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Original poster

Working from home made me cry today

52 replies

Ghostlyglow · 02/09/2020 21:22

Through sheer frustration. The vpn connection kept dropping and I couldn't figure it out. No one was answering phones that we're supposed to ring for help and when they eventually did they weren't any help! I lost 3 hours of the working day. I know I shouldn't care because technical stuff isn't my fault but I just wondered - how do you cope with days like that when you're wfh on your own? It's different when you're in an office and you can talk to people. I didn't handle it well at all. If anyone has any tips on keeping calm on days like that I'd really appreciate them Smile

OP posts:
TooMinty · 02/09/2020 21:26

Can you text any of your colleagues? My team have a WhatsApp group that's for stuff like chat and complaining lightheartedly when stuff like this happens.

PersonaNonGarter · 02/09/2020 21:27

Do we work for the same firm? Flowers Brew

It is such a nightmare. Made worse by the fact that ‘IT issues’ are so lame.

Every morning I find I am steeling myself for the 15minute hassle of logging on, only to worry what new IT issue is going to embarrass me today.

No tips. Can you go back to the office?

ScrapThatThen · 02/09/2020 21:31

Can you send or at least draft emails or documents while offline? That's what I do.

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thedevilinablackdress · 02/09/2020 21:33

It's so frustrating, but there's not a lot you can do. Deep breath, have a break. Come back in 30mins and see if it's fixed. Not your fault if stuff doesn't get done.

Estrellente · 02/09/2020 21:38

Well I think I work there too cos our network was awful today!
Tips? Save stuff offline if you can, spend some time with an actual notepad and pen, WhatsApp a colleague to moan about IT, put the kettle on and shove a load of washing on then repeat from the start till someone fixes it Grin

RhapsodyandAshe · 02/09/2020 21:45

I ended up blubbing a bit today. Not tech related though. Had a person on the phone who is meant to be celebrating a huge birthday soon. With all her family and a huge gathering. But because of Covid it won't be happening. Just really choked me up for some reason.
So what I did was fly a message over to my manager using the wonderful tech stuff we have and we both agreed it totally sucked balls.
Which helped so would definitely recommend reaching out to other members of your team.

TheSunIsStillShining · 02/09/2020 22:11

It is as frustrating at home as in the office. No difference. Shrug and say fuck a lot. at least at home you can do it out loud :)

Original poster
Ghostlyglow · 02/09/2020 22:27

No idea why it got to me today. I feel a bit silly, it's not like me.

OP posts:
WiseUpJanetWeiss · 02/09/2020 22:29

We have a Whatsapp group. At least 50% of the posts are about IT woes, and most of the rest are memes and people’s pets. Highly recommended. See also: creative swearing.

Original poster
Ghostlyglow · 02/09/2020 22:43

I don't have any friends to talk to.

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Kaiserin · 02/09/2020 23:10

The vpn connection kept dropping and I couldn't figure it out.

Oh god, I read this and almost cried!

Not sure I would have any good advice on dealing with IT issues, they can be so stressful.

I guess the best approach is:

  • have some additional communication lines open just in case (e.g. email on your mobile, not just your laptop. And a few people's phone number: line manager, IT, HR, favourite colleagues)
  • have some "back up work" you can do without the VPN, ideally with just pen and paper (e.g. drafting a document, etc.) or at least offline, with the data already on your laptop.
Original poster
Ghostlyglow · 03/09/2020 07:15

I think I'm more bothered because they keep putting comms out saying how well they're looking after us all and when you need help no one can be arsed!Angry

OP posts:
Estrellente · 03/09/2020 07:19

Ha, we get those emails too. “Here’s all the amazing stuff we did this week” when you haven’t been able to open a document for two hours.
Hope today is better for you.

KatherineJaneway · 03/09/2020 07:22

I often find it isn't the actual incident that I am upset over, rather a build up of other things and then something is the last straw Flowers

thedevilinablackdress · 03/09/2020 07:26

WFH sometimes makes me cry even when everything is running smoothly. I didn't choose this and it's lonely. I work for a reasonably decent employer but there's no end to WFH in sight for us.

THisbackwithavengeance · 03/09/2020 07:28

I think you all work for my organisation.

We have a IT helpdesk. Which you used to be able to ring free of charge. They then made it into a premium line chargeable number. Hell will freeze over before I spend my own money on a 30 minute phone call to sort out work IT.

The other option is to open up an online chat. Which of course is impossible if your IT is down.Wine.

So I text my boss to say IT is down and walk away. Invariably it comes back on later...

MarshaBradyo · 03/09/2020 07:29

Nightmare op. I think wfh long term isn’t fir everyone. And it’s hard if not.

Is there talk of returning to work?

EasilyDeleted · 03/09/2020 07:31

My VPN wouldn't work yesterday either, after an hour of faffing about I packed my bags and went into the office (yesterday was planned to be my last WFH day anyway). I will be very glad to see the back of it all. Sympathy to those stuck with it longer term.

FranklyDearIDontRiverdance · 03/09/2020 07:32

Oh I hated this. We had a continual VPN a installed way before lockdown and it was a game changer. I remember the annoyance of it dropping out, usually mid-save Hmm

I had some IT issues yesterday regarding something different and nobody knows why it’s happening (on a brand new laptop with all new software installed). I was about ready to throw the damn thing out of the window. We use Teams to speak to our IT channel, and it’s on my phone too. Is this an option for you, in case of issues in the future?

Aside from that, I love WFH.

THisbackwithavengeance · 03/09/2020 07:37

@Estrellente - we get these weird round Robin emails from senior management telling us a little bit about the organisation achievements that week but then inexplicably a whole spiel about what their kids have been up to and what they did in their holidays. One woman prattling on about face masks she had sewn herself out of a certain material including photo of said facemask. FFS.

I have to sit on my hands to stop myself replying "I don't give a fuck about your day out in the Lake District or your kid's university place, sort out your fucking IT".

theemmadilemma · 03/09/2020 07:52

My team all have my personal mobile (and each others - their choice) to let me know if they have an internet down/vpn down kind of issue.

If it helps, as a Manager I tend to just shrug and say let me know when it's fixed/you know more. There's nothing you can do, and let's face it, you clearly aren't frontline NSH staff wfh, so I would guess no one is going to die because you lost 3 hours work?

But yeah, your IT sound shit, which I would feedback to my Manager.

EasilyDeleted · 03/09/2020 07:59

We all have personal mobile numbers too, plus most of my work isn't time critical and my boss is totally chilled, but it piles up if I don't get it done, I knew exactly what I needed to get done yesterday to not knock on to the rest of the week / next week and then couldn't get it done.

Original poster
Ghostlyglow · 03/09/2020 08:04

Thanks for the replies
Yours made me smile @theemmadilemma because I am NHS and our job is in the 'frontline' category! They're always banging on about how important we are!

OP posts:
TheGreatWave · 03/09/2020 08:10

How my laptop hasn't been thrown through the window beats me. It has been incredibly frustrating at times.

Original poster
Ghostlyglow · 03/09/2020 08:13

Our managers have said that they will not give out their personal mobile numbers.

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