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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how often you’d go to the office if it wasn’t a requirement?

141 replies

Orangegreen · 12/04/2024 14:02

I work in quite a small team where people are rarely in the office all at once unless of a training day or larger meeting which is infrequent.

I’ve fallen into a pattern of working from home a bit more lately. Nobody has said anything about it. Nowhere is it mandated or discussed how much we actually should. For instance, some people go in for the morning and go home at lunchtime to work from home. Nobody bats an eyelid.

I haven’t been in a while so I am considering going in early next week. It will be ironic that if I go, everyone else will have probably chosen to stay at home though.

Commuting in is quite expensive and I don’t have a good reason to work from there other than to be visible. Would you go, or WFH until requested to do otherwise? As I say nobody has said anything and it is usually our choice but I don’t know if you stand out by not going in as often as others.

OP posts:
IDontHateRainbows · 12/04/2024 14:23

Once a week is my ideal, I could manage 2 at a push.

I most enjoy being 'field based' where I am travelling out and about meeting clients so get the social interaction without having to sit in the same chair staring at the same walls for 8 hours a day

sunshineandshowers40 · 12/04/2024 14:23

I only really go into the office for training and meetings. I can go weeks without going in and then be in a couple of times in one week.

TimesChangeAgain · 12/04/2024 14:23

I’m supposed to go in about once a month, but I could negotiate permanent home working if I wanted to. I go in once a week, I like getting out of the house and feeling more like an adult!

Pombearprincess · 12/04/2024 14:21

We have been encouraged to go in but at the same time they've closed some offices so there is a shortage of desks and you have to pre book. There is no enforcement, plus some staff have moved away or just prefer not to go in. I try to go once or twice a week because I find the isolation of working from home hard and want to see some colleagues. Plus you learn more about what's happening in the organisation when face to face.

Xmasbaby11 · 12/04/2024 14:20

I’d go in once a week if I could choose. I love my colleagues and the office atmosphere, plus I like the separation between work and home.

however I’d still wfh a lot as I’m lazy, and wfh is good for family life!

as it is I usually have to go in 2-3 days a week which is fine too.

Mimrr · 12/04/2024 14:20

I would choose to go in once a week. Was doing 2 days and now they’re making us do 3.
Not that bothered though. I quite like seeing people and the office is a doss compared to being at home. Somehow I feel I need to prove I am working when at home but in the office… meh. I am here so I am working. I just end up chatting and faffing more.

Chocolatelabradorsarethebest · 12/04/2024 14:17

I like working in an office and go in 3 times a week, even though we only have to go in once. I like the separation and also like it for the interaction with people and to feel close to the company. I'd never take a role that was 100% work from home.

MsFogi · 12/04/2024 14:16

I have to go in 50% but I hate it because 50% doesn't work over a five day week! Left to choose, I would go in 1-2 days a week.

britnay · 12/04/2024 14:15

I WFH full time and would not go back to a job where I had to commute.

Cotswoldbee · 12/04/2024 14:15

When I was WFH I would stay away from the office as much as possible and only go in when mandated to do so.
When they started to insist on 2-days (min) I knew it was time to make a decision on whether to stay or go (I went).
Lockdown proved my job could be done WFH 100% with going into the office only required for meetings, training etc.

Itsanothermanicmonday · 12/04/2024 14:14

I have to go in 50% of my part time days/hours but hate it.

If I had the choice I would never go in.

DramaAlpaca · 12/04/2024 14:10

I'm the opposite. I hate wfh so I go in every day.

paintingvenice · 12/04/2024 14:05

I need to go in once a month, if it wasn’t required I’d never go in

PermanentTemporary · 12/04/2024 14:05

In our household I go in about once a month, but our office is more like a storage cupboard of equipment than a working office. We go out to people's houses all day so it's a different thing.

Dp is required to be in 40% of his days, going up to 50% next month. He would I think happily wfh full time. Half the time when he goes in he is on Teams calls anyway.

Haydenn · 12/04/2024 14:05

Never

DappledThings · 12/04/2024 14:04

We are required to be in one day a week. If I didn't have DC and dog to consider I'd probably go in more lime 3 times. WFH has its advantages, big ones in cost and being able to manage childcare but I get bored and snack too much!