Working from home like it or not?

Tokmon

Barny1979 said:

Our workplace referred to them as “thin clients” where you just log onto the server, but it’s not a computer or laptop.

A thin client is still a computer, it just doesn't need to be very powerful.

Brie

thin or fat - it's laptops in the office & home that are connected by wifi to the cloud for file storage and and by wires to the monitors etc in situ.  15 layers of security to get logged on (which doesn't always work) and lots of desks at work that don't actually allow a laptop to connect to anything for some bizarre reason.  Good thing there aren't a lot of people there!!

TELLIT01

LillythePink said:

We've had 2 lockdowns here, the first one i was able to work in the office - there were about 4 of us in the building and I loved it especially as it was during a stressful time work wise.

The second, I wasn't allowed to and had to WFH and I hated it. 

During the first and normally,  I worked a lot of extra hours......early starts and work in the evenings - but that's fine as I was going back to the office, however, during the WFH period I just couldn't face doing any extra work outside of my contracted normal working hours - it felt like it was invading my home life.  My work definitely suffered and I know it was just me but I just couldn't help how I was feeling.

I went back into the office at the earliest opportunity.  I felt I needed the structure of the working day....leaving home etc - so I totally get that.

If I had to isolate for any reason, I would try and make the most of it but do worry about how I would react again.

We have boxes at home which were issued to us, but no screens etc which I had to take from my desk the last time.

WFH may have affected your work life, but it would seem that working in the office affects your home life (assuming you don't live on your own).  The balance is clearly not there in either working environment and that is something you need to address.

Why do you normally work lots of extra hours?  Is it because you have too much work to complete in a normal working day?, in which case that needs to be addressed by management.  Is it because you don't want to be at home for some reason?

74jax

LillythePink said:

During the first and normally,  I worked a lot of extra hours......early starts and work in the evenings - but that's fine as I was going back to the office, however, during the WFH period I just couldn't face doing any extra work outside of my contracted normal working hours - it felt like it was invading my home life.  My work definitely suffered and I know it was just me but I just couldn't help how I was feeling.

This is really interesting.

I'd have thought, personally, working in the office extra time as more of a problem. Than working your contracted hours only at home.

And that you see working extra hours at home as invading your home life, but working extra hours in the office isn't. 

I'm guessing in the office you get paid overtime and at home you don't?

Could you not just work your contracted hours in the office and get home. Leave your managers to sort out the extra work. 

ACG

I read something the other week that said generally speaking the older you are, the more likely you are to want to work from home, the younger you are the opposite can be said. 

There are pros and cons for both. On the face of it, working from home sounds good but I think you have to have a certain mindset otherwise you end up doing less work (I am one of those people). I have my own office, if I have the odd bit of work to do, I do it from home. If I have a lot of work to do, I go to the office as I know that as soon as the work is done I can come home. If I stay at home, it just gets put off. 

Barny1979

First day back in the office since March 18th 2020 tomorrow.

NBLondon

lisyloo said:

So what happens if you have to isolate for 10 days but are feeling fine?
I was lucky to have 2 laptops but I still took the charger home in case I needed to isolate.

I don't get the question?

The previous job I was referring to was 2009 to 2014 - so isolation wasn't a question.  If I wasn't fit to go to work, I wasn't fit to work from home. Plus, half of the work couldn't have been done remotely anyway.  There was no reason for me to have my work laptop at home - it would never have come out of the bag.

Now - I'm WFH full time.  If I'm isolating and not ill - I'm isolating in my home office and still working.  (Or here when on a break)

[Deleted User]

For me, the downsides of a 9-5 office job aren't so much about working in the office itself, it's about the fact you often have no choice but to live in a city (usually London). I've settled down in rural Scotland since the pandemic started and even for an extra £10,000 a year I don't think I would consider going back to city living if I can work from home here.

Thrugelmir

Deleted_User said:

For me, the downsides of a 9-5 office job aren't so much about working in the office itself, it's about the fact you often have no choice but to live in a city (usually London). I've settled down in rural Scotland since the pandemic started and even for an extra £10,000 a year I don't think I would consider going back to city living if I can work from home here.

More than likely your employer would happily pay you a lot less for performing the same role. 

LillythePink

74jax said:

LillythePink said:

During the first and normally,  I worked a lot of extra hours......early starts and work in the evenings - but that's fine as I was going back to the office, however, during the WFH period I just couldn't face doing any extra work outside of my contracted normal working hours - it felt like it was invading my home life.  My work definitely suffered and I know it was just me but I just couldn't help how I was feeling.

This is really interesting.

I'd have thought, personally, working in the office extra time as more of a problem. Than working your contracted hours only at home.

And that you see working extra hours at home as invading your home life, but working extra hours in the office isn't. 

I'm guessing in the office you get paid overtime and at home you don't?

Could you not just work your contracted hours in the office and get home. Leave your managers to sort out the extra work. 

Bizarre isn't it.....

No, don't get paid overtime.  On paper the work life balance isn't there but it isn't all the time only during the year end reporting madness.....which coincided with our lockdowns and the majority of the time OH doesn't mind as he is up for work at 3am so doesn't then feel guilty if he wants to be in bed at 7/7.30.

I know lots of others didn't have a problem with WFH but I just couldn't settle or anything.  The commute to the office is about 10 mins so not far or time consuming.

It's just me being weird!