Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Do you work from home?… What do you do?!

61 replies

Gwdihooooo · 08/05/2023 18:32

I hope you don’t mind me asking.. I’m sure is been done to death too, but I can’t find much in the search.

I’m thinking of a career change, currently a teacher and is proving difficult to give up due to the holidays!

But I wondered if I worked from home I’d potentially have more flexibility - obvs depending on the job, and not be too bothered about the holidays!

So what do you do if you work from home? And how full on is it? Do you have flexibility during you working day to say take the dog for a walk?

OP posts:
Thelittlekingdom · 08/05/2023 18:33

I work in admin and I’m mostly at home. Occasionally go into the office. Thankfully I work term time only. I can walk the dog during the day which is helpful. I have kids with Sen so I need to work remotely and term time only.

Gwdihooooo · 08/05/2023 18:41

That sounds perfect!

OP posts:
Lalalalalaflower2 · 08/05/2023 18:44

Sorry, I can't help but in the same boat so following for inspiration!

Lcb123 · 08/05/2023 18:46

I work for a university (in fundraising) I do go in a couple of days a week but some of my team barely go in. I have a lot of flexibility in my day. Good benefits to

MrBit · 08/05/2023 18:46

Me too @Lalalalalaflower2 , sorry to piggyback @Gwdihooooo

NoWordForFluffy · 08/05/2023 18:46

So what do you do if you work from home?

Solicitor.

And how full on is it?

Very. Rarely a minute to spare.

Do you have flexibility during you working day to say take the dog for a walk?

I possibly would, but I don't, as I don't want to work late to make up the time (and I would have to, as my work - more than - fills my time).

WinchSparkle80 · 08/05/2023 18:51

So what do you do if you work from home?

Financial Controller but done different merger/IT finance roles all from home.

And how full on is it?

Bonkers busy - Had to work today boo

Do you have flexibility during you working day to say take the dog for a walk?

If I book it into my diary….

MinnieMountain · 08/05/2023 18:53

I’m a solicitor doing technical support at a licensed conveyancers. I have some flexibility. It’s not too full on.

Some licensed conveyancers take people on and train them up, with WFH being increasingly common, but you’d be starting on £20,000.

randomsabreuse · 08/05/2023 18:55

I work for a university in professional services. Go in 1 day a week or if I have in person meetings. Generally very flexible within reason of the meetings but I have to finish on time for pick up so can't often take time out.

It's very give and take though so if I'm busy I'll log on later to finish stuff and take more time when I'm quiet.

FredaFox · 08/05/2023 18:55

So what do you do if you work from home?

Executive Assistant

And how full on is it?

Very. Dont stop all day

Do you have flexibility during you working day to say take the dog for a walk?

In theory I'm entitled to an hours lunch in reality I grab food and carry on working just as I do in the office, I also work late most days but should I need time off for an appointment etc work are very flexible
I actually prefer working in the office so enjoy the days I go in though I do get more distracted, mentally I need that office time and probably get more breaks there with the chats at the kettle etc

GrettaGreen · 08/05/2023 18:55

So what do you do if you work from home?

Care Services Manager

And how full on is it?

Very. Rarely a minute to spare, lots of working late and 10 hour days plus on call 1 week per month where I need to be able to leave the house at a moments notice.

Do you have flexibility during you working day to say take the dog for a walk?
Yes but this is generally to facilitate 8.30am to 6.30pm/7pm days rather than a perk

Yuja · 08/05/2023 18:55

I left teaching and now work as an assessor of professional qualifications. I wfh most of the time and yes, I have some flexibility in my case for school runs, and if I need to go to a school event or a dentist appt it's usually fine as long as it doesn't clash with meetings and I run it by my boss. I will make up the time in the evening or whenever. It's highly highly preferable to teaching but is a lot more boring day to day

smurfmonkey · 08/05/2023 18:56

I work for an FE college in an admin/data role. I have to go into the office twice a week but can work from home for 3 days.

It varies in FE/HE as to whether your role can be done remotely, I'm not front facing so my job can be done anywhere. It is flexible and I could walk the dog (if I had one!) during the day and can pop the washing on etc. As long as I do my hours and get my work done I'm not monitored.

Woahtherehoney · 08/05/2023 18:58

I’m a marketing manager in financial services. My days vary but some days I work 12+ hours with just food and wee breaks. Other days are a bit less full on. I try and go for a walk in the morning and when I can put a wash on or run the hoover over but I don’t always get time.

My job was mostly office based but went remote during covid and has stayed mostly remote (I commute a few times a month)

littleegghead · 08/05/2023 18:59

Marketing account manager

How full on is it? Not particularly! It goes up and down but generally quite relaxed and have enough time to get everything done.

Flexibility - loads. I'm at home 3 days a week and as long as I'm at our regular team meetings I'm left to manage my own workload. Often go for a run at lunchtime, get housework done etc.

Christmascracker0 · 08/05/2023 19:00

So what do you do if you work from home?

Tax adviser

And how full on is it?

Very, same as being in the office.

Do you have flexibility during you working day to say take the dog for a walk?

Outside core hours, yes, provided I make up the time later.

Microminiart · 08/05/2023 19:00

Name change for this because I'm making myself completely identifiable here.
I make miniatures. 1:144th scale mostly. I also make scenes in walnut, pistachio and acorn shells and other mini scenes.
I also make jewellery.
I sell craft supplies too.

If you want to take a look at my past work it's here. The drop down menus take you to individual galleries.

www.heathersedgecrafts.co.uk

I work 7 days a week, 6-10 hours a day depending how many commissions I've got stacked up but am flexible about the hours I work.

Heathersedge. Handmade jewellery, crafts and gifts.

1:144th scale handmade houses and furniture, Handmade jewellery, embroideries and craft gifts and supplies.

http://www.heathersedgecrafts.co.uk

shysquirrel · 08/05/2023 19:03

So what do you do if you work from home?
Book editor

And how full on is it? Depends, sometimes very busy, sometimes very quiet.

Do you have flexibility during you working day to say take the dog for a walk? Yes. I'm self employed so book my authors in for when it suits me.

choccielover36 · 08/05/2023 19:08

I work in business travel. There are full on moments, but more often than not I have time to go for a walk, or run a quick errand etc.

TheChosenTwo · 08/05/2023 19:09

I’m an administrator. It’s full on at the moment as we are massively understaffed but my work is really diverse and not like I expected (it’s better!) - I thought it would be really boring 😂
I do 4 days at home and one in the office for anything paper based so I save anything like that for my office day. Printing/posting/working from paper documents, that kind of thing, it’s also nice for the social aspect.
I have a lot of flexibility within my day and make it a priority to go for a walk at lunchtime.
I got out of the classroom last year and haven’t looked back to be honest. I get 35 days of annual leave a year plus bank holidays plus it closes between Christmas and new year without me having to take any leave, started on a great salary for admin, generally really happy.

KayjayEff · 08/05/2023 19:09

So what do you do if you work from home?

Civil Servant

And how full on is it?

Very. I work a compressed week (4 days - 60% of my working week must be from the office) don't have time for breaks longer than 5 mins at a time in between meetings. Its non stop all the time.

Do you have flexibility during you working day to say take the dog for a walk?

No. It would be absolutely frowned upon unless it was in your own time - lunch or flexi - in theory you could flex out and work later to compensate but not really possible in my role, although I have done so for hospital appointments. I still need to pay a dog walker for the days I am wfh.

Eileen101 · 08/05/2023 19:14

Solicitor.

Generally it's very full on. I actively manage my workload to make sure that things are done well in advance of when they're needed so that if I need flexibility, I can have it.
We had a fully flexible policy so that as long as our work is done, that's all that matters. I wouldn't take the mickey with it.

cantwaittocruise · 08/05/2023 19:14

Accountancy

Hugasauras · 08/05/2023 19:15

So what do you do if you work from home?

I am an editor for a major publishing firm that does newspapers, magazines, etc.

And how full on is it?

Ebbs and flows over the course of the day depending on what's going on and what publication you're working for. Deadlines are at the end of each day so you need to get stuff done by then, but it's all a collaborative effort. Some days are flat out if there's a major event or disaster! Other days are fairly routine and it's just a decent pace.

Do you have flexibility during you working day to say take the dog for a walk?

Yes, I'm not micromanaged, but there are certain times I need to be at my desk for meetings and the workload is quite high (and some of what I do affects other people's workflows so I need to do stuff in good time). But I can easy pop out to pick kids up from nursery etc.

Pandamama87 · 08/05/2023 19:24

HR Advisor

fully work from home with occasional travel to attend meetings/ interviews/ office visits.

very flexible in terms of attending personal appointments/ running personal errands.

I get twice as much work done than I ever did working in an office due to lack of distractions, although handy as others have said to throw in a wash load over lunch etc.

I do miss the social aspect of working in an office though.

also with the nature of my role, find I get contacted out of hours a lot - but I don’t mind, if I’m busy, I just don’t answer and pick it up later (if I’m on leave/ day off)