To think remote workers exaggerate how much they actually work?

I deliver every task on time, I do not rush through things, I will volunteer for tasks. But do I work the full 37.5 hours a week? No. Do my employers care or even notice? Also no.

Why does it matter?

Does no one notice that you’re only doing 60% of the work? I couldn’t basically half my output without it getting picked up on pretty quickly!

Or are you still getting everything done? In which case, does it really matter?

Oh sure. My view on that is that how hard people work is more about the person and job than the place. Conscientious people are conscientious everywhere and likewise lazy people.

One issue I have with the team I currently manage is that people are now starting work at the time they would have started their commute (so if start time is 9.30 and their usual commute is an hour, they just start work at 8.30 instead)- so the opposite of what op is worrying about. The person and the role make much more difference than the location.

Completely agree. Everyone I know has huge amounts of flexibility when WFH. My DH plays golf, goes for runs, does all school runs. I WFH too but need to stay near my laptop for anything that comes in. So I stay in the house but I would say 40 percent of my day is doing domestic chores, watching telly, scrolling on my phone.

Next Weds I’m meeting three girlfriends for lunch - all of us are technically WFH, but have blocked out our diaries from 12-2pm. All of us will then be doing school runs around 3-4ish.

I don’t know anyone that genuinely believes they work harder whilst WFH.

I only WFH one day a week and really I am a lot more productive. Peace and quiet with a lot fewer interruptions and less chatting to others.
Howevwr I do know what you mean in some regards, I think for some people they may be less productive but cover that up due to the conscience. WFH is not for everyone.

I do the same job whether im at home or in the office. I can't say I dont coast a bit in the office too to be honest when its quiet. Nobody is watching me because they know that overall I put my heart into my job and sometimes I will go over and above whats expected. Surely many people have a certain amount of tasks that they have to complete each day, and it doesn't really make a difference if it takes them three cups of tea to get going? I work in sales, and I could be utterly inspired or only capable of doing basic daily tasks regardless of where im sitting.

I WFH and piss about a LOT. I'm usually watching a YouTube video or in some way double screening and I get all the housework done etc. Social media scrolling, plenty of it. I get away with doing very little work. When I'm in the office I'm overseen so I actually have to work. I don't understand people who say the office is distracting but home isn't. Home is where all your entertainment is?

I do the same job whether im at home or in the office. I can't say I dont coast a bit in the office too to be honest when its quiet. Nobody is watching me because they know that overall I put my heart into my job and sometimes I will go over and above whats expected. Surely many people have a certain amount of tasks that they have to complete each day, and it doesn't really make a difference if it takes them three cups of tea to get going? I work in sales, and I could be utterly inspired or only capable of doing basic daily tasks regardless of where im sitting.

I do the same job whether im at home or in the office. I can't say I dont coast a bit in the office too to be honest when its quiet. Nobody is watching me because they know that overall I put my heart into my job and sometimes I will go over and above whats expected. Surely many people have a certain amount of tasks that they have to complete each day, and it doesn't really make a difference if it takes them three cups of tea to get going? I work in sales, and I could be utterly inspired or only capable of doing basic daily tasks regardless of where im sitting.

I am more productive in the office for sure. My role involves managing a large dept so I need to collaborate and oversee stuff across the organisation. Trying to track other teams down over teams is hard work much easier in person. A 30 second chat with the person sitting next to you resolves something that would take a few emails, several hours between and maybe a phone call. In person meetings work much better than hybrid ones too. It’s convenient sure, but I’m glad I do 40/60 split a week so I can use my home time to just do the things that don’t need collaboration. If I was wfh all the time it would be really painful like it was during covid.

I work 2-3 days a week from home. Sometimes I’m flat out with back to back meetings. Sometimes I’ve got my headphones on and can power through huge chunks of work and sometimes I take it easier and use the time to tie things up but I’m always at my desk ready to jump if someone needs me. Today was quieter, Monday was a headphone day where I barely looked up

tbh sometimes get a lull during the day , but mostly very busy and tend to start earlier & finish later as no commute

Not this again.

Broadly speaking I think it's the same as working in-house: most people are conscientious, a few take the piss, and it's obvious who the piss-takers are from their output.

I mean, how do you think remote workers would be holding on to their jobs if their productivity was shit? I know you've talked about it being less obvious in some people's jobs which is true, but results will still be expected, and if those results aren't forthcoming, it'll be obvious someone is swinging the lead. It's not rocket science. shrugs

Me too. Are you at a law firm as well?

All I know is I record at least ten hours when I wfh. That’s a minimum. When I’m in the office it’s more like 7 or 8.

I get more done at home, less distractions so it’s better quality work, it’s so much easier to focus. And as a bonus I’m happier because I’m kept company by my cat.

I wish I could wfh more!

My employers are also permitted to check what we’re doing with key stroke tech.

I wish I could wfh more often.

I'm self employed and work remotely. For the last 2 weeks, I've worked 7 days a week. My fault, I should've planned better. BUT there is no way I'm coasting. If I coasted, I wouldn't earn. I always work at least 45 hours a week (active work) and at some times of the year, I work between 65 & 80 hours a week.

I miss not being at a workplace with colleagues. But remote work is so convenient.

It depends on your job. I have a caseload to manage so the work has to be done. Sometimes we're quieter than others. I definitely get more done at home. When I go to the office everyone is chatting all.the time, which is fine, but for me it's a distraction. We also time record everything we do in a day so the boss can see what you've done. So, I disagree, OP.

I always find that people do a lot more faffing around/looking busy/chatting in the office. In my experience people 'crack on' at home as less distraction.

As long as work is getting done to a higher standards, why do you care if employees do a little coasting in between the productive hours. People coast in offices too.

Yes, Daily Mail, I do think you’re unreasonable to think that 🙄

I was allowed to go fully remote. Very much of its time with Covid in full swing. They haven’t let anyone since. I wish I could let myself coast but feel like I’m so terrified that people think I am that I really beast myself. 😂 any tips on how to care about work a little bit less send them my way!

I agree with both you and @ILoveWhales . I've trained up lots of juniors and I know that in person is better and they prefer it. That's not what this thread is about though.

I am disabled and working in the office made me physically quite unwell, so that I had no quality of life at all outside of work. I took a sizeable pay cut to be able to work mainly from home, but it means I have enough health left over to enjoy family life.

This thread isnt about the pros and cons of WFH, it's about whether or not people work hard when WFH.

My gosh, that sounds intense!!

Many people may indeed be, but most people are not. Productivity drops on average about 18% with remote working rather than office based this is down to multiple factors including increased cooperation & teamwork for those working in an office together as opposed to remotely. That's what the research & studies on WFH say. Check out the economist article link & excert I posted earlier in this thread for more research outputs on this area.

Genuinely, no!

You remind me of my mum who, when I worked from home at her house for a few days just before Christmas, couldn't understand why I couldn't shut my computer for a chat when she came home at 4pm and I was in frantic discussion with my colleagues trying to get the last few projects tied up before we closed for the Christmas break, chasing things up, reviewing things, making sure everything was done, arranging who was doing what... I'm sure some people have easy jobs (and you don't have to wfh for that! I have friends who sit in an office all day moving spreadsheets around on a screen so they look like they're doing something!) but a lot people who wfh really are working hard!

i work remotely and I literally work all day. It makes me like 70% more productive than in the office as there is no distractions.