Covid and the 'Work Life Balance'

[Pretty Boy]

I read an article last night that stated that the increased flexibility, trust and autonomy offered to workers during covid had tipped the work life balance in favour of the worker. It went on to extol the many benefits heaped upon workers during the pandemic and how it's created a better working life for people. The more I read, the less I recognised.

I was furloughed for the first 6 weeks of covid but have been back at work since then, in the office. Furlough wasn't a holiday by any stretch; in an industry hammered by the restrictions the threat of redundancy loomed large and, in common with everyone else, I couldn't really do anything in that period anyway as the reasons for leaving the house were pretty limited. Since returning to work I have had 2 short breaks of 2 days each. On my initial return to work there were 2 of us in the office desperately firefighting as companies prepared to reopen whilst the supply chain had ground to a halt. As more businesses have reopened the supply chain has all but collapsed. Nothing arrives when it should, no one can give updates, goods get lost in transit, end users who tell their customers to be kind to their staff verbally abuse us on the phone....... I'm starting at least an hour early every day, I haven't taken more than 15 minutes for lunch in over a year and I haven't finished on time in a comparable time frame. We lost 3 members of staff during the last year and were aware they wouldn't be replaced, a 4th has handed in her notice citing stress among other things as her reason for moving on and we have now been informed she won't be replaced either. It's worth pointing out that we had no pay rise in 2020 or 2021 so despite the huge additional workload we have actually had a real world pay decrease because rent, council tax, nursery fees, food prices etc have all still gone up. It seems the more we show willing to do the more gets heaped on us. The biggest worry is I'm taking the stress home with me so not even enjoying time away from work.

I'm not sure my situation is all that unique. Certainly speaking to frontline staff in hospitality on a daily basis they feel under huge strain and a few people who have been in and around the industry for a long time have walked away as they have struggled with the pressure since reopening. Likewise delivery drivers and warehouse staff I speak to daily are under all kinds of pressure and I know one delivery driver who abandoned his van half way through a run and quit his job on the spot.

I'd be interested to hear other peoples experiences. Do you recognise the amazing new work life balance in favour of the worker? Is you job more stressful than before? Or is it the same as it's always been?

[Since90+2]

I was made redundant from a hospitality management role last summer that paid a pretty good salary (by hospitality standards anyway). For the last year I've had to take work earning 50% less than I did pre covid but it's been entirely home based so from that perspective my work life balance is much better. Previously I'd be looking at around a hour travelling each way to work which I now have for myself.

I've recently found new work, back on the exact same salary that I has before being made redundant, which is again remote working so for me personally it has worked out well. Being able to work from home, or anywhere that has WiFi really, has massive benefits and I couldn't imagine going back into full time office work

I have a friend who still works in frontline hospitality and he has said that it's a complete nightmare. Office numbers are about 25% of what they were and he is having to cover other roles and work evenings and weekends which was never part of the role previously. Again no salary increase for him in years.

I worked in hospitality pretty much my entire life prior to last summer and some of the pay and conditions are ridiculous and would simply not be tolerated in other industries. I remember quite commonly staff having to work until 11pm and then be back in for 7am the next morning. And these roles didn't pay much above minimum wage. The hospitality industry for too long has taken the absolute piss out it's hard working staff and it's about time people were treated fairly and paid well for what they do.

Hospitality also seems to be the only industry where abuse of staff by customers is tolerated. Rude customers will typically try and be placated by free items/reduced rates rather than being told to do one. Can you imagine walking into a bank and shouting and bawling at staff? You'd be removed from the premises straight away.

[neil7908]

I've been very lucky. My job was never really in danger, my company overall has managed to navigate the pandemic well and personally it's led to a more favourable working environment.

It looks like we'll move to hybrid working permanently so we have been able to buy a house outside of Edinburgh that wouldn't have been practical when I had to go in 5 days a week.

It's definitely made me think about what is important professionally and money is not my priority. I had another opportunity a few weeks ago but the new company was not really interested in home working so even though its more money, I've decided to stay where I am.

Covid has clearly been an absolute disaster for this country and the world but professionally I'm in a much better place. Again though, I realise how incredibly lucky I have been.

[Callum_62]

Absolutely have thoroughly enjoyed WFH and the flexibility it brings

We are also going hybrid route but for me it's not far enough

Its making me want to get a job closer to home or move to a company that embraces more flexibility

Working where I do the earliest I can get home will be 7pm, with a child that goes to bed around 8-8.30 it seems madness

24 months ago that all felt normal, now it almost feels like a punishment as we know fine well full time WFH works for us (as we have been told over and over again from everyone right up to the chairman of the company)

Why the need to sit 3 days a week next to folk you hardly talk to in a centralised building its nonsense for our wider department

I think companies who are flexible will be highly soughy after and one's that arnt will lose staff and then eventually follow suit

Its a shame some companies want to be Blockbuster video in a Netflix environment

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[Scouse Hibee]

Was made redundant from a well paid job in the hospitality sector in July 2020 having been on furlough previously, which to be honest I thoroughly enjoyed and treated it like a holiday. Decided with my mate who was also made redundant from same company to open a new business. Hardest thing I have ever done, not had a day off since Christmas until we were forced to close for ten days recently due to track and trace. Now back working seven days a week with no sigh of any time off until Christmas. Currently far worse off financially than I have ever been, home life has suffered and feel drained both mentally and physically. Here’s hoping things improve massively before I crack!
Covid has certainly turned my life and that of my wife upside down.

[H18 SFR]

Really interesting to read the varying perspectives so far.

I work in Education, I am a Primary trained Teacher working in a Secondary setting. The young people I work with come to me 14 periods a week in an enrichment type hub. None of them have behaviour issues, they have all been left behind for a wide variety of reasons throughout their time in Early Years and/or Primary school.

The lockdown and working from home was a disaster for me. Many of them live in a notorious part of town which is the 22nd most deprived square mile in Scotland. It made my job literally impossible during the lockdown and the impact of picking things up again face-to-face was a challenge. Going back into lockdown exasperated the issues. Stress levels through the roof for my direct colleagues and I. One colleague worried herself sick and was off for a considerable length of time.

The major plus side when I read these accounts and consider the impact COVID has had on some of my friends is the fact that I had a significant degree of job security - I say significant because we lost two colleagues in our team when their temporary contracts were not renewed due to uncertainty re funding coming down from Holyrood. I note that there was an announcement on this yesterday saying money was being made available, my boss emailed today and mentioned that she understands there will be conditions that the money can only be used to employ teachers just out of their probationary year, seems really restrictive to me given we have just let two excellent practitioners go.

[Peevemor]

For years I've worked from home a fair bit in the evening and at weekends, mainly as a way to avoid spending too much time in the office (and not with my family). I'm a partner in the business so I don't count my hours, but I make a point of being home at a reasonable time to spend "quality time" with the family - I don't want to miss my girls growing up.

With this said, I found WFH full time really hard going. We have a good crew at work, each with different strong points, and we bounce stuff off each other and ask advice & opinions all the time. Even though we we're still in contact when WFH, it was nothing like the interaction we have normally. I found it really draining and I wasn't the only one.

And my coffee budget went through the roof (it's free in the office).

[Since90+2]

Was made redundant from a well paid job in the hospitality sector in July 2020 having been on furlough previously, which to be honest I thoroughly enjoyed and treated it like a holiday. Decided with my mate who was also made redundant from same company to open a new business. Hardest thing I have ever done, not had a day off since Christmas until we were forced to close for ten days recently due to track and trace. Now back working seven days a week with no sigh of any time off until Christmas. Currently far worse off financially than I have ever been, home life has suffered and feel drained both mentally and physically. Here’s hoping things improve massively before I crack!
Covid has certainly turned my life and that of my wife upside down.

Hopefully as things are now fully opened up there will be more folk walking about your part of town and the business picks up.

[JeMeSouviens]

Like neil7908, I'm another of the lucky ones. I'm a software developer so really I can work anywhere with a decent internet connection. Pre-pandemic I already did hybrid working, 3 days in the office, 2 at home. I also had more or less completely flexible hours. My usual pattern is 9.30-10 until about 6, which worked well in Edinburgh traffic and gave a bit of overlap with US based colleagues. I've found wfh full time better though. The only thing I missed was decent coffee until I bought my own machine.

I got a new job in January working for a US based startup and am now fully remote, we have no UK premises. Actually no premises at all atm, but there will be a US office fairly soon. The pandemic and the general move to home working has been a big factor in our recruitment. We have really good people spread all over the place. So as empty nesters, my wife and I decided we would take the plunge and move to the Highlands, which I've always had a notion I might do at some stage.

All in all, it's really worked in my favour, despite its general *****ness for the world.

[Mon Dieu4]

I'm another that its worked well for, I was actually due to start on our work from home project the week before lockdown happened

Main benefits to me are it's giving me back 3 hours a day, 2 hours in travel and my lunch hour that I can get things done in

Means I can tidy the house, get my shopping done etc on my terms and don't need to wait til night or the weekends

I miss the people to a certain extent but I can't see me ever wanting to be back in an office full time again ever, luckily it looks as though my work is embracing it, was always going to be the case that we would work from home and spend a day or two every week or fortnight in the office but covid has expedited it all

[stu in nottingham]

I'm not sure how to answer this as there have definitely been pros and cons for me. In general, I enjoy working from home, it's something I've done regularly in the past offering telecounselling, working in forensic psychology research, proofreading and copywriting so I'm no stranger to it.

Through the various lockdowns and restrictions I felt fine with things, no hot and stuffy, crowded public transport or queueing for that, being two hours a day to the good due to the lack of that, general flexibility of work and breaks and so on. I have lots of space and peace and quiet to work in and a garden. Most of all I felt settled into a much less stressful routine. There were no decisions about whether to do much in the evening or not as there was little choice so I'd just settle into relaxed evenings of reading, writing, TV, radio and web browsing. My Bengal cat loved it too! All good so far.

What was more difficult for me was the inner clamour to get out and socialise again once that became possible with venues opening. Only now do I feel I'm exerting some control over that. It ws how I imagine being released from prison feels.

Professionally I'm fine with it. I miss seeing clients face to face sometimes though, it numbered around 50% of them previously. I did embrace telecounselling though and feel it's strongly how therapy is going to end up being offered more often than not. This has happened to a greater extent in North America where it can often make sense to carry out the work this way when over greater distances and this is where it is being lead from in my view.

A problem can be not being able to process the thoughts about some of the tough stories during the day, the attempted suicides, calling emergency services, generally distraught people and so on. At the office it wouldn't be migrated home but chatted about with my colleague, followed by locking the office doors and a relaxed walk through the city, letting go that swirl of thoughts. Working from home though could see those feelings only migrated to another room.

My job was 'safe' but I did in fact get TUPEd to a larger charity last month. I knew my previous colleagues well and considered them friends, having met them for training and meetings in Birmingham many, many times. Some of my new colleagues I may never meet so it's more difficult to have that 'closeness' and kindredness.

I've recently been informed that it may be 'months' before returning to a hybrid working system. The lease on my office in the city has not been renewed by the new company though there is a probable intent to do that. In the meantime good old Nottingham City Council insisted all the furniture was removed so sadly, it's ended in a skip somewhere which is a total waste. I've handed the keys in and feel a long way from working in an office again.

In conclusion, I've benefitted from the change in working practices, financially, time-wise and generally less stress. The main challenges have been in adjusting back to whatever normality is now and in living the days as a more lonely existence.

[Hibrandenburg]

Like neil7908, I'm another of the lucky ones. I'm a software developer so really I can work anywhere with a decent internet connection. Pre-pandemic I already did hybrid working, 3 days in the office, 2 at home. I also had more or less completely flexible hours. My usual pattern is 9.30-10 until about 6, which worked well in Edinburgh traffic and gave a bit of overlap with US based colleagues. I've found wfh full time better though. The only thing I missed was decent coffee until I bought my own machine.

I got a new job in January working for a US based startup and am now fully remote, we have no UK premises. Actually no premises at all atm, but there will be a US office fairly soon. The pandemic and the general move to home working has been a big factor in our recruitment. We have really good people spread all over the place. So as empty nesters, my wife and I decided we would take the plunge and move to the Highlands, which I've always had a notion I might do at some stage.

All in all, it's really worked in my favour, despite its general *****ness for the world.

Same wife my wife, she's a developer too. Her company have now told employees that they can work from home, in the office or both. It's been great for us because although she had a certain amount of flexibility she still had to work within office opening hours (07:00-20:00), now she can basically work from anywhere within Germany where they have WiFi. Her golf Handicap has come on leaps and bounds.

[overdrive]

I’ve worked from home since just before the lockdown. I’m lucky in the sense my job has never really been at risk. Other than that, I’ve absolutely hated it. There is now an expectation that you are available at all hours. Whereas previously I’d go in for around 9 (a bit earlier on the team meeting day), leave by 5.30/6ish there is now the expectation that you should be online from before 8 right through. Because there’s no informal discussion that would happen in the office, my day ends up being Teams call after Teams call, then you’re expected to actually do the work that’s needed done. There’s a lot more unnecessary meetings because of that and also because it’s easier - you don’t have to battle to find a meeting room.

WFH has opened up the possibility of recruiting people from other parts of the world. I have people based in Canada, Thailand, Singapore, Scandinavia and India working with me. This also enables the “available at all times” culture.

There’s also the expectation now that daily team meetings are a thing - the same things are discussed day after day. In addition to that there is the expectation that you have a lunchtime “social” Teams call - so you can’t even switch off and go out for a walk.

I miss the in person social aspect of work. I miss the commute - a chance for some “me” time on the way in and some time to switch off on the way home. I hate the fact I have to have the room I’m working in looking respectable at all times. I’ve moved house and when I was packing, I had stuff everywhere that I didn’t want folk to see. I would blur the background or not put on the video but apparently that is “aggressive”.

I suppose what this can more succinctly be described as is a blurring of the lines between work and home life - and I don’t think that’s a good thing.

Things have got a little better since getting an actual desk and putting it in the spare room. Firstly, I can switch off better without my work stuff being on full display. Secondly, I reckon my back would be in a pretty poor state if I had continued on the dining table.

I’m looking forward to going back into the office. I wouldn’t mind, maybe a day a week working from home but I wouldn’t want any more than that. Pretty much the only thing I’ll miss is being able to fart when I want :faf:

[matty_f]

I found it hard at first, being away from my team was a challenge - I’m a people manager who really focuses on people, so not being able to be there for everyone and help set the tone/mood was difficult.
My relationship with my manager deteriorated massively, to the point that I decided to move jobs.

I started my current job in May, I’ve never been into the office or meet my colleagues face to face (I’ve arranged a pub lunch with my manager in a couple of weeks and that will be our first proper meeting).

On the whole, I like working from home. I’d like some time in the office but the positives of being at home far outweigh the negatives for my own situation.

We’re getting a puppy on Monday, so being here has allowed us to do that, which is a bonus as well.

[BroxburnHibee]

As a taxi driver lockdown took a massive toll on the industry. I had 8 months off in total over the 2 lockdowns. I looked into delivery jobs but decided against it for various reasons.

Managed to find a wee job at Amazon in Bathgate which I quite enjoyed more for being around other people rather than the money and Amazon's safety was very good so I wasn't too concerned.

That ended at New Year though and I then had 5 months holiday basically by the end of which I was getting a bit stir crazy. The pubs had started to open so I decided to go back out in the cab just for my own sanity more than anything. Wasn't earning much at first but really enjoyed being back out meeting other people.

Things improving now hopefully permanently.

I gave up a well paid but pretty stressful job in the hospitality industry 6 years ago to drive a taxi in the hope I would find a far better work/life balance and never regretted it for a minute until the pandemic hit. :greengrin

Thankfully we've survived the worst of it it seems.

[Speedy]

I’ve worked from home since just before the lockdown. I’m lucky in the sense my job has never really been at risk. Other than that, I’ve absolutely hated it. There is now an expectation that you are available at all hours. Whereas previously I’d go in for around 9 (a bit earlier on the team meeting day), leave by 5.30/6ish there is now the expectation that you should be online from before 8 right through. Because there’s no informal discussion that would happen in the office, my day ends up being Teams call after Teams call, then you’re expected to actually do the work that’s needed done. There’s a lot more unnecessary meetings because of that and also because it’s easier - you don’t have to battle to find a meeting room.

WFH has opened up the possibility of recruiting people from other parts of the world. I have people based in Canada, Thailand, Singapore, Scandinavia and India working with me. This also enables the “available at all times” culture.

There’s also the expectation now that daily team meetings are a thing - the same things are discussed day after day. In addition to that there is the expectation that you have a lunchtime “social” Teams call - so you can’t even switch off and go out for a walk.

I miss the in person social aspect of work. I miss the commute - a chance for some “me” time on the way in and some time to switch off on the way home. I hate the fact I have to have the room I’m working in looking respectable at all times. I’ve moved house and when I was packing, I had stuff everywhere that I didn’t want folk to see. I would blur the background or not put on the video but apparently that is “aggressive”.

I suppose what this can more succinctly be described as is a blurring of the lines between work and home life - and I don’t think that’s a good thing.

Things have got a little better since getting an actual desk and putting it in the spare room. Firstly, I can switch off better without my work stuff being on full display. Secondly, I reckon my back would be in a pretty poor state if I had continued on the dining table.

I’m looking forward to going back into the office. I wouldn’t mind, maybe a day a week working from home but I wouldn’t want any more than that. Pretty much the only thing I’ll miss is being able to fart when I want :faf:

There are pros and cons for me but I'd definitely echo a lot of what you say. Lines becoming very blurred and it's not healthy, for individuals or others in their home.

I also need to supply space in my own home to work from and have various kit and notebooks cluttering the place. Adds to the reminder that you can do that wee bit extra to 'save you having to do it first thing'.

On balance, there's no point in me going into a 30% capacity office because that gives me the downsides of commuting etc. but doesn't resolve the downsides of WFH.

Flexibility is great, understaffing leading to work encroaching on personal time is probably the issue rather than WFH itself.

[CallumLaidlaw]

Absolutely have thoroughly enjoyed WFH and the flexibility it brings

We are also going hybrid route but for me it's not far enough

Its making me want to get a job closer to home or move to a company that embraces more flexibility

Working where I do the earliest I can get home will be 7pm, with a child that goes to bed around 8-8.30 it seems madness

24 months ago that all felt normal, now it almost feels like a punishment as we know fine well full time WFH works for us (as we have been told over and over again from everyone right up to the chairman of the company)

Why the need to sit 3 days a week next to folk you hardly talk to in a centralised building its nonsense for our wider department

I think companies who are flexible will be highly soughy after and one's that arnt will lose staff and then eventually follow suit

Its a shame some companies want to be Blockbuster video in a Netflix environment

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

I’m very similar to you. Was out the house from 6.30am till 6.30pm (depending on trains being on time) before. I would come in, have my dinner very quickly then 3 nights a week take my son to football/music lessons while my now 6yr old would be going to bed. So I never saw her in the morning and then only for a few minutes in the evening.

Ive gone from that to being in the house all day but working 8-4.30. I move a couple of lunches around so I can take my daughter to/from school a couple of days a week.
The evenings don’t feel quite as rushed and precious as I see plenty of both kids and my wife throughout the day. My wife is also WFM now so we have lunch together most days.

We are due to go back to the office in Q4 and part of me is dreading it. I have not missed relying on ScotRail to get to and from work each day. Our productivity hasn’t dropped at all and our absence levels and lateness as a business has never been better.
Permanent WFM is whispered but doesn’t seem to be something that will come to fruition.

I did miss the office interaction in the early WFH days but since the country has opened up more that hasn’t been as much of an issue.
Also the train costs of near £200 a month hasn’t been missed.


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[Callum_62]

I’m very similar to you. Was out the house from 6.30am till 6.30pm (depending on trains being on time) before. I would come in, have my dinner very quickly then 3 nights a week take my son to football/music lessons while my now 6yr old would be going to bed. So I never saw her in the morning and then only for a few minutes in the evening.

Ive gone from that to being in the house all day but working 8-4.30. I move a couple of lunches around so I can take my daughter to/from school a couple of days a week.
The evenings don’t feel quite as rushed and precious as I see plenty of both kids and my wife throughout the day. My wife is also WFM now so we have lunch together most days.

We are due to go back to the office in Q4 and part of me is dreading it. I have not missed relying on ScotRail to get to and from work each day. Our productivity hasn’t dropped at all and our absence levels and lateness as a business has never been better.
Permanent WFM is whispered but doesn’t seem to be something that will come to fruition.

I did miss the office interaction in the early WFH days but since the country has opened up more that hasn’t been as much of an issue.
Also the train costs of near £200 a month hasn’t been missed.


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkOur company comms have definately caused some issues

In office minimum 3 days a week and can't have Monday or Friday as a WFH day

Apparently, while we have done great through this pandemic, we 'innovate' better in the office

Strange thing to stay considering the whole company of thousands of staff went FT WFH overnight.... Think of the innovation needed to make that work

Its caused alot of people to be pretty unhappy

Won't be surprised at all to see high staff turnover then a change in company policy

They maintain everyone can ask for more flexibility (which my whole team has) but refuse to put criteria on it and basically are telling me no one is getting anymore

Its a facade of flexibility while really being fairly inflexible

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[Killiehibbie]

Nothing changed for me apart from having more deliveries to do..

[McD]

I doubt my story will be unique. Immediately before lockdown there was quite an arsey stance taken about COVID and precautions, almost to the point of a ‘think yourself lucky’ attitude. When lockdown kicked in, full time wfh started, with all the platitudes, which is fairly comical due to any requests to work from home, even for short periods of a day we’re usually met with distrust and often rejected.

to begin with my boss (more than most to her credit) was keen to have regular Teams team meetings, which were helpful to a point. She initially was also keen to stress that we could and should regularly take time out for ourselves and our mental health. I missed the interactions and ability to go and have conversations with people rather than having to find slots in ever increasingly busy diaries. Those meetings and messages fell by the wayside to some degree as ‘crack on and get it done’ became the norm.

my job should have been secure, but the business/dept director decided that turning the role into a fully wfh position meant they could restructure the dept, and remove nearly half of us, so consultation and ultimately redundancy beckoned. To begin with I was really keen to keep my job, or find another within the company, but after nominating myself as a collective consultation rep, I saw a side of the company and the people at the top of the dept that pretty sickened me and I wasn’t unhappy to leave tbh.

that left me with about 4 and half months of unemployment, which I struggled with tbh, stuck in the house in horrendous weather from January til may, with an 18 month old, and not able to get out anywhere with her. It was good having time with her but I also struggled a lot.

since then I’ve started a new job, with a company with far less benefits and about 10 times the travel distance, but somewhere where their values align with a lot of my own, with a team and a manger that I enjoy working with, and feel like I bring some value and am valued. I’ve went from a 5 minute commute to a 40-60 minute commute each way, but I’m using it as an opportunity to relax (as much as you can in rush hour :greengrin), listen to an audiobook or a podcast. It’s blended for being on site and wfh, and crucially for how I view my job, at least some of it is done on site, which is important to me personally and IMO better for the carrying out of the role.


I think the coming year or so will see things start to settle in many jobs and industries, and will probably look quite different to pre COVID, some things for the better and some for the worse as well sadly

[Sir David Gray]

I started a new office based job in January last year and since 19th March last year I haven't been inside the office although I will return at some point, at least on a part time basis.

It's been tough trying to get to grips with a new job and getting to know new people and I feel like I'll need to start from scratch when I do eventually return.

My job was never in danger which I was glad about and there have been aspects of working from home which I've enjoyed despite never having done it previously.

However working 5 days per week at home isn't really for me and I will be glad when I return and get back to the routine of getting up and ready to go out the door Monday to Friday.

[B.H.F.C]

Worked remotely for years so that hasn’t been an issue for me.

The effect the pandemic has had on my work and industry is brutal though. Mainly down to the reasons detailed in the OP with supply chain issues and all the problems that brings. Not enjoying myself Monday to Friday at the moment and don’t see it changing any time soon.

[Skol]

Before Covid I was very sceptical of those who worked from home on a regular basis and how productive they could be. I also had real issues being able to access work systems remotely.

I was on holiday the week before lockdown but had taken it upon myself to sort the remote login issues while off. I also popped in to the office on the Thursday to collect what I needed to WFH for the 3 weeks or so I thought it would take.

At first it all worked well and it was a real novelty but after about 6 weeks and with the realisation that WFH was here for some time I took a dip and my productivity suffered. However we had MS Teams rolled out and suddenly seeing people on video calls was a huge improvement on phone calls and I got to the point where I never want to return to the office. I dont see the point or need. My work paid for a desk and delivered me a chair and I have a nice wee set up in the lounge which works for me.

The building I was in is closing and our new location will only have seats for c 1 in 5 people and so other than the odd workshop I cannot see me returning.

I used to run/cycle commute and I am really missing that aspect and I have lost a lot of fitness as its harder to fit in the exercise I used to do.

I am though in my mid 50s and so my working days are hopefully drawing to a close and if I can just see out a couple of years until I can afford to retire, that would suit me.