Does anyone else feel invisible WFH?

[Bluemooninmyeyes1]

Don’t get me wrong I’m grateful that I have a job and there’s certainly benefits of working from home but in many ways I feel that it’s easier to be ignored and overlooked by management. There’s been a few issues I’ve had recently regarding Christmas holidays and work related problems that I’ve brought up with various managers and I’m still waiting on responses; issues that I know would have been resolved instantly had I been working in the office. Just wondered if anyone else feels like this?

Yeah you are not alone. My relationship changed drastically with my line manager at first. She was even busier than usual and whereas before I'd have been able to just stop by her desk or grab her for a coffee I found it impossible to get any one on one time with her. I would say the relationship worsened although it had improved again recently.

Out if sight out of mind has definitely applied to an extent

Sometimes yes. Sometimes its hard to get hold of someone to bounce ideas off. I spoke to someone I dont usually bounce off becsuse we are in different teams and she sounded pleasantly surprised - what can I help you with?!

I worked from home during first lockdown until October. I hated it so much. Felt so isolated and invisible and issues that would have been non issues in the office arose in the team. Managers roles and responses and support very very different wfh.

I worked from home for three years pre covid. When covid hit and everyone was in the same boat I realised what misery I'd been living with. Because everyone is in the same boat is has been a bit of a relief/release. My bug bear is the amount of email.

@User258544 yes loads more emails it seems and also have to be active on Teams all the time.

The other thing that really bugs me is that while usually you would chat to a co worker in passing in the kitchen now we have daily calls where a conversation becomes a conversation with everyone. Questioned about being off sick, colleagues relatives losing their jobs, gossip & office politics all aired in front of everyone with no privacy on zoom calls.

It is a pain sometimes cos a quick query in the office takes so much longer WFH but generally I love being invisible. I slob round in my pj's, have a shower whenever I feel like (take it our my lunch break or work a bit later to make up for it). There's greater flexibility in that if I can't be bothered starting bang on time I'll start when I feel like it and finish later. I can slob on the couch in my lunch hour or get a couple of jobs done. I love it.

I do like the invisible thing - but I feel it works both ways? Instead of taking a day off as vacation, and having to tell people, I just don't mention it? But likewise, if I have a deadline, I'll work 50 hours rather than 40? But wouldn't claim overtime.

My boss is very much of the 'less said the better' mentality - which has its perks and drawbacks.