Work From Home ?

[Heathblue]

Apparently, the UK, post C19 is the worlds capital of the WFH revolution.

I did a few years ago, offer to my boss at the time to take a 5k pay cut if i could WFH
I work better, have better facilities, better equipment and generally dislike humans, and especially since the
C19 bollox prefer to keep myself to myself and family. Offering a 5 k reduction, 50 miles per day no fuel costs,
1.5 hours per day not stuck in a car. and do the 40 hours to suit my preferable times.

My current boss wouldn't entertain it and said as much during the interview.

During C19 I was never furloughed, but because of the advise at the time, in an office of between 6 & 7 we did have
a period at which only 3 were allowed in the office and thus I had a period of 1/2 weeks at home.

Regarding productivity, if you work, you will work anywhere, if you skive, you'll skive wherever you are situated.

Do any of you still WFH ?
by Choice or by policy?

[The Bloop]

Re: Work From Home ?

2 at home 3 in the office for most where I work. I do the opposite.
It was planned to go that way before covid. If anything, covid delayed it being implemented.

[Dorcus]

Re: Work From Home ?

Apparently, the UK, post C19 is the worlds capital of the WFH revolution.

I did a few years ago, offer to my boss at the time to take a 5k pay cut if i could WFH
I work better, have better facilities, better equipment and generally dislike humans, and especially since the
C19 bollox prefer to keep myself to myself and family. Offering a 5 k reduction, 50 miles per day no fuel costs,
1.5 hours per day not stuck in a car. and do the 40 hours to suit my preferable times.

My current boss wouldn't entertain it and said as much during the interview.

During C19 I was never furloughed, but because of the advise at the time, in an office of between 6 & 7 we did have
a period at which only 3 were allowed in the office and thus I had a period of 1/2 weeks at home.

Regarding productivity, if you work, you will work anywhere, if you skive, you'll skive wherever you are situated.

Do any of you still WFH ?
by Choice or by policy?

100% agree with you on this one I WFH and have done so for many years now. It's brilliant and it's civilized. I wouldn't have it any other way. There's not a lot the UK has done to be proud of itself in my opinion but if your reports are true I'm thrilled we're in the vanguard of all this.

[jon1959]

Re: Work From Home ?

Apparently, the UK, post C19 is the worlds capital of the WFH revolution.

I did a few years ago, offer to my boss at the time to take a 5k pay cut if i could WFH
I work better, have better facilities, better equipment and generally dislike humans, and especially since the
C19 bollox prefer to keep myself to myself and family. Offering a 5 k reduction, 50 miles per day no fuel costs,
1.5 hours per day not stuck in a car. and do the 40 hours to suit my preferable times.

My current boss wouldn't entertain it and said as much during the interview.

During C19 I was never furloughed, but because of the advise at the time, in an office of between 6 & 7 we did have
a period at which only 3 were allowed in the office and thus I had a period of 1/2 weeks at home.

Regarding productivity, if you work, you will work anywhere, if you skive, you'll skive wherever you are situated.

Do any of you still WFH ?
by Choice or by policy?

I don't do paid work any more - early retired at 55 in 2014.

But before I retired I did a lot of WFH - usually on top of my 37 contracted hours p.w. And working from Community Centres, Council Chambers and regional/national events. I did a lot of hours each week - normally 50% or more over what I was paid for - but I needed to do it to stay on top of the job/role, and I enjoyed it (working for Sheffield Homes and Sheffield Council Housing Serrvice).

I really appreciated the flexibility of WFH, the convenience, and the ability to keep ahead of the pressures and demands. But it does depend on the nature of the work, the technology to support it, and a culture that means skiving and exploitation are both stopped.

It is also true that WFH (as with 24/7 email) means some jobs never end - and people are always 'on call' and on the job at all times and all days - evenings, nights, weekends and whilst on holiday.

Off grid and skiving is bad. Off grid and overworking is bad. Missing out on personal contacts with workmates and others is bad. Flexibility and avoiding commutes and using time more effectively is good. It all depends on the job and the personality.

[life on mars]

Re: Work From Home ?

No , as a business we have decided to reduce it, as its being abused .

[Rjk]

Re: Work From Home ?

I can pretty much work wherever I like, I tend to go into the office about 3 days a week

[Heathblue]

Re: Work From Home ?

I don't do paid work any more - early retired at 55 in 2014.

But before I retired I did a lot of WFH - usually on top of my 37 contracted hours p.w. And working from Community Centres, Council Chambers and regional/national events. I did a lot of hours each week - normally 50% or more over what I was paid for - but I needed to do it to stay on top of the job/role, and I enjoyed it (working for Sheffield Homes and Sheffield Council Housing Serrvice).

I really appreciated the flexibility of WFH, the convenience, and the ability to keep ahead of the pressures and demands. But it does depend on the nature of the work, the technology to support it, and a culture that means skiving and exploitation are both stopped.

It is also true that WFH (as with 24/7 email) means some jobs never end - and people are always 'on call' and on the job at all times and all days - evenings, nights, weekends and whilst on holiday.

Off grid and skiving is bad. Off grid and overworking is bad. Missing out on personal contacts with workmates and others is bad. Flexibility and avoiding commutes and using time more effectively is good. It all depends on the job and the personality.

Will you stop winding me up I will need to go, if an employer will have me until 67 which is another 4.7 years, Bloody typical Champagne socialists you and T.O.B.W but being serious just for a change, it isn't a race to the bottom, carry on enjoying your retirement

[Heathblue]

Re: Work From Home ?

2 at home 3 in the office for most where I work. I do the opposite.
It was planned to go that way before covid. If anything, covid delayed it being implemented.

This is my plan of attack, although having been told it isn't happening, I will soon be requesting a split week,
no longer a grafter but now a desk jockey, with technology I can do 99% of my stuff sat in the house, if they would
agree I would invest in a A3 printer/scanner which i would need.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Work From Home ?

A lot of the people who keep this country going simply can't work from home

Cleaners
Nurses
Doctors
Bus drivers

Estate agents and accountants must be enjoying these times

[jon1959]

Re: Work From Home ?

Will you stop winding me up I will need to go, if an employer will have me until 67 which is another 4.7 years, Bloody typical Champagne socialists you and T.O.B.W but being serious just for a change, it isn't a race to the bottom, carry on enjoying your retirement

I will have you know I am a retired Pale Ale socialist.

[JamesWales]

Re: Work From Home ?

In the sense it can be viewed as an extension of things like Flexitime, then it's fine. If you can work from home the odd day, to help with childcare, when the plumbers visiting or for any other reason then fine.

But mass working from home creates huge issues and looking at things socially it is something that massively entrenches inequalities. Offices are democratic spaces where we all have access to the same amenities. You send everyone home and you send the rich to big houses with gardens and the poor to tiny flats or shared houses.

Then you add in the lack of social mixing, the loss of public transport and that's before you think about loneliness or the business reality of staff lacking engagement etc. I think it's been very bad in terms of getting most things done, but it can work for some in some circumstances.

Zoom bringing staff backs to offices says it all

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66432173

[JamesWales]

Re: Work From Home ?

A lot of the people who keep this country going simply can't work from home

Cleaners
Nurses
Doctors
Bus drivers

Estate agents and accountants must be enjoying these times

Agreed.

[life on mars]

Re: Work From Home ?

Agreed.

And government workers , masses of purposed built wasted office space that still have to be serviced everyday exist in Cardiff .. that could be deemed as a discreet wage rise, average on travel , eating out expenses.

[jon1959]

Re: Work From Home ?

In the sense it can be viewed as an extension of things like Flexitime, then it's fine. If you can work from home the odd day, to help with childcare, when the plumbers visiting or for any other reason then fine.

But mass working from home creates huge issues and looking at things socially it is something that massively entrenches inequalities. Offices are democratic spaces where we all have access to the same amenities. You send everyone home and you send the rich to big houses with gardens and the poor to tiny flats or shared houses.

Then you add in the lack of social mixing, the loss of public transport and that's before you think about loneliness or the business reality of staff lacking engagement etc. I think it's been very bad in terms of getting most things done, but it can work for some in some circumstances.

Zoom bringing staff backs to offices says it all
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66432173

Agree

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Re: Work From Home ?

Work from home or 'work at home' ? Worked 'from' home for last 25 years of working life, but never at home apart from a bit of paperwork,admin etc.

My/our home is just that. I certainly would count looking at a someone's moon-shaped head and shoulders on a laptop screen as 'meeting' them. Cutting out long commutes is fair enough, but young people have increasingly poor social skills. Talking to screens most of your life isn't going to help.