To be so glad WFH became a thing (and to absolutely hate anyone who tries to curtail its availability)

My grad child is in her first job. Wants to go in every day. She hates it when nobody is in, and likes the days the partners actually come into work. So she can ask small questions without having to call them on teams etc. Seniors wfh does not make her learning easy. I much prefer supervising my trainees in person, and they benefit too.

I started WFH in July 2019. I’m a sole employee of a small charity and it wasn’t cost effective for us to pay minimum £350 per month plus other costs for a desk in a shared space. So I save my charity so much money WFH which we can translate into impact.

My DH has a job that until 2020 always claimed “it’s impossible to WFH” but when they had to…they found a way to make it happen! Now it’s almost impossible to get anyone in his team back to the office. There’s a rule to come into the twice per week and I think my DH is the only one that follows that. He only really does it to use the corporate gym! Sometimes I go and “WFH” at his office (no one else is around) to use the gym too. 🤭

We had to buy an office pod for the garden for DH to WFH no space inside our small house and his is a loud job, requiring special screens and speaker for mixing sound etc. We also had to upgrade our internet connection for better upload speed. It cost us a lot of money and there was no help for that but having him WFH does us (as a family) so much benefit. Over the years I think the money we’ve paid out to make WFH happen has gradually been made worthwhile through time and cost savings in other areas.

Plus we often use our lunch breaks in creative ways. 😜

His industry will never return to full time WFH now it’s been proven it works.

For the first time in my life, I can work full time, do a good job (have had several promotions since starting WFH), and not exacerbate my physical disability, therefore this is the first job where I haven't had excessive sickness. 7 years ago I was getting to the point where I was going to have to consider if I COULD work and my endocrinologist was erring on the side of that I couldn't. I was only managing 3 days a week as it was. Anyone who wants to "get people back to the office" should consider that for a substantial minority that will mean "getting people out of work," and calculate that into their budget forecasts.

The heating bill is definitely a downside 😅

It can also be difficult if there are two or more adults wfh as pp said. There are two adults here and I did have to say it wasn't working when we were both wfh on the same days. It absolutely was a bit suffocating. Now we both go into the office on different days except one day a week where we both wfh and that's fine as it's my shortest working day.

I can’t do my current job from home, but when I did short periods of hybrid working during the pandemic I hated it, mainly because I like to compartmentalise my work life from my home life. There were practical issues as well due to the set up in the flat I was in at the time. I also like meeting people, aside from money that’s my main incentive.

im not knocking those it works for, but it’s not for me. I’m kind of semi retired at the moment and the days I go to work are days I get out, and dress reasonably smartly and with some make up on instead of slobbing out in jogging bottoms and an old sweatshirt!

Agree totally two recently rang me ( one that they had been recommended by someone who I worked for previously) one company was mandatory 5 days on site with no flex at all. huge global manufacturering drinks company. I didn't even say about my condition just said no point blank as full days on site. the second was 3 days on site no flexi start or finish either. I explained my condition but they said couldn't do anything about it so I was like no way. both roles have been open nearly 6 months now and would have been closer to home for me - one hour commute each way - but the fact no flexi or full office days was a big fact no to me. no matter what the salary is for me flexi and wfh is top priority

I agree. It would be no fun for a new graduate working from a laptop off their bed all day. Isolating and hard to learn. The ease of remote working has made it easier to outsource jobs to countries like India too. We have a small house and wfh is very difficult during any school holidays. Dh is mostly full time wfh and I’m office based

I hate WFH.
I left a job that I love because it changed to WFH.
I know that I am so much more productive when not WFH.

Physically I’d be healthier (more sleep, exercise, cooking from scratch etc) but my MH (which ultimately impacts my physical health) would be very poor.

But I think if you like WFH and you can be productive then it just makes so much sense!

I always think of my commute and how much nicer it is when there are less people on the roads/on public transport.

The same with parking - so much easier when there are less people.

I prefer to go shopping or the gym on my way home from work - but these are the busiest times.
If more people WFH then I assume they’d do this on their lunch break etc.

If people’s concerns are lack of productivity then why not just track their work like you would do in the office - if they’re not doing what they’re supposed to do then they have to go back into the office or get the sack.

The last time I WFH my manager could not cope that she wasn’t in full control all of the time.
She was a bit of a control freak but I can imagine that it must be difficult as a manager if your employees WFH.

I have worked with a few people who take the piss in the office and need that constant micromanaging to get anything done, if they WFH they would be absolutely awful!

I agree op. wfh has been life changing for me completely. I live rurally ( husband is a farmer ) so can never live in a town or city - unless we divorce 🤣- I have always commuted to work, shortest commute was 30 mins but usually one hour - now 2 hours. also my job required me ti work late often and if took time off would stay late to ensure my work was covered. I often left the office at midnight and drove home. when wfh started it was a huge eye-opener for me I had time back. that is priceless. I had more money as no full costs. cleaner came every week to do ironing and cleaning. my inlwas looked after my dogs. weekends were a rush getting things done before wfh. I also lost weigh during lockdown cause not eating crap had more energy and wasn't in pain ( realised now as diagnosed with a chronic pain condition, it wasn't normal to be in pain and driving exparates it) I got loads of work done too and wasn't constant catching my tail. I am now 7 years at my workplace I go into the office one day a week ( they want three but with my condition I do 1) I hate it. it's great to see everyone but with traffic it's at least 2 hours to get there regardless of what time I leave at. i don't sleep well night before. its noisy. the Want face to face meetings but honestly half of them are pointless. so I am there on person but not in mind. small talk at lunchtime is hard work. I count down the hours till I have to go home which is more traffic. l try to be organised so not rush when home but still have to get animals fed put on dinner etc as soon as home. where other days would tip away in back ground doing bits. i don't have a productivity issue. this has been proven in work all ready as hit all targets all projects completed etc and achieved full bonus. I relish the days I can get up quick walk with dogs and log on in my office downstairs in my comfortable warm clothes. my desk is how I left it no one messed with my chair. everything works. can go for a walk at lunchtime. get dinner ready in time..hang washing out etc. if I have my hours done I can sometimes finish at 4 and then I enjoy my one hour of peace - as at 5 we have to feed animals etc and then my husband comes into the house. also really helps with my pain and rest as can do it easily with no driving. I will never ever work in an office 5 days a week. no matter how the economy turns out I think that every coampmg shoudl offer some sort of hybrid policy and flexibility. with out that I wouldn't be able to work at all.

I can’t think of anything worse than being stuck at home all day, it would be beyond depressing.

Same.

Personally, I wouldn’t have gone back to work at all post children (at least until school age) if flexible WFH wasn’t an option. It would be tight, but we can manage fine on my husbands wage. We’d just cut any and all unnecessarily expenditure and save every penny we could.

Because I was able to access a wfh job with enough flexibility that I can work at the weekend and in the evenings when the children are asleep, I was very happy to return to work - I currently do 35 hours a week. Obviously, this is so much better for my own personal security as well as the whole family’s financial position. I also now have the money to spend on non essentials - eg local cafes and restaurants. I’m no economist, but this is surely better for the economy than us earning less and squirrelling away every last penny?

I hate both, I work hybrid. Hate office politics, hate the fact we are dog friendly and I get constant interruptions from colleagues dog yapping, hate eating sandwiches or fucking salad, hate my boss leaning over my shoulder to check on me, hate the shared toilets. I do like being able to have an active commute and ask colleagues for advice.
Reasons I don’t like working from home, loneliness, increased energy bills, no one answering their phones so feel like there is no supervision.

Both DH and I WFH full time, with a good bit of work travel and I love it. We have space in our house to accommodate it, so it works well.

I manage a team spread out globally which would be really difficult if I had a commute as the time zones don’t overlap so this allows me to do calls late in the day and get a workout done during the day (or similar). I’m working more hours, getting more done, more productive and have a better work life balance, win win for everyone.

I’m hybrid and it’s transformational.

I can’t even remember what it was like to go into the office 5 days a week. It feels utterly insane now.

I’m sure it makes a huge difference in keeping women with younger children in the workforce which has to be a positive.

I’ve been headhunted for two amazing jobs post covid and both times declined to even consider on the basis that they required 5 days in the office. There is nothing that would make me go back to that.

I’m a hybrid worker and feel I get the best of both worlds (I get stir crazy if I work 100% from home). I’ll use my lunch hour to go to the gym, put a wash on etc but I’m pretty flat out during the working day. I still use wraparound care for the kids.

I have to say, it’s my teacher friends and family who spit the most bile about WFH.

I love love love my WFH job. Up in the morning, gym, home, shower, see my kids off out the door, work all day, prep dinner on my lunch break, see my kids when they come in for 15 minutes, work some more, have dinner and chill all evening. No traffic, no miserable journey home, no rushing the gym or having to skip cos of diversions or road works etc, no converstaions i do not care about, no hideous over head strip lighting and constant back ground noises, I average 127% of my targets, i would never ever achieve that in an office environment. I love it.

I'm sorry to hear that. Unfortunately this happens when work/society evolves, though. Years ago there were multiple jobs available, eg checkout operators, counter bank staff, miners, ship builders, lots of others, that have phased out because things have changed. Also years ago someone like me may not have been able to bring money into the household because my at home care responsibilities are so high. I am in office 3 days out of 4 with some additional flexibility if needed. But without that I would struggle.

I'm sorry to hear that. On the flip side, being made to go into the office again would mean I would need to leave my job too. So I love it.

I really like it, although I moved from FT WFH to hybrid last year after 5 years of permanent home working. I just felt I needed to venture out a bit more. In winter especially I could find myself cooped up for days, which wasn’t healthy I don’t think. But I’d hate to go back to FT office work and I’m grateful to have a job that is suited to home working

WFH is the reason I am still doing my job. I am very skilled and good at my job.

My DC was one in 2020 when Covid hit. I was on the verge of quitting as couldn’t handle silly commute into London and being a mum.

Everyone in my household is happier. I’m a high performer so my company is benefiting too.

There's nothing wrong with doing your washing while you're working at home. You're not supposed to sit in front of a screen for 8 hours every day without a break from it. 5-10 minutes every hour away from the screen. What's the problem? Is staring at the screen for 8 hours at home how you're supposed to prove you're worthy of it?

It’s made my life easier - can drop off and pick up DS from school. It also helps my employer as I have previously logged on at 9:30 at night to sort an issue asap.

It can be isolating but the pros outweigh the cons for me and my family.

My job cannot be done at home but i completely agree that wfh is a positive thing in so many ways.
The type who 'skive' are going to do it wherever they are working so i think the majority who it's great for should be able to carry on .
I can't see how any one outside of the wfh companies has any right to dictate what building a company should work from, as long as the work gets done surely that's all that matters .

As well as what I posted earlier, it also works well for me because I'm juggling my job around demanding level of care for DH who is disabled and has multiple conditions that require a fair amount of hands on care. I have flexibility to increase the one WFH day to more client depending, and this is reassuring in my circumstances.