Do you work from home?

[Deidre]

I’ve taken some time off from my recent firm to just explore life and honestly, take a break. I have worked with this company for three years and managed all the accounts in my region through Covid. Pretty stressful at the time so I’m glad I could take some time off. The job is and always will be work from home, which I love. It’s work from home for us in North America because the CEO lives in India.

Decided to look at other jobs out there and they pay less and require employees to work in office at least four days per week. I’ve been reading that employees want people back in the office. My question is, why? Office jobs don’t require sitting in an office space all day, but I can see that some jobs may require that.

Anyway, I’m likely going back to my former employer in a few months but I think a huge selling point is wfh. And the money. Honestly, tack on a 45 minute commute one way plus tolls, gas, lunches, new clothes etc...it’s a $10k decrease in salary, easily!

So, do you work from home? If not, is your employer open to the idea? Did your employer allow wfh during Covid?

Curious to see your thoughts on this.

[6-eyed]

One of my jobs gives me the luxury of telecommuting from home, but only part of the time. Most of the time my boss needs me in the office to run the machinery. I personally work more productively at the office. When I telecommute, I can be away on vacation and still work when I’m needed. So I feel blessed to have this job.

I think the reason employers want more in-office staff is because they know a workplace has much less distractions than a home environment. And therefore want to see their employees being productive while on the clock.

[Youfreeme]

I worked from home for a few months during the height of the pandemic--but if it is to be done well, my job requires in-person work. I didn't enjoy working from home. There were definitely benefits:you end up being more productive and working less overall, you save on commute time, and you get to be done when you're done, instead of filling your time with pointless activities to fill the clock. I missed the social interaction of real, in-person work. I like the boundary between home and work that gets so much thinner when you wfh.

There are moments when I do miss working from home, but it will probably never be my main mode of working again.

[Undies]

My job just can't be done from home. I've always had to do certain things from home, but most of it just doesn't work that way. For some reason, about half the leadership staff has been allowed to work from home since covid started, and the only result is that a lot less is getting done and those of us still working have to work twice as hard.

[lode]

I’m a coder. I can be full remote,

June of last year they kept extending how long we’d all be remote for, I asked to be permanent remote. When they didn’t give me an answer I moved to Miami Beach and asked my boss what he wanted to do about it. So now I’m permanently remote. I’ll never have to work in an office again I think, my whole industry is moving that way, some people can work for Silicon Valley and have a Missouri cost of living.

I do miss seeing coworkers face to face. But for a while I was behind the wheel like 3 hours a day. I bet the decreased stress has probably added years to my life.

You should do it!

[Jessica]

Lol. You do actually remind me a little of my rl computer guy friend. That's what he'd do. Move, then, "okay what do you want to do about it?"

[SpaceMan]

i work at home but technically have to say im a mobile service due to bylaws and zoning regulations

[Deidre]

Interesting opinions, looks like every situation is different. So safe to say, wfh should be taken on a case by case basis. I’m a marketing analyst so being in the office at my job before this one, was fine because I didn’t “know” any differently but there were more distractions in the office with impromptu meetings, overhearing gossip and drama, etc. With this last firm, everyone is working remotely but the sales teams globally, need to present in person, with clients. Now that I’ve been working remote for roughly three years, I can’t go back to an office. I mean, I could, but not everyday.

Last year, employers were reporting an increase in productivity but this year, like 83% want their employees back in the office? I’m thinking it has to do with office leases that they over paid and they need to micromanage to feel like work is getting done. If you can’t trust your employees to work even part time from home, you’ve likely hired the wrong employees, imo. But, I’ve made friendships with coworkers in my past job before this one, so that is a plus. Work can be meaningful in that way too - it’s not just a paycheck. But, most employees when polled at least want an option.

It’ll be interesting to see what the future holds.

[Osquirrell]

no

[Deidre]

As an aside, I would’ve liked all of your comments if I was able.

[lode]

Are you using one of the 2.0 themes?

[Deidre]

no

Do you wish you did or is your job such that you can’t?

[Deidre]

My job just can't be done from home. I've always had to do certain things from home, but most of it just doesn't work that way. For some reason, about half the leadership staff has been allowed to work from home since covid started, and the only result is that a lot less is getting done and those of us still working have to work twice as hard.

Why do you think that is, though? Are they just not as available to support their teams from home? (They’re not working as much since no one is watching, iow) It’s not right imo when some groups are “allowed” to work from home and others aren’t, all things being equal.

[Undies]

Why do you think that is, though? Are they just not as available to support their teams from home? (They’re not working as much since no one is watching, iow) It’s not right imo when some groups are “allowed” to work from home and others aren’t, all things being equal.

i think it's a combination of things. for one, none of the work from home people seem to do anything, so i assume they're not working as much since no one is watching. plus, it just slows everything down so much. before, it was easy to just pop your head into an office and say "hey, can you help me with this?" now, if you need to collaborate on anything you need to play phone or email tag for a few days before you can even start to discuss what needs done. pretty much the only time we actually hear from the people who are supposed to be working at home these days is when they suddenly want us to do part of their job for them that requires being physically in the office. the only one who is "working" from home who does occasionally communicate with us (very sparingly though) is the boss, who just tells us to do things that will affect operations, even though he has no clue what is even going on there so a lot of his declarations make no sense.

[Deidre]

i think it's a combination of things. for one, none of the work from home people seem to do anything, so i assume they're not working as much since no one is watching. plus, it just slows everything down so much. before, it was easy to just pop your head into an office and say "hey, can you help me with this?" now, if you need to collaborate on anything you need to play phone or email tag for a few days before you can even start to discuss what needs done. pretty much the only time we actually hear from the people who are supposed to be working at home these days is when they suddenly want us to do part of their job for them that requires being physically in the office. the only one who is "working" from home who does occasionally communicate with us (very sparingly though) is the boss, who just tells us to do things that will affect operations, even though he has no clue what is even going on there so a lot of his declarations make no sense.

Lol I think it’s time to explore other jobs . I don’t think that’s the norm - many companies simply fire those who aren’t productive. The outcomes will show themselves, eventually. I think though if you guys are “covering” for the wfh crew, that’s not fair and no one will ever figure out who’s actually working. Has anyone on your team or in your company, exposed what’s been actually going on?

[Deidre]

I worked from home for a few months during the height of the pandemic--but if it is to be done well, my job requires in-person work. I didn't enjoy working from home. There were definitely benefits:you end up being more productive and working less overall, you save on commute time, and you get to be done when you're done, instead of filling your time with pointless activities to fill the clock. I missed the social interaction of real, in-person work. I like the boundary between home and work that gets so much thinner when you wfh.

There are moments when I do miss working from home, but it will probably never be my main mode of working again.

That’s a great point - the line definitely blurs between work and non-work time from wfh. Answering emails at 10 PM becomes all too common, especially when you work with employees in various time zones. So it sounds like you’d like best, a hybrid of wfh and office time?

[Osquirrell]

No, I dont wish I worked from home. I like my job, I come and go whenever I want..