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Original poster

Are you WFH now going forward and enjoy it?

23 replies

IsAnybodyListening · 25/03/2021 18:01

Like many, for the last year I have been WFH. On the whole the experience has been very positive. A couple of weeks ago I was told this is my new normal now, and perhaps between September and December and going forward from then I might be required to go into the office once a week maximum for meetings, but other than that I will be based at home.

I am absolutely thrilled. I know this kind of set up does not suit many for a multitude of reasons, but I am being as positive as I can about it and wondered if others are feeling the same and why?

For me, I haven't been sleep deprived in a year. The daily commute has been replaced with an extra 1.5hrs in bed in the morning. As a result I am now up with the larks at the weekend as I am no longer exhausted from the working week in an office.

Another unforeseen positive, I suffer crippling menstrual cycles every few months (ongoing issue) and for a couple of days feeling like that in the office was tortuous. Now when I am like that I generally work in my dressing gown all day, wrapped in a blanket with no need to paint a smile on for my colleagues.

I am more productive in general at home, and like the work/life balance. Anyone else offer any positives?

OP posts:

Crinkle77 · 25/03/2021 18:09

I love it too for similar reasons to you but I'm going back in FT in a couple of weeks and I'm gutted. My current secondment is coming to an end and going back to my substantive post which can't be done from home. Don't know how the hell I'm going cope 😭😢😠😡

DeltaAlphaDelta · 25/03/2021 18:13

I have been home based for 10 years, although I used to go out to do visits 3-4 days a week. I have been completely WFH since the start of lockdown, and its now my main criteria when job hunting. I won't go for any job now where full time office work will be required. I do appreciate that I am lucky that I have a room I can use as an office, and that for everyone it is not as easy. But more companies now seem to accept it as an option which is great news.

Original poster

IsAnybodyListening · 25/03/2021 18:15

Oh no Crinkle77 :(

I sympathise, the thought I might be pulled back in was filling me with dread recently. I think a lot of companies are changing the face of the working office week, I mean it's not the best time perhaps to change jobs, but could you keep an eye out on other WFH opportunities?

OP posts:

CormoranStrike · 25/03/2021 18:16

Yes, it works for me

PinkPurpleParade · 25/03/2021 18:19

I love WFH. DP hates it and he only does one day a week! We both work in social care but different fields.
I'm not sure what my job will look like in the future but I'm absolutely loving WFH.

My ideal would be WFH 3 days in the office/on visits 2 days. I do like socialising and getting out and about but WFH means no commute, less stress with nursery pick ups, can look after my pet, exercise on my lunch hour etc.

Crinkle77 · 25/03/2021 18:31

@IsAnybodyListening

Oh no Crinkle77 :(

Yes I do have something else in the pipeline but I think eventually we'll all be back in full-time.

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 25/03/2021 18:33

I am appreciating not making a daily journey to and from work, cooking my own lunch, going for a walk each day. It looks like I will only be going into the office once or twice a week once it re-opens in the summer.

I do have a large PC screen and am uninterrupted, which not everyone has I know.

Original poster

IsAnybodyListening · 25/03/2021 18:54

PinkPurpleParade Yes, my DP isn't the biggest fan of WFH. He doesn't 'feel' productive. To be fair that has been the one thing that has irked me a bit, he earns twice my salary and works half my hours it seems.

OP posts:

RunHobbitRun · 25/03/2021 18:57

WFH is my ideal...however WFH alongside my husband is torture. One of us needs to be in the office - or we need to win some money so that we can have two seperate work areas set up. My job is detailed and needs concentration, his requires constant talking - not compatible for sharing space.

Currently both our companies are leaning towards WFH being a strong possibility. If that happens I'll have to see about our girls sharing a bedroom so we can have an office...it's that or divorce!

SylHellais · 25/03/2021 19:00

I like WFH but I’d like the option to go into the office a couple of days a week. It’s been one extreme to another for me - in my previous role WFH was very much frowned upon and I left that job before the first lockdown. My current job started as WFH and looks set to continue that way at least until summer, but the company is much more flexible so I think there will be a balance.

Interestingly, I had a chat with my new manager the other day and he has an extremely long commute (1.5hrs each way). He said he was previously very much a bums on seats person but his view has completely changed.

mindutopia · 25/03/2021 19:00

I've been working from home at least part of the week for probably 12 years. I will work from home more in the future, if I can. Probably only going in to the office half as much (maybe every other week). But my office is 3 hours from my house. I leave at 6am and am home by 8pm. So while I actually do like going into the office and will definitely still continue to do it by choice (we also will never go to a completely home working model as it just isn't possible), it would be nice to save a bit of time and money by working from home a bit more. The balance is that when I do go into the office, I'll probably stay up for part of the week instead of travelling back and forth, so I'll treat it as working away more than commuting.

JeanClaudeVanDammit · 25/03/2021 19:01

I absolutely hate it but thankfully will eventually be going back at least 2 days a week. A mix will be fine but a year working from home without a single day in the office has been totally shit.

JemimaMuddledUp · 25/03/2021 19:03

There are some plus points (no commute, easier to make a proper lunch, nice to sit out in the garden at lunch) but mostly I really miss the office. I've WFH for a year now, although the office opened for a bit in the autumn I didn't go in as I'm on the shielding list. They may be reopening at the end of next month, and as I'll be fully vaccinated by then I'm looking forward to being able to go back. I may still work from home some days (it may be that we are in bubbles to begin with to reduce the number of people, which will mean working from home every other week), but it will be so nice to be back in the office.

36degrees · 25/03/2021 19:11

I've been WFH for 5 years now, with some days onsite for collaborative meetings, training or peer support - usually 1-2 days a week, which suited me fine. I get hormonal migraines and periods that feel like my insides are falling out if I stand up, so I can manage these around WFH as well as all the other stuff like school run, gym, sticking a load of washing on when I stop for lunch and that kind of thing. Just a shame I had 20ish years of a 3-hour commute before we got to homeworking being a viable option. I couldn't do it as effectively with DH or DC at home though and that's with a spare room that doubles as my office.

Timeforabiscuit · 25/03/2021 19:17

Just as "runhobbitrun" says, if I am asked why an excel formulae isn't working one more time I'm putting invoices in to dhs company.

Tech support, office cleaner and caterer in one handy part time bundle

optimistic40 · 25/03/2021 19:30

I like both but have been way less stressed wfh (not when the kids were here too though 😩). I used to rush home during lunch breaks to clean and do washing. Instead I can just get stuff done easily!

Also, I have started doing yoga every day, in the mornings, just 20 mins or so. I used to do it but really struggled to fit it in as a single working parent.

I miss the office and would be happy to go in, but not set hours! I love this flexibility and feel more productive, not less .

JuneFromBethesda · 25/03/2021 20:31

I've been working from home for almost 7 years (part-time job). It's been great for family life when my kids were small but not so good for me and I've been feeling increasingly frustrated and isolated over the last few years. I really, really miss people.

I have an interview coming up for a proper full-time office job in a big organisation with lots going on and I am giddy at the thought of getting out of the house again. I'm sure the novelty of the commute will wear off pretty quickly (if I get the job) but at the moment I'm absolute desperate to get it!

user1471538283 · 25/03/2021 21:00

I've worked from home most days for a few years, before that it was only one day a week. I would like to go back to going in one day a week because I miss my team but I'm far more productive at home.

LongIslandIcedT · 25/03/2021 21:18

It's my new normal now. I love WFH, it suits me well. It will be even better when we convert the garage into my office and I'm not working on the dining table. I miss going out and seeing people but that will change as we are allowed to venture out at the weekend.

Onedaysomedaynowadays · 25/03/2021 21:20

I've got a senior role and am responsible for a large team. It's becoming almost impossible to do my job effectively over time because everything I do is about relationships and collaboration

Onedaysomedaynowadays · 25/03/2021 21:22

And my working day has now basically become 8 hours of Zoom and then work all evening

Camomila · 25/03/2021 21:32

The latest update we have had is that we're all getting work laptops and the choice of permanently wfh/a mix/permanently in the office...feel very lucky!

I have DC and school/nursery runs etc so am planning on always wfh bar the occasional meeting, whereas lots in my team are mid 20s and looking forward to getting back to the office.

MyCatLovesFish · 25/03/2021 21:56

I love WFH. More sleep and more energy for work. I never feel lonely and I don't miss being the office at all. There is always Teams if I want to talk to someone :)

I am pretty senior and don't need supervision though. I do mentor junior staff and that works well remotely.

I have been told I can continue to WFH definitely. I would not work for a company who required me to go into the office now.

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