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WFH can be so B**** annoying - let's list the ways

59 replies

OhBling · 16/05/2023 15:46

I run my own business. I am the main breadwinner. I work from home. Mostly, it is a good thing and WFH works for me. But ARGH, sometimes it makes me so annoyed. Today, yet again, I had to go all the way downstairs from the loft to let DS in because of course, he forgot to take his keys. It's a small thing but drives me mad - I'll be in the middle of a call or concentrating on something and I have to get up. Especially irritating when the whole reason I'm upstairs is becuase I have stuff to do and don't want to be disturbed.

The assumption broadly by anyone and everyone that I can just do things never ceases to annoy me. It's like I have a little "kitchen table" job for pin money or something.

OP posts:
murasaki · 16/05/2023 17:22

The washing up left over night for me even when I've cooked and it's his turn.

All dealings with the landlady. Who seems to think, despite knowing that I'm the higher earner, that I.can drop everything when she wants me to.

murasaki · 16/05/2023 17:23

His online deliveries
Mine are fine of course Grin

Verv · 16/05/2023 17:38

Quite literally today my father rings and says that the vets have texted him a reminder that it's time to order and collect his dogs worm/flea tablets. He says he will order them and then I can go and collect them "at my convenience".

I work 9-6 Mon-Fri which is coincidentally exactly the same opening hours as the vets.

"At my convenience" means will I sneak out of work, get in my car, and do a 30 minute round trip to go and collect the tablets.

He doesn't drive anymore as is sight impaired.

My response to this was to tell him that XXX the receptionist who he knows well has offered to pop them through the letterbox whenever he orders them because she visits her parent who lives 2 doors down my dad weekly, and parks outside his house as her parents have their car parked outside theirs.

His response?
"Seems a bit cheeky to ask her..."

I get stuff like this weekly, can you just nip to the supermarket and get me some bacon?
Can you just nip, can you just nip?
When I say "No, I'm at work" he says "Well just tell them you're going to the supermarket to get something for your dad..."

I'm a 45 year old professional.

He's 77, good physical health, lives approximately 200 metres from the supermarket, and is perfectly capable of walking there and going in because although he cant drive anymore due to glaucoma, he can still see well enough to walk on a flat street, and in fact goes for a walk and a coffee with his pals every day.

Drives me up the F'ING WALL.

WeAreTheHeroes · 16/05/2023 17:40

Get a key safe and use it. You'll never have to let him in yourself again.

EmpressSoleil · 16/05/2023 17:43

People thinking that because I don't work in an office I can take time off whenever I want! If I don't work, I don't get paid. My hours are very flexible but that doesn't mean I can drop everything on a whim. Likewise I cannot entertain visitors at the drop of a hat. Sometimes I think the people I know see my work as some sort of hobby!

beeskipa · 16/05/2023 18:00

I've worked from home at least part of the time for about 6 years now and ever since I started my mum's developed an annoying habit of calling me at, say, 11am on a Wednesday, or 2pm on a Friday. I'M WORKING!!!!

If I ignore it, the next time I speak to her she'll be like "I rang you the other day?" and I patiently explain for the hundredth time that I was working and she goes, "...oh" in a politely bemused tone (as though I've not worked a 9-5 for the last decade and a half).

I genuinely, genuinely think she thinks working from home isn't actual work and that I just work part time. If I make the mistake of answering, she acts genuinely confused if I say I need to go because I've got stuff to do - it just doesn't compute. She's only in her 50s, it's not like she's my nana's age and doesn't understand the internet or the concept of Teams.

Oh, and being the defacto parcel collector for our entire street because apparently nobody else works from home!

ApocalypseNowt · 16/05/2023 18:01

My DH (who also wfh sometimes) tries to talk to me at lunchtime.

No.

My lunch hour is my happy hour of quiet alone time where my DC aren't asking me for anything and when I don't want to talk to anyone - friends, colleagues, him....

Please go away and let me watch Judge Judy in peace.

GoodVibesHere · 16/05/2023 18:05

ApocalypseNowt · 16/05/2023 18:01

My DH (who also wfh sometimes) tries to talk to me at lunchtime.

No.

My lunch hour is my happy hour of quiet alone time where my DC aren't asking me for anything and when I don't want to talk to anyone - friends, colleagues, him....

Please go away and let me watch Judge Judy in peace.

Oh god yes, this!! I NEED to switch off and eat my lunch in peace!

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 16/05/2023 18:05

Mothersload!

MyPurpleHeart · 16/05/2023 18:10

'You're home next Tuesday, I've arranged for so and so to come and do xyz in the garden'

Yes I'm home but I'm busy. Too busy to entertain a contractor you have organised and make them tea and let them in to use the loo all day.

thanksamillion · 16/05/2023 18:10

My Fil who is in all other ways lovely cannot understand that I can't just chat to him if he's staying and I'm working. I spend a lot of time taking calls and if the phone rings while he's in the middle of an anecdote I'm sorry but I've got to answer it. Because I'm being paid to work!

BlueThursday · 16/05/2023 18:10

Yup we are having problems nearly 2 years after moving in with the house builder.

I agree with them times to send contractors ie when DH is on shore leave yet randomers turn up whenever they feel because they’ve been told I WFH

literally happened today so had to say sorry I’m working come back when we’ve agreed

im then made to feel like the one being awkward or unreasonable

OhBling · 16/05/2023 22:25

Also emergency childcare. I am.home.so of course I can look after a sick child.....

Last time, when dd was properly sick and v c clingy as a result I lost it with dh. He honestly doesn't understand why I can't work and have a sweaty feverish child clinging to me at the same time .

OP posts:
LifeOfBriony · 16/05/2023 22:35

Wifi is slower for one.
Neighbour drops round to borrow something then wants to chat. Said neighbour once came round to ask DH to print something for her on our printer. They then both came and stood in the room where I was working, chatting to each other while waiting for the printing to be ready.

DH asks me if I am "off tomorrow" - no, DH, I am working from home - very hard as it happens, in my stressful job.

mrsfollowill · 16/05/2023 22:45

Oh don't get me started! MIL refers to my WFH days as my days off- I only work part time you see. No MIL I have been full time again for the last 5/6 yrs. Pre covid did 2 days at home and 3 in the office- now it's 1 day office and 4 WFH. So really I only actually work 1 day a week and I'm lucky her son goes out to work 5 days a week to 'keep us'. She is 90 to be fair and I do love her to bits - has always been good to me and adores our now adult DS but it grates! and she is surprised I don't answer the landline at 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon 😁

thisisasurvivor · 16/05/2023 22:48

When my friend sends her three kids up to me from 8 to 3 ffs

Then they fight like cats and dogs and can be heard over teams

LightDrizzle · 16/05/2023 22:55

thisisasurvivor · 16/05/2023 22:48

When my friend sends her three kids up to me from 8 to 3 ffs

Then they fight like cats and dogs and can be heard over teams

WTF? Why do you enable this? It’s outrageous.

Antisocialfluffmonster · 16/05/2023 22:56

I love working from home but my pet hate is people assuming they can pop in, or ask for a favour because I’m home anyway. Drives me insane.

Squiblet · 16/05/2023 23:00

What I don't like is how I clock off at 6pm on a WFH day, and by 6.01pm I'm in the kitchen starting dinner. There's no downtime, no nice cycle ride through residential streets to get back home. It's just straight from one kind of work to the next.

Puravida23 · 16/05/2023 23:40

My cat who insists on walking up and down my desk while I am trying to work before settling down for a nap on my mouse mat. Drives me nuts every day,. If I nip out to the kitchen for a coffee she will invariably have taken up residence on my chair when I get back. I have often had to share my chair with her as she refuses to move or keeps jumping back up . She is definitely the worse office colleague I have had.
I could chuck her out but she just scratches and meows at the door (and I feel too guilty)

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 17/05/2023 03:33

My mum!! Who galso thinks I don't have a detour m, professional job (I do) and equates WFH with "having a day off at home" and wanders in and puts the kettle on. I'm at the kitchen table.
"Mum, I'm working, I'm doing some training".
"Well can't you turn your sound and camera off a moment?"
"No mum, I'm the trainer".

SarahSmith2023 · 17/05/2023 03:46

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 17/05/2023 03:33

My mum!! Who galso thinks I don't have a detour m, professional job (I do) and equates WFH with "having a day off at home" and wanders in and puts the kettle on. I'm at the kitchen table.
"Mum, I'm working, I'm doing some training".
"Well can't you turn your sound and camera off a moment?"
"No mum, I'm the trainer".

😂😂😂😂😂priceless!!

we used to run our business from home, my mum took a LOT of 'training' to realise that although we could work as much/little as we wanted as it was our business, we still needed to do what our clients needed doing or we wouldn't still have a business. 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

'im working' was often met with 'but you're at home!' 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

other than that, I loved it.

RedRobin100 · 17/05/2023 05:01

The bloody dog barking every time she hears a fucking lead rustle outside and scaring the life out of me - or doing it when I’m on concalls

i would go into the office more but I feel guilty leaving the brat dog home alone, even though when I am home all day she mostly ignores me and sits elsewhere 🤦🏻‍♀️

I also miss having mates in the office. WFH is a bit lonely and I’m wondering if it’s realistic long term for me.

AuntieJoyce · 17/05/2023 05:47

Ex DH used to work from home out of the conservatory which you’got to through the kitchen. My DM used to look after DS whilst I was at work. She was pretty old school and like to start her teatime cooking early. Wednesdays would be shepherds pie.

Poor man would be having in person business meetings with clients in the office/conservatory whilst Nana would be cooking mince at nine in the morning in full view and stinking out the house.

Simianwalk · 17/05/2023 05:57

I genuinely love working from home. No commute, no office politics, I can get so much done.
However, my kids are in and out all day and are incapable of remembering keys. We have a keybox and one of the buggers all was takes it out and forgets to return it so I am up and down. And the neighbours, love 'em but I haven't time for a chat as I'M WORKING!