Quote Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee View Post
On the other side of the coin is that I have a friend who has been forced to go back into the office twice a week for no logical reason other than her boss liking having her staff around her. The two lengthy commutes a week cost her over Ł100 a month. She doesn't like driving but it's the only way she can get to work. Two weeks ago someone brought Covid into the office and half of the staff couldn't work last week as they were isolating.

She is a quiet, private person who quite often doesn't like mixing others but enjoys her own space. Breaks and lunchtimes working from home are great for her to do things that interest her without having to play office niceties. Being back in the office has affected her mental health, a point her boss has little regard for. As a result her relationship with her boss has plummeted and she's looking for another job, which has not been easy on her wage, meaning more stress and deterioration of her mental health.
Yes, I totally recognise there are two sides to it. I don't think anyone should be forced either way. That said, I do think there are serious, and sometimes hidden, long term impacts of people working alone. If your friend can prove she can work okay at home she should be allowed to do so, perhaps with catch up visits every fortnight or so.

It's a really nuanced and difficult issue, which is kinda the point I want to make, and given 'the norm' at the moment is WFH, I am more inclined to present the dangers of that. You are right though, long commutes and covid-anxiety are certainly arguments against it.