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Original poster

Do people wfh (esp public sector) relax during day?

59 replies

Phy · 08/05/2023 17:37

by relaxing I mean do other stuff rather than working? Have recently started working public sector and wfh a lot. I am surprised how little gets done. When I knuckle down I can do a lot, but this seems unusual. I am not sure if it’s just assumed people will work less hard than say, private sector, maybe to offset lower wages?

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 08/05/2023 18:12

When I worked in an office, there was plenty of general chats about holidays, sharing pictures of their dogs, multiple brew runs and nipping to someone's desk to ask a quick question and ending up chatting about the kids or the last works night out.

So surely wfh means all that time is now used on work or, if needs be, chores.

Spectre8 · 08/05/2023 18:13

Maybe you need more work then? Given your new you probably haven't been given much whilst you get up to speed so if you feel you can do more then ask

Christmascracker0 · 08/05/2023 18:14

I am less productive and way more stressed at home.

I find it much more difficult to relax in the evenings too, feels like work is always looming over me.

dishyrishi · 08/05/2023 18:14

I get F all done on my in office days, and tonnes done when at home

GOW56 · 08/05/2023 18:14

I am public sector and get much much more done when I work from home. When I go into the office so much time is wasted in meetings, talking to other staff etc.

TaraRhu · 08/05/2023 18:20

I moved from private to public sector when I had kids. The pay is pretty crap and progression unlikely unless I change job. The office is horrible and we aren't even provided cups to drink from. It's ridiculous. You can have a meeting with external people and offer them a glass f tap water. BUT I am very experienced and in exchange for my skills and doing my job well I get a decent pension, short days and flexibility. It's sort of the hidden way you actually get decent people.

3BSHKATS · 08/05/2023 18:22

Ha i've gone back to the office for a rest ! I felt WFH I was constantly trying to prove i was working, all the bloody time ! Now I just do 8 hours like a normal person and take my holidays too

coxesorangepippin · 08/05/2023 18:24

No. I do not stop, fear of the overseer whipping my already bleeding back

🤔

UnshakenNeedsStirring · 08/05/2023 18:25

What are you doing while he is working? Do you not work? IF you are watching his every move then yo obv have nothing to do
Really awful to assume everyone in the Public sector is relaxing and getting paid to do FA

DiplosSet · 08/05/2023 18:25

There’s far more chat and wasted time in offices IME.

ColdBrewInSummer · 08/05/2023 18:26

as long as you get your work done, does it really matter? I’m all for working from home, working from a coffee shop, working from the garden or working from the office.

but yes working from home means I get more done in the home, but I’m more productive at work too. Win win!

RetiredEarly · 08/05/2023 18:27

Nothing to do with private vs civil service tbh.

A lot to do with the type of job, the person etc…

Eg doing the same amount if work at home can take less time than in the office because no disruption so people have time to relax.
Some people take the piss. Like they probably would have in the office lol. It’s the ones who have lengthy cigarette breaks etc….

Shitsville123 · 08/05/2023 18:27

I'm public sector and WFH. Personally they get more hours out of me and more work as I'm on my own and I don't stop and talk to anyone. It's a bit lonely tbh. I do agree others in my team clearly do fuck all and are rarely online for the hours they are paid. Boss ignores this as they hate conflict and the work gets done anyway.

TaraRhu · 08/05/2023 18:30

Our office is terrible, so I generally work from home. I work the hours.I'm supposed to. No less. No more. I get to cling onto a career while my kids are young and see them. I used to work 10-15h extra per week. Plus an hour commute. I couldn't do this now.

At home, I spend the time I would have spent chatting at work doing washings etc.

But I get my work done. I get results and I never fail. I'm efficient and use my time well. Yes, some people take the piss. But most don't.

I do look at my life and think how 'easy' it is. However, actually maybe it's my old way of life that was wrong. I had a job where profit was dependent on doing so much extra work and progress meant continually doing more than you were paid for...

Spoonmoon · 08/05/2023 18:35

Don’t feed the troll 🤣

beachwhirly · 08/05/2023 18:40

I'm public sector with a lot of WFH and I'm able to puta wash on or whatnot while am on a call with my wireless headphones but I work really hard all day and am more productive that when in the office with interruptions!

If you're not getting much down then you're the problem not the public sector!

Lakeside88 · 08/05/2023 18:42

I'm really focused at home and might stop for 5 mins to pop a wash on or unload the dishwasher whereas I'm quite sociable in the office, my husband is very relaxed working at home and no longer has an office so gets by doing the bare minimum.
We both do very different jobs but seem to progress in our careers at the same rate.
Make of that what you will!

chillyplopper · 08/05/2023 18:45

I am a consultant to the public sector. It's got nothing to do with wfh. I was always always shocked how little they got done and this is in the office. They have no real sanctions on them if they don't do enough work and the real shirkers did a magic cycle of paid sick leave then back again if they thought anything might get said.
It is what is unfortunately. I'm sure there are some people that work but the majority at the offices I went into did not do anywhere close to what I would have been expected to in the private sector and the salaries now have grown with inflation in comparison to the private sector which has shrunk so now the new hires have higher salaries with very low expectations as well. I imagine wfh does make the problem worse though because they're not even being seen although I honestly don't think it makes much of a difference.

If they're picking up emails in the evenings it's undoubtedly because they can't get away with never emailing back and haven't done enough in the day. I can honestly say the it was so so shocking seeing it first hand and I think it's getting worse. They also seemed to like hiring their mates and family members, who unsurprisingly went along with the 'less work to do' gig as well. Would be brilliant if you're a parent though and need flexible work.

Purplecatshopaholic · 08/05/2023 18:47

Parisj · 08/05/2023 17:41

Goady. Workers work, shirkers shirk, whether in the office or at home, public or private.

Exactly this!
if you are able to ‘relax’, and presumably do sod all, your role is not being managed properly, your objectives not stretching enough, etc. You don’t work in my area for sure - we have fewer and fewer staff year on year but no less work for my department, so every year gets tougher wherever you are working. Everyone I know is the same. Obvs there’s no commute when WFH, so if I do get a break, I can put some washing on, but that’s rare. If you WFH in my work you frequently have back-to-back meetings slotted in.

NecklessMumster · 08/05/2023 18:53

Public sector, wfh. Work full on, doing job of three due to vacancy freeze, i do have targets, budget cuts, have lunch at my desk, getting more migraines.

philautia · 08/05/2023 18:54

I am both and don't do any relaxing. I do household tasks during the day but limit it to 30 minutes all at once and I clock out for that. I suppose my walks from and to school could be classed as relaxing but I'm still clocked out. A full day in the office is more relaxing because I only have my work hat on.

I work full time and any relaxing I do is on an evening after I've clocked out for the last time and bedtime routine is done.

If you're asking because you suspect people aren't working hard, you'd be right, but it's usually the same people who didn't work hard in the office. I always imagine there's a camera on me!

onthefence23 · 08/05/2023 18:54

I work in the public sector and and hybrid. I agree with others I get way more done at home I love catching up with colleagues in the office and end up doing a lot of none work work, union stuff and organising things like staff on boarding etc

Kyse · 08/05/2023 18:55

We are micromanaged due to the nature of the job so I work exactly the same, expected to be at my desk unless it's an allocated break

DailyMaui · 08/05/2023 18:57

Hugasauras · 08/05/2023 17:42

The opposite for me. Going into the office is a jaunt! I get far less done there.

Gawd me too. I'm terribly easily distracted by friends. Also noisy - there are multiple TV's on, lots of chat and laughter and I find it hard not to take part in it all. At home I'm super focussed and tend not to get distracted much at all. I might pet the dog or have a walk but that's it.

MaydinEssex · 08/05/2023 19:03

I worked from home for many years (before it was popular. I worked set shifts, so there was no time to slack off. It was no different from working in a normal customer service job (taking phone calls, handling queries, and problem solving). The only difference is that I worked from my home office.

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