Is working from home just a big doss really?

zarf2007

ok first to admit it, as I have a job which allows me to work two days a week from home (Monday and Friday), sometimes (and I'm thinking Friday after lunch) I can find it difficult to motivate myself! I also find myself casually watching boxsets on my other computer screen while 'working'.....(yes bad I know).....

I justify this by the fact that I always get through the work I'm allocated so does it matter that I sometimes spend time doing this?

I must admit, as it saves on the 2 hour per day commute it does generally make me start work earlier......

We have had senior management comment recently that the office looks like a ghost town on certain days and to threaten to curb home working (though there are some idiots who abuse it by working every day at home when they shouldn't)

Just wanted to know everyones thoughts, are people working home home having an easy life at the expense of their employers?

PlutoinCapricorn

I can only speak for myself, and I am self-employed not an employee, but the opposite is true. I get much more done without interruptions and distractions. I have seen employees stay at home for a day or two here and there to finish reports etc. and they really push on.

zarf2007

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

I can only speak for myself, and I am self-employed not an employee, but the opposite is true. I get much more done without interruptions and distractions. I have seen employees stay at home for a day or two here and there to finish reports etc. and they really push on.

I must admit for things like reports I find it ideal due to the lack of interruptions I would get being in the office. I think the most recent boss of Yahoo banned homeworking and I have a number of friends whose employers won't entertain it as they think it gives workers the excuse to 'skive'.

personally, I think the way we work is changing and they should be grateful that i'm using my heat and electricity and not billing them :rotfl:

PlutoinCapricorn

Some people have just not got what it takes to motivate themselves and are easily tempted away from their work by various distractions. Others do not feel comfortable alone, they feel isolated.

Snakey

I've used WFH for all sorts of reasons:
- lazy day when I don't have any deadlines
- blitz a report without distractions
- when I'm set to spend the day on conference calls and want to use speakerphone
- so that I can do other things during the day and get my work done in the evening
- because I'm not feeling well enough to come into work, but not ill enough to call in sick
- so I can push through a bunch of small but tedious tasks that would take me all day in the office because I'd be looking for other things to do instead
- to avoid people giving me more work when I'm feeling overloaded, which they are more likely to do if you're in the office and it's not always possible to say no.

I think it all evens out, and as long as you're getting everything done that you would have got done if you'd been in the office, you shouldn't feel guilty. Plenty of people sit at their desks in the office surfing the net and making personal calls and chatting with their colleagues when they're not busy. The only person who suffers when you don't push yourself is you, because you don't get picked for promotion etc (unless everybody else is even worse).

Stevie_Palimo

I have worked from home for around 15 or so years now and it can be great as you have no traveling to do but I know you must motivate yourself to keep working and also I have found that others around me believe that because I am based at home I have lots of free time to myself.


That does not happen as I can work from 6am until 9pm some nights if my work requires it, The only thing I would say as well is to get ready as if you were going to in to an office as when you are dressed in tracksuits and the likes you may not feel as business minded.

PlutoinCapricorn

For me, one of the benefits of working from home is that dressing up (or dressing at all ) is not necessary. Changing into smarter clothes does not make me any more efficient - actually it makes me thing about going out.

lostinrates

I think it also depends on what sort of work you do. For many people slacking off could be a big problem. E.g. Work at home as a dairy farmer and don't feed or milk your cows....big problem.

If any part of your work is related to home or located at home and you are a workaholic or perfectionist it can be as hard to set it aside as it can be for some others to self motivate.

duchy

I work from home permanently doing the exact same tasks as my opposite numbers in the office enviroment so it's just geography.

I don't think I work any harder except possibly I'm more likely to accept overtime as I can slot it in more easily as I'm not adding on travelling and can do a few hours -stop and be back to my "real life" in seconds.

I do think occassional working from home rather than all the time is harder as you need to have a work mindset "at home" and on that basis it is easier to procrastinate.

I like the ability to wear whatever I want - however I also know a woman who says she has to put on her shoes when she's working or her head isn't in a work mindset

I do think if you are lazy or unmotivated it's harder at home as it's very easy to find distractions if you want them. Some people are simply more disciplined or motivated than others so it suits some people better than others.

I like not having to travel (both from a time and cost viewpoint), not having to deal with office gossip/politics so much , not having to take time off for workmen/deliveries - not spending a fortune on lunches , not having the dreaded office collections , eat decent food for lunch without paying a fortune and drink really good coffee whilst I work

PlutoinCapricorn

I understand that some people may like the company and interactions they get in the office, but I can't cope with office life and really hate it. People who hate being micro-managed will do well when they are at home and are free to get on with it.

I know that this is about employees and I am a freelancer, but I just wanted to make it clear that not everyone who works from home cheats their employer by doing other things: I have seen this for myself.

Trixi

ok first to admit it, as I have a job which allows me to work two days a week from home (Monday and Friday), sometimes (and I'm thinking Friday after lunch) I can find it difficult to motivate myself! I also find myself casually watching boxsets on my other computer screen while 'working'.....(yes bad I know).....

I justify this by the fact that I always get through the work I'm allocated so does it matter that I sometimes spend time doing this?

Tbh I wouldn't beat yourself up about this. My understanding of office work is that there is a lot of non productive time - chatting, emailing, stopping/starting for interruptions etc. so if you are completing your work more quickly it's probably because you are more focused. If you 'use' your home days to focus and get through more work (or do it better) then it might be easier to convince the powers that be that it's worth allowing it.

I think Tim Ferriss talks about this in The 4 Hour Work Week (iirc) - a lot of people can/do get their actual work done in much less time that their contracted hours.

Btw, I work from home (self employed) and I'm a terrible example of this - I get distracted really easily - so I might not be the best person to preach!