S
Scaramanga
Guest
Yes let’s all hide away in our homes like insular cavemen. I would threaten to bin them all off and employ new workers from India. See how fast they come back to work. 
Has Covid made the workforce a little bit workshy?
- Thread starter BFC1980
- Start date
Lost Seasider
Well-known member
Take the train?
S
Scaramanga
Guest
Cycle to work, walk to work, car share, buy an electric car, lots of alternatives, after all aren’t we all green now ?
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
It’s not clear at all, it’s just more ill thought out overly simplistic spin.
For starters, the overwhelming majority of people aren’t sitting in cars or traffic jams for two hours on their way to and from work. Most will travel a pretty limited distance to their place of work, many will utilise public transport and some will cycle. That’s before we get into the fact that we’ve already developed increasingly environmentally friendly forms of transportation and will continue to do so over time and also assumes that home workers won’t be nipping here and there during the daytime.
Then (as already stated) it is far more energy efficient to have the workforce at a single place of work, than it is to have them spread out across multiple home based locations. Which includes the cost of heating and lighting, IT infrastructure and data transfer etc.
The irony of it is that we have folk who are travelling miles to watch bloody football matches (like most of us on here) waffling on about the ‘environmental benefits’ of not travelling to work… Maybe we should be watching our football on the TV more too…?
In fact whilst we’re at it, perhaps we could encourage our players to train over Microsoft Teams and save the cost of a training ground and the travel to and from…. They could just meet up on a Saturday and see how things go …
Instead of going out and socialising in pubs with our mates we could just stick our virtual reality goggles on and go to a make believe pub, whilst chatting to our mates via FaceTime
S
Scaramanga
Guest
Good post.It’s not clear at all, it’s just more ill thought out overly simplistic spin.
For starters, the overwhelming majority of people aren’t sitting in cars or traffic jams for two hours on their way to and from work. Most will travel a pretty limited distance to their place of work, many will utilise public transport and some will cycle. That’s before we get into the fact that we’ve already developed increasingly environmentally friendly forms of transportation and will continue to do so over time and also assumes that home workers won’t be nipping here and there during the daytime.
Then (as already stated) it is far more energy efficient to have the workforce at a single place of work, than it is to have them spread out across multiple home based locations. Which includes the cost of heating and lighting, IT infrastructure and data transfer etc.
The irony of it is that we have folk who are travelling miles to watch bloody football matches (like most of us on here) waffling on about the ‘environmental benefits’ of not travelling to work… Maybe we should be watching our football on the TV more too…?
In fact whilst we’re at it, perhaps we could encourage our players to train over Microsoft Teams and save the cost of a training ground and the travel to and from…. They could just meet up on a Saturday and see how things go …
Instead of going out and socialising in pubs with our mates we could just stick our virtual reality goggles on and go to a make believe pub, whilst chatting to our mates via FaceTime
Blackpool Are Back!
Well-known member
Be careful what you wish for.
I listened to a programme on Radio4 recently suggesting that due to the success of working from home, that many employers were now starting to explore the idea of sending the same work to be done `at home' in asia.
I listened to a programme on Radio4 recently suggesting that due to the success of working from home, that many employers were now starting to explore the idea of sending the same work to be done `at home' in asia.
Last edited:
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
That’s the inevitable consequence for those jobs / functions that can be completed remotely. Employers will take advantage of lower cost workforce.
S
Scaramanga
Guest
Option 1 work from home at this rate per hour, or option 2 work from the office on a higher rate per hour. less income less money to spend less tax revenue, less need for other businesses to employ people that can’t work from home and on and on it goes
Mexboroseasider
Well-known member
Option 1 - and reduce the charge out rate to the client by a similar amount.
In the legal sector there’s quite a few “umbrella firms” doing just that. They used to be the resort of the “no one else will employ me” brigade. Now there’s a lot of very good lawyers (many of them ladies) who prefer to go solo and do without the big firm “there’s only one way to do it” mentality.
Mexboroseasider
Well-known member
Eh?It’s not clear at all, it’s just more ill thought out overly simplistic spin.
For starters, the overwhelming majority of people aren’t sitting in cars or traffic jams for two hours on their way to and from work. Most will travel a pretty limited distance to their place of work, many will utilise public transport and some will cycle. That’s before we get into the fact that we’ve already developed increasingly environmentally friendly forms of transportation and will continue to do so over time and also assumes that home workers won’t be nipping here and there during the daytime.
Then (as already stated) it is far more energy efficient to have the workforce at a single place of work, than it is to have them spread out across multiple home based locations. Which includes the cost of heating and lighting, IT infrastructure and data transfer etc.
The irony of it is that we have folk who are travelling miles to watch bloody football matches (like most of us on here) waffling on about the ‘environmental benefits’ of not travelling to work… Maybe we should be watching our football on the TV more too…?
In fact whilst we’re at it, perhaps we could encourage our players to train over Microsoft Teams and save the cost of a training ground and the travel to and from…. They could just meet up on a Saturday and see how things go …
Instead of going out and socialising in pubs with our mates we could just stick our virtual reality goggles on and go to a make believe pub, whilst chatting to our mates via FaceTime
“The overwhelming majority of people aren’t sitting in cars and traffic jams for two hours on their way to and from work”?
Well then I must’ve imagined or dreamt about 20 to 30 years of my life. Trekking up and down the M1 between junctions 14 and 9 of the M1. And back. Cos sure as feck I can remember a lot people. A lot of cars. And a lot of jams. To say nothing of the toxic fumes spewing into the atmosphere.
In fact I’m sure there are quite a few environmentalists out protesting on motorways and round and about making much the same point as I type.
Where are the Preston New Road Massive when you need them?
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
Your limited life experience on the M1 isn’t necessarily representative of the majority of the working population though is it?
The roads are full of vehicles making all manner of journeys. Delivery Drivers, Hauliers, Holiday Makers, Shoppers, School Run, Sales Reps as well as those travelling to or from a permanent place of work.
My travel to work experience for the past 30 odd years has consisted of no more than a 5 mile journey either way (likewise the majority of people I’ve worked with).
As I’ve said you’re also completely ignoring all of the counter environmental impacts and assuming that this is a one way street.
(And most of the “Preston Road Massive” are likely poisoning the atmosphere in dirty old diesel live in vehicles, whilst burning toxic treated wood to keep warm)
Recidivist3
Well-known member
Yes let’s all hide away in our homes like insular cavemen..
I wish you feckin’ would 
Mexboroseasider
Well-known member
Blimey. Talk about 180 degrees.
I’m looking forward to the future threads:
“Belokon - BFC’s debt to the forgotten hero”
“My only gripe with Foggy’s book is that it didn’t give enough credit to BST’s contribution to the boycott”
“Bez - why I always said he was innocent”
“Prince Andrew - why I always said he was misunderstood and a victim of unscrupulous women”.
“Why fracking is vital for the future of the U.K.”
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
I was against Fracking because of the local physical impact to the environment and the issue with earthquakes.Blimey. Talk about 180 degrees.
I’m looking forward to the future threads:
“Belokon - BFC’s debt to the forgotten hero”
“My only gripe with Foggy’s book is that it didn’t give enough credit to BST’s contribution to the boycott”
“Bez - why I always said he was innocent”
“Prince Andrew - why I always said he was misunderstood and a victim of unscrupulous women”.
“Why fracking is vital for the future of the U.K.”
In relative terms, I’d say that Natural Gas (whilst not ideal) is a cleaner fuel than many alternatives.
There’s no 180 from me, just brutal honesty Mex. The overwhelming majority of environmental campaigners I’ve met, just like the rest of us are complete hypocrites.
I don’t buy into the bullshit I’m afraid and I don’t ally myself to any group or political movements r or party, which means I can think and say what I believe without constraint. I’ve no need to hide away from any inconvenient truths.
Wizaard
Well-known member
No trains. Closed by Beeching.
straightatthewall
Well-known member
Interesting thread this. Some thoughts from someone who has worked from home pretty much non-stop since March 2020 because that’s what his company has dictated.
Like others, I’m very happy with the 2-3 hours per day I get back simply by not having to get on a packed train/tube to get to the office.
Work shy? Couldn’t be more wrong. My workload, my earlier starts, my later finishes, my working during leave, my lack of being able to take leave etc etc has never been more in favour of the employer rather than employee. Of course some of that is linked to other factors and specifics to my role and company but a lot is also to do with simply working from home and being ‘available’ in a way that wasn’t the case when in a full time office environment.
Alternatively, I tried to access a public service yesterday regarding a power of attorney. I was on hold for about 45 mins and got to number 20-odd in the queue. The call got cut off (no idea why, but wasn’t by me). Called back to be number 60-odd in the queue. Seen stuff on the news around people trying to discuss energy bills with their provider and never being able to get through. Hard not to think there’s something in the fact that working at home vs a call centre is part of the issue - but not ALL the issue.
Colleague interaction was initially thought to be ‘protected’ by virtual options and I think it’s only now that it’s dawning on seniors/business owners that in reality you lose something important when your team doesn’t work physically together. Relationships with colleagues don’t exist, the social side (especially for younger people) has disappeared and that can definitely be a factor for colleagues leaving roles. There was a time when ‘the people’ you worked with were a reason you’d consider if you were offered a new job. That’s much less of an issue now and high levels of churn cause issues with resources that brings bigger pressure to everyone else in the company.
I save money on getting to work, but I spend more on working from home in terms of energy. Clearly that’s going to be a much bigger problem over the next 12 months. In terms of the story in the OP, it’s a bull shit approach from companies trying such a thing. Commuting expenses were never a part of normal working life; I was never paid an allowance to cover my cost of simply getting to the workplace. It’s always been an expense for me to cover how I see fit. I could walk to work for all my company knows. It’s not for them to say how my spend works, what I’m saving or not saving.
Health is a concern with home working. Mentally, it’s not easy to cope with wfh day after day with interaction through a screen. Physically you also move less - or you have to try very hard to move as much and on some days it just doesn’t happen. And most people seem to have put on weight as they eat more and drink more at home. It’s also less easy to exercise if you’re not within a short distance to a gym or you’re knees, back etc mean that jogging on the roads isn’t great for you. I’ve resorted to videos on You Tube, but that only works of the front room is free. Finish the day late and that doesn’t usually happen.
Lots of pros and cons. Hybrid is likely going to be the way for the foreseeable, which seems like a good balance to me.
Like others, I’m very happy with the 2-3 hours per day I get back simply by not having to get on a packed train/tube to get to the office.
Work shy? Couldn’t be more wrong. My workload, my earlier starts, my later finishes, my working during leave, my lack of being able to take leave etc etc has never been more in favour of the employer rather than employee. Of course some of that is linked to other factors and specifics to my role and company but a lot is also to do with simply working from home and being ‘available’ in a way that wasn’t the case when in a full time office environment.
Alternatively, I tried to access a public service yesterday regarding a power of attorney. I was on hold for about 45 mins and got to number 20-odd in the queue. The call got cut off (no idea why, but wasn’t by me). Called back to be number 60-odd in the queue. Seen stuff on the news around people trying to discuss energy bills with their provider and never being able to get through. Hard not to think there’s something in the fact that working at home vs a call centre is part of the issue - but not ALL the issue.
Colleague interaction was initially thought to be ‘protected’ by virtual options and I think it’s only now that it’s dawning on seniors/business owners that in reality you lose something important when your team doesn’t work physically together. Relationships with colleagues don’t exist, the social side (especially for younger people) has disappeared and that can definitely be a factor for colleagues leaving roles. There was a time when ‘the people’ you worked with were a reason you’d consider if you were offered a new job. That’s much less of an issue now and high levels of churn cause issues with resources that brings bigger pressure to everyone else in the company.
I save money on getting to work, but I spend more on working from home in terms of energy. Clearly that’s going to be a much bigger problem over the next 12 months. In terms of the story in the OP, it’s a bull shit approach from companies trying such a thing. Commuting expenses were never a part of normal working life; I was never paid an allowance to cover my cost of simply getting to the workplace. It’s always been an expense for me to cover how I see fit. I could walk to work for all my company knows. It’s not for them to say how my spend works, what I’m saving or not saving.
Health is a concern with home working. Mentally, it’s not easy to cope with wfh day after day with interaction through a screen. Physically you also move less - or you have to try very hard to move as much and on some days it just doesn’t happen. And most people seem to have put on weight as they eat more and drink more at home. It’s also less easy to exercise if you’re not within a short distance to a gym or you’re knees, back etc mean that jogging on the roads isn’t great for you. I’ve resorted to videos on You Tube, but that only works of the front room is free. Finish the day late and that doesn’t usually happen.
Lots of pros and cons. Hybrid is likely going to be the way for the foreseeable, which seems like a good balance to me.
Lytham_fy8
Well-known member
Working in an office is generally shit, let's face it.
Recidivist3
Well-known member
Working is generally shit, let’s face it
Lytham_fy8
Well-known member
So why are the roads much quieter at 8am on weekends?It’s not clear at all, it’s just more ill thought out overly simplistic spin.
For starters, the overwhelming majority of people aren’t sitting in cars or traffic jams for two hours on their way to and from work. Most will travel a pretty limited distance to their place of work, many will utilise public transport and some will cycle. That’s before we get into the fact that we’ve already developed increasingly environmentally friendly forms of transportation and will continue to do so over time and also assumes that home workers won’t be nipping here and there during the daytime.
Then (as already stated) it is far more energy efficient to have the workforce at a single place of work, than it is to have them spread out across multiple home based locations. Which includes the cost of heating and lighting, IT infrastructure and data transfer etc.
The irony of it is that we have folk who are travelling miles to watch bloody football matches (like most of us on here) waffling on about the ‘environmental benefits’ of not travelling to work… Maybe we should be watching our football on the TV more too…?
In fact whilst we’re at it, perhaps we could encourage our players to train over Microsoft Teams and save the cost of a training ground and the travel to and from…. They could just meet up on a Saturday and see how things go …
Instead of going out and socialising in pubs with our mates we could just stick our virtual reality goggles on and go to a make believe pub, whilst chatting to our mates via FaceTime
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
I’m not saying people don’t travel to work by car. I’m saying that most of them aren’t commuting as far as Mex is suggesting. I’m also saying that people are on the roads for a variety of reasons…
At 08:00 am
People drive kids to school
Delivery vehicles drop off goods
Post vans are doing their rounds
People are driving to the golf course
Some are driving to the Gym
Some might be driving to the Airport
Some to the Hospital
Some to the Train Station
Others to the Supermarket
And many are making a short trip to work
How far do you typically travel to work if you are in?
Is it a 2 hour journey? (Somehow I doubt it)
Is your place of work closed when you’re not there?
straightatthewall
Well-known member
You missed trips to garden centre.
Trips to relatives to provide care.
Trips to theme parks.
Trips to the seaside.
Test drives of new vehicles.
Driving lessons.
Driving examines.
There’s a whole world of car journeys to consider.
poolseasider
Well-known member
The one thing I do think we are heading for further down the line is a back and neck problem as the amount of inadequate chairs and table height are often used.
One bloke uses his sofa and the ironing board I've seen ,should made compulsory (if you've the space) a desk a decent office chair have to be used if you stay at home.
One bloke uses his sofa and the ironing board I've seen ,should made compulsory (if you've the space) a desk a decent office chair have to be used if you stay at home.
Lytham_fy8
Well-known member
All that stuff happens at the weekends as well which would suggest It's mostly commuter traffic during the week though as it's far quieter at the weekend at rush hour?
The length of journey is irrelevant really, a 20 minute car journey multiplied country wide is a significant contributor to the environment, you already know all this mind, it's not a bad effort but you're tilting at windmills a touch.
straightatthewall
Well-known member
Energy producing windmills an all.
T
TheRealKingKenny
Guest
My office is 2 hours 15 minutes door to door, i go in for two consecutive days once a fortnight and have a night in a hotel. I simply wouldn’t be able to do the job if I didn’t have a remote option, it would be unsustainable. I look forward to going into the office but don’t feel I miss out on much, the balance works well for me personally. I like my colleagues but I’d prefer to spend quality time with my family and friends.
The average commute time in the UK is around an hour per day, imagine what people can do with that extra hour. For example, I play football for an hour twice a week. I also regularly work later than I would do if I was in the office because I don’t have to commute.
It seems to me that people arguing against remote working are people who haven’t had a role where it’s particularly relevant so feel the need to argue against it for some reason. Seems like the classic ‘it’s not relevant to me so I disagree with it’, it comes across as a ignorant.
The average commute time in the UK is around an hour per day, imagine what people can do with that extra hour. For example, I play football for an hour twice a week. I also regularly work later than I would do if I was in the office because I don’t have to commute.
It seems to me that people arguing against remote working are people who haven’t had a role where it’s particularly relevant so feel the need to argue against it for some reason. Seems like the classic ‘it’s not relevant to me so I disagree with it’, it comes across as a ignorant.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
I’m sure there’s loads of offers
According to the TUC the ‘average’ total commute (there and back) is just under 60 minutes, which includes all forms of transport. So way below the “Minimum of 2 hours” claimed by Mexaggerater.
Firstly…. You’ve clearly not done much travel at the weekends … It’s ** mayhem
Schools (a major contributor to congestion these days are not open at weekends)
Many hauliers do not operate at weekends….
Sales Reps aren’t working at weekends
Millions of people also working in individually heated / lit properties, boiling individual kettles and being served with individual data over miles of cabling (instead of working from larger group based locations) multiplied countrywide is also a significant contributor to the environment.
Plus people don’t sit at home all day in any case… they still nip about in their vehicles…
We’re also moving increasingly to alternative and more environmentally friendly forms of transport.
Lytham_fy8
Well-known member
It's about the same mayhem at weekends as it is during a normal working day, however, rush hour is much quieter.I’m sure there’s loads of offers
According to the TUC the ‘average’ total commute (there and back) is just under 60 minutes, which includes all forms of transport. So way below the “Minimum of 2 hours” claimed by Mexaggerater.
Firstly…. You’ve clearly not done much travel at the weekends … It’s ** mayhem
Schools (a major contributor to congestion these days are not open at weekends)
Many hauliers do not operate at weekends….
Sales Reps aren’t working at weekends
Millions of people also working in individually heated / lit properties, boiling individual kettles and being served with individual data over miles of cabling (instead of working from larger group based locations) multiplied countrywide is also a significant contributor to the environment.
Plus people don’t sit at home all day in any case… they still nip about in their vehicles…
We’re also moving increasingly to alternative and more environmentally friendly forms of transport.
Give it up Bifster.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
I’m not denying that the rush hour traffic isn’t caused predominantly by the short term bottle neck created by the work commute. I’m saying that not everyone spends 2 hours commuting (and evidently they don’t).
You also get bottlenecks of traffic heading to the Lake District or Blackpool at a weekend, Bottlenecks following the football games at weekend or evenings, bottlenecks around large supermarkets or shopping centres at the weekends.
The point is that you can make an ‘environmentally based’ excuse for pretty much anything that you travel to and from at any time. Yet we have to balance the issue of environmental impact with the efficiency and effectiveness of why we travel… plus we can choose to travel differently, live closer etc…
In regard to the working situation I’m simply saying that people are not balancing the ‘environmental impact’ properly…. They are counting the negative impact on the environment for one side of the equation and completely ignoring the other side of the equation….
Lytham_fy8
Well-known member
Fair enough, some good points, I was just being argumentative
straightatthewall
Well-known member
The Mexaggerator- very good
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
And to wind it back to the original argument….Fair enough, some good points, I was just being argumentative
Bearing in mind as a business you might have good reason to want your staff to work at an office, because it has advantages to the business, but at the same time you acknowledge that there are additional costs and inconvenience associated with them doing so….
Why is it then an issue to offer those staff a higher salary, than staff who might instead wish to work full time from home for their own convenience?
Lytham_fy8
Well-known member
I would imagine it's an issue dependent on employment contract wording.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
You just pay people what you want to pay them based upon the value of the role they perform.
If Office Workers are more valuable to your business you pay them more. Simple as…
I mean how much use would a home working Chef be to a central London Restaurant ?
Likewise, how much use is a Solicitor who’s not around to help train and mentor your up and coming graduate trainees?
Fine for a while until your business hits the buffers, due to lack of continuity planning.
How would the NHS function if you basically stopped all access to Student Doctors, because all your Doctors and Surgeons preferred to just work in isolation ?
Lytham_fy8
Well-known member
You still have to honour existing contracts though.
RUSTY_2_STANDS
Well-known member
There's certainly a few civil servants who seem to have become work shy since covid. Judging by recent performance of the Passport Office and DVLA.
And then you have the ones who spend a fair chunk of their day posting on here when they're supposed to be 'working' from home.
And then you have the ones who spend a fair chunk of their day posting on here when they're supposed to be 'working' from home.
EagleDay
Well-known member
Brilliant!It’s not clear at all, it’s just more ill thought out overly simplistic spin.
For starters, the overwhelming majority of people aren’t sitting in cars or traffic jams for two hours on their way to and from work. Most will travel a pretty limited distance to their place of work, many will utilise public transport and some will cycle. That’s before we get into the fact that we’ve already developed increasingly environmentally friendly forms of transportation and will continue to do so over time and also assumes that home workers won’t be nipping here and there during the daytime.
Then (as already stated) it is far more energy efficient to have the workforce at a single place of work, than it is to have them spread out across multiple home based locations. Which includes the cost of heating and lighting, IT infrastructure and data transfer etc.
The irony of it is that we have folk who are travelling miles to watch bloody football matches (like most of us on here) waffling on about the ‘environmental benefits’ of not travelling to work… Maybe we should be watching our football on the TV more too…?
In fact whilst we’re at it, perhaps we could encourage our players to train over Microsoft Teams and save the cost of a training ground and the travel to and from…. They could just meet up on a Saturday and see how things go …
Instead of going out and socialising in pubs with our mates we could just stick our virtual reality goggles on and go to a make believe pub, whilst chatting to our mates via FaceTime
Colonel Bogey
Well-known member
For me the main downside from working from home is I now only get to flirt with my own wife!
Post of the thread so far.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
Of course you do and that’s exactly what is happening in the case mentioned in the O/P.
The historic staff there are currently on a hybrid working arrangement, whereas other new staff have been brought in during lockdown on a work from home only basis (earning a lower salary).
The existing staff have been offered the option to change their contracted working arrangement and work permanently from home on the same terms as those brought in during lockdown.
I can’t see the issue, the staff are being given an either or option. They can choose to continue with their existing terms or they can change to a different arrangement on the associated salary.
TBH, I think we’ll find increasing numbers of employers going down a similar route, particularly as the homeworker market starts to expand into cheaper foreign markets.
EagleDay
Well-known member
I think you are blinding yourself to this point, BFC. OK the majority of workers may only work short distances but how long are they stuck in traffic jams? When I was working it would take up to an hour to cover five miles, long gone are the days when most people used to work locally, it could be even worse travelling from my place of work to Wolverhampton town centre, an even shorter distance, at around 5pm.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
The average commute time across the whole U.K. in all forms of transport is just under an hour (half an hour each way).
zico_bamber
Well-known member
As Big Hands mentioned. It surely depends on the nature of your job. Some are more suited for home working, others aren't.
Lytham_fy8
Well-known member
Except then some companies may offer home working at full rate.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
The full rate being what though?
In the case of the business in the O/P the office workers are paid a ‘London Weighting’ for working in central London….
If you’re employing a home worker based in Durham, then the ‘full rate’ would be different in any case.
As ever, these types of stories get blown out of all proportion.
Ultimately businesses will make commercial decisions that suit their business interests. If they get it wrong their business won’t do so well, if they get it right then they’ll flourish….
T
TheRealKingKenny
Guest
Businesses are operating in a candidate short market for key digital roles, it’s massively competitive.
Also there have been surveys conducted by LinkedIn suggesting work/life balance and flexibility has overtaken salary as candidates main driver for the first time ever.
Businesses who fail to embrace change will struggle as they always have.
This all started pre-pandemic it’s just been accelerated.
Also there have been surveys conducted by LinkedIn suggesting work/life balance and flexibility has overtaken salary as candidates main driver for the first time ever.
Businesses who fail to embrace change will struggle as they always have.
This all started pre-pandemic it’s just been accelerated.
Recidivist3
Well-known member
In my fairly limited experience, driving through Wolverhampton is never simple and never quick
EagleDay
Well-known member
That takes some believing.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
Annual commuting time is up 21 hours compared to a decade ago, finds TUC
Commute Smart
www.tuc.org.uk
This is very true about back problems. My discs at L4 L5 and L5 S1 slipped because I spent most of the day sitting on dining chair. After months of agony, doctors appointments, x-rays, MRI scans, tramadol, physio and an epidural steroid injection it was still painful and stopped me from exercising and being generally active. It was only after I visited a chiropractor 4 times and buying a proper ergonomic office chair that things got better. In total, I was out of action for around 8 months.
Fortunately, I have health insurance so was able to go private for everything. I would imagine that through the NHS I'd still be waiting now and fully addicted to painkillers.
