Regular commuters: What are your current plans and preferences after lockdown?

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

I know we've discussed the fact that some of those who commuted to work all, or most, of the time, will now be anticipating to work from home much more often.  But how often?

We have a number of regular commuters on the forum, and many have commented on their plans, but I don't think we've done a poll.  So, I thought it would be an interesting exercise to ask you what you currently expect to be doing once the lockdowns have been lifted and social distancing rules relaxed?

Pick the option that is most likely for you on a week-to-week basis, and feel free to change your choice as things become clearer over the coming months.  Feel free to choose more than one option if you expect things to change week by week.

[Robin Summerhill]

As someone who is retired and never really comuted anyway, working in or very close to where I lived, I am not in a position to respond to the poll. I will howver put forward a suggestion.

The questions appear to presume that there will still be a fixed pattern after the pandemic, but I suspect that that might not always be the case. Depending on individual jobs, some might find themselves working in the office 5 days one week, then not at all the next week, then one day in week 3 and all manner of other permutations.

Would adding an "it may very" option be usefuk or would it confuse the result?

[IndustryInsider]

I’ve allowed for multiple choices to cover that eventuality, Robin. 

Certainly happy to add that option if people think it’s sensible to, but I thought if lots of respondents chose it then it wouldn’t give as clear a picture as having the ability to choose more than one option.

[grahame]

I know we've discussed the fact that some of those who commuted to work all, or most, of the time, will now be anticipating to work from home much more often.  But how often?

Superb poll - THANK YOU.  The outcome will be very interesting indeed.  I'm going to flag this up on our social media page to remind occasional members to come along and vote too, if that's OK?

I last commuted by train - i.e. regularly to a place of work for each day's work - in 1976 - so not in the target group to answer this poll. Lots and lots of other business use much more recently.  So not in your electorate for this one ... I've had a rather different working life to many!

[IndustryInsider]

Yes of course, Graham.  Spread the word...

[grahame]

I’ve allowed for multiple choices to cover that eventuality, Robin. 

Certainly happy to add that option if people think it’s sensible to, but I thought if lots of respondents chose it then it wouldn’t give as clear a picture as having the ability to choose more than one option.

I was posting my previous comment at the same time as you.

I suspect there's a significant number of us "irregulars" - Robin and me - around, and that will mean that the total number of votes cast will probably not be as high as some of our polls.  But that's fair enough; I would tend not to amend the questions of the options - and certainly not in mid-vote!

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, I though it best not to ask those who commuted irregularly before the pandemic, as the results wouldn’t give as clear a picture of how regular traditional commuting will change. 

Albeit, as you say, that will reduce the number of members who vote, and it is almost worth doing as a separate poll.

It’s my intention to capture the results of this poll after a couple of weeks, and then see how that expectation matches reality, by re-running the poll in a year or so when (hopefully) things are settled back to what will become the new pattern.  It will be interesting to see if what people think will be the case, actually becomes the case.

[ChrisB]

I’ve allowed for multiple choices to cover that eventuality, Robin. 

Errr, you sure about that? I voted once, unable to add another vote. So I deleted my vote, but it still only allows me to select one option per vote. So I can change my vote, but not add to it.

[IndustryInsider]

I thought I had, Chris.

There doesn’t appear to be the option to check (or change) what that setting is when I click on edit poll though.  Is that possible, Graham?

[grahame]

I thought I had, Chris.

There doesn’t appear to be the option to check (or change) what that setting is when I click on edit poll though.  Is that possible, Graham?

I have just gone in and increased from a maximum of 1 to 3 votes.  That should be possible for a poll 'owner' as well as for an admin but without doing all the setup I can't be sure.   I have also taken the liberty of setting the poll to run for 10 days rather than staying open for an indeterminate time; by that time, you should more than have all the votes you're likely to get, and if not you have an opportunity in the few days before to chase people - nothing like a deadline to get them to vote.

To change a vote, yes, delete previous vote and you can (now) select up to 3 options.

[eXPassenger]

I am also retired so will not respond.  My earlier work pattern did not fit your defaults as it was 3 days a week in Bristol and 2 in London.

[IndustryInsider]

I have just gone in and increased from a maximum of 1 to 3 votes.  That should be possible for a poll 'owner' as well as for an admin but without doing all the setup I can't be sure.   I have also taken the liberty of setting the poll to run for 10 days rather than staying open for an indeterminate time; by that time, you should more than have all the votes you're likely to get, and if not you have an opportunity in the few days before to chase people - nothing like a deadline to get them to vote.

Thank you, Graham.  I couldn't see that option to amend (it was there when I set the poll up), but was attempting to edit on my phone browser which is never ideal of course.  Anyway, problem solved.

[ellendune]

Since I only work 3 days a week and intend to reduce that to 2 and I only commuted 5 miles by car before lockdown (practical public transport options not available - unless you consider over an hour to do 5 miles practical) I shall not respond. Though I think it likely that I will continue to work at least one of those days each week from home.

[IndustryInsider]

Even if not ‘eligible’ to vote, it’s good to hear how those who didn’t do a full week in the office before are likely to change their habits, so please give a description of your plans as ellendune has done.

[Surrey 455]

I've selected the first 3 options. I was commuting 5 days a week, now WFH^▸ (Working From Home). I expect to return to the office at some point but whether that is every day, I just don't know.