe' is restricted needs to HTFU or STFU.

                  There are studies available on this topic now just to curb this nonsense - we can say with reasonable certainty that oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange levels are unaffected by mask usage to any significant degree.

                  You would need to be afflicted with a relatively severe pre-existing respritory complication in order for mask usage to become a health concern.

                  • Jackson on 25/06/2021 - 18:12

                    @cydia9k: So rather than put your rudeness on display, why don't you link to the studies or at least a story on one, so you can educate the community? You also just proved my point, by qualifying your statement, there is "some degree" of restriction, or there'd be no point wearing a mask

                    • cydia9k on 25/06/2021 - 18:46

                      @Jackson: As I said, if you can't handle a piece of fabric on your face, harden up or shut up. I don't care to entertain the thought that it's 'restrictive' in any meaningful sense unless you have a legitemate respritory issue.

          • creamandpaper on 25/06/2021 - 13:08
            +1

            @Mortal Krumpet: get a looser mask? or different material? I do agree that some masks are harder to wear than others

          • gumbs on 25/06/2021 - 16:49
            +4

            @Mortal Krumpet: Are you wearing a cloth mask or a 3m style dust mask?

            I've done asbestos removal in a mask in 30 degree heat, after a while you notice the restriction as the mask soaks through with sweat and stops you being able to breath. But if you can't breath through a normal mask you should be locking yourself in your house until covid clears because it will certainly kill you if your lungs are that weak.

            A dust mask does restrict breathing a little, and a cloth feels annoying for a little while until you get used to it. But either is managable.

        • T1OOO on 25/06/2021 - 13:55
          +4

          It dosnt restrict being able to breath. It dose restrict the ability to get air normally. Usually needing to work harder to intake the Same amount with a barrier there.

          Is that really hard to understand ?

          • Mortal Krumpet on 26/06/2021 - 12:14

            @T1OOO: @Cydia9k @gumbs

            T1000’s comment is correct. It’s almost physically impossible for this not to be the case based on what the mask needs to do.

            You seem to interpret this as ‘I don’t want to wear a mask because I can’t breath’, which is not what I’m saying. I am simply saying… when I wear a mask (bearing in mind it’s one of the cheap fabric style ones), it’s harder to take a breath…. If I carry a backpack, I can’t walk as fast as if I don’t carry a backpack. How fast, depends on the weight, but will still be true regardless. For a mask, something that filters air has to slow the flow, which means more effort is required. How much, just depends on the material / filtering.

      • dizzle on 24/06/2021 - 20:21
        +8

        Seems like a blanket statement

        As is the statement that it is an OHS issue and restricts breathing.

        As someone with quite strong asthma, and have worked in places over the last 12 months that require masks on 8 hours a day, most people that say it causes them health issues are making it up to avoid wearing masks.

        Yes I understand that some people have issues, but nowhere near the amount that claim they can't wear a mask because of those issues.

        So do you have a breathing issue, or are you "fighting the good fight" for someone else that has breathing issues?

          • dizzle on 24/06/2021 - 23:46
            +2

            @SlavOz:

            Blanket rules which assume safety are not OK

            Ok, so no helmets on bikes, seatbelts in cars. You're saying that if 1 person dies because they are wearing a seat belt, the other 999 shouldn't be forced to wear one. However, no it's not about assuming safety, it's assuming the risk is less than the risk of other things occuring. The point of the medical exceptions being OK, is that if the 999 wear the mask, it will also protect the 1 that is unable to (not the 200 that don't want to).

            Are you a doctor? This sounds like a baseless claim

            No, but as I said I have breathing issues and I can wear a mask for over 8 hours a day. I know people with less breathing issues than myself that complain just as you are.
            I have no problem with medical exceptions, but for all the people I encounter that spout the "difficult breathing" or even "civil rights" lines, NONE have seen a doctor to get a medical exception. At most they have downloaded a form from a non-medical professional.

            So if it is so common that these people have medical conditions preventing them, why have they not seen a doctor about it in the last 18 months?

              • Chandler on 25/06/2021 - 09:40
                +8

                @SlavOz:

                If people repeatedly died solely from wearing a seatbelt, then maybe you'd have a point.

                So how many people have died due to breathing difficulty caused by mask wearing? I'd imagine not many. So maybe you don't have a point…

                Breathing issues aren't something you can really measure. Everyone breathes differently and everyone has different tolerance levels of restriction. Some people an adjust and adapt better than others.

                If wearing a mask actually impacts your health, you'd be able to get one of those exemptions that you don't need anyway.

              • dizzle on 25/06/2021 - 11:52
                +1

                @SlavOz:

                If people repeatedly died solely from wearing a seatbelt, then maybe you'd have a point.

                If people repeatedly died solely from wearing MASK, then maybe you'd have a point.

                You do not need documentary evidence stating that you are exempted from wearing a face mask under the public health order.

                Not required by the public health order, that doesn't mean private enterprises aren't allowed to ask for or require one on entering their property.

          • centrelink on 25/06/2021 - 13:44

            @SlavOz: To be fair and accident of 1 in 1000 is pretty bad and should be addressed.

          • serpserpserp on 25/06/2021 - 18:30
            +3

            @SlavOz:

            Are you a doctor?

            Are you a doctor? If not stop giving your advice on the covid response and mask wearing.

      • smartazz104 on 25/06/2021 - 15:10
        +1

        Seems like a blanket statement. Everyone breathes differently and has a different level of airway capacity.

        Yes and it seems the mouth breathers are the one with issues.

    • Quantumcat on 24/06/2021 - 19:02
      +9

      Fogs up your glasses though

      • skillet on 25/06/2021 - 10:31
        -1

        move it away from your nose bridge the glasses

      • StarvingOat on 25/06/2021 - 17:17
        -3

        Just say No

      • blehgg on 26/06/2021 - 12:56

        Mask sweats :) I'm not against mask wearing - but there are undesirable side-effects

      • secondstory on 27/06/2021 - 01:59
        +1

        And when you chew gum the mint vapors hit you right in the eyes

      • Tangenyahu on 27/06/2021 - 13:58

        If you tape the top of your mask it helps.

    • mccarthyp64 on 24/06/2021 - 20:28
      -2

      My pharmacist friend works at a hospital and developed a partially collapsed lung and very low oxygen saturation (80%) as a result of wearing a mask all day at work with no deep breaths. They found out because he passed out at work. I'd say that's not misconceived at all.

      • SBOB on 24/06/2021 - 20:54
        +8

        as a result of wearing a mask all day at work with no deep breaths

        The medical report into their death stated this was due to wearing a surgical mask?

        Or is this a case of correlation /= causation

        • mccarthyp64 on 24/06/2021 - 21:04

          He didn't die, he got a good long time with high purity oxygen and now has a doctor written exception against wearing a mask in the hospital that otherwise requires masks being worn. The doctor believes that the mask caused the respiratory issues, so I'll defer to his judgement.

          • SBOB on 24/06/2021 - 21:09
            +4

            @mccarthyp64: Apologies read 'passed out' as passed

            Still, that would be the 0.001% kind of example if medically prescribed, for not wearing a mask.
            Not the blanket statement the op makes.

            • mccarthyp64 on 24/06/2021 - 22:08
              +3

              @SBOB: lol the cognitive dissonance on display

              • cydia9k on 25/06/2021 - 14:27
                +1

                @mccarthyp64: Yes, starting with ".. my {employed} friend works at a {job} and he said.." 😊

                • mccarthyp64 on 25/06/2021 - 14:28

                  @cydia9k: If it were my exception, I'd post it just to shut people up but it's not my medical history to share.

                  • cydia9k on 25/06/2021 - 14:40
                    +8

                    @mccarthyp64: It's irrelevant, anecdotal recounts are less than useless when discussing matters for which we have empirical evidence to draw conclusions from.

                  • ThithLord on 28/06/2021 - 08:34

                    @mccarthyp64: so you have one case of someone having great difficulty using masks - what about the hundreds of other people you know? Any more collapsed lungs?

      • MessyG on 25/06/2021 - 14:38
        +6

        Pneumothoraces aren't caused by masks, just being a tall young man can do that. Wearing a mask might hide the symptoms a little though.

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