How much do you go into work over the summer?

[downbutnotout2018]

Just that really. How present do i need to be??

I wished I worked in one of those institutions where academics are hardly seen over the summer. Whilst I have a bit more flexibility in the summer than in other times, I still go in most days, because I have got the odd meeting, MA dissertation supervision etc.
Parents at the school gate all think I can take the six weeks summer holidays of like any teacher. I usually react with hollow laughter....

An unanswerable question, without knowing your field and your university.

People who do research in labs, for example, clearly have to be in to do their research.

Only when the DDs are at home over the summer holidays. I have colleagues who never go in over the summer. I’m in the Humanities.

This is completely bizarre to me, I'm sciences and it's normal 9-5 for us all summer. The idea that anyone doesn't come into work is mad. Do you all work from home? Why?

Why? Because my books are all at home, and I need them to write. And often I’m not at home anyway. I’ll be at a research library such as the BL or Bodleian, or using archives, either in the U.K. or overseas. One of my colleagues in involved with a research group based in an overseas museum, so she spends the vacations there. Another colleague is doing fieldwork in France. Another is off filming a tv series.

So, yes, it’s 9-5 (at least) for us all summer too, just not in an office or lab. I think it’s quite sad that many academics clearly have so little idea what their colleagues in other disciplines do. That’s not a dig at you, more at the way institutions are organised to keep us away from each other!

Ah. I didn't think of travelling or

I go in once a week or so, sometimes twice, for meetings. I'm in STEM but for various reasons my lab work has to wind down over the summer so we focus on writing and/or prep instead.

The rest of the time, I'm working 9-5 ish writing papers, replying to emails, doing admin crap that never ends, etc. but all from the comfort of my home office. Bliss.

Not at all.

I went into work on Monday for a meeting which was arranged months ago. The next time I'll be in work will be mid-September.

I'm on sabbatical during the winter term so aside from the couple of compulsory things going on in September, I won't be in work now until January 2019

Heaven.

About once a week, if needed for supervisions or other meetings. Otherwise, not at all. (Humanities)

Never. My annual staff performance review is primarily judged on research and I get almost no time for research during term so I spend my summer doing the stuff that'll get me through review and (maybe!) promoted.

I put an auto-reply on the week after term ends saying I have limited availability and don't take it off until the first week of the new academic year.

Social sciences

I'm in most days. I have a summer intern and a postdoc who I like to have at least weekly face-to-face contact with, MA students to supervise, research events, and one or two other meetings each week. I'd love to WFH more as I can write more easily there so try to get one or two days at home each week to preserve sanity. I live fairly near campus though so it's all too easy to say yes to going in. Colleagues come in fairy often too, though things go quieter in August. I can only dream of OldBirdz auto-reply - my work depends on too many people to make such a fantasy viable.

I'm in social sciences and my dep't is like a ghost town til early Sept. I go in once or twice a week to see PhD students and to have lunch with colleagues, but I don't have to go in from now onwards. I work from home in the mornings, and rarely take proper time off as in real holidays, prefer to work a little bit on lots of days rather than do nothing for 2/3 weeks.

This is precious writing time for me and it's lovely to have no interruptions.

Just 1or maybe 2 days a week. Rest of the time I work from home so currently prepping lecture material for next year, updating modules handbooks, etc.

Please answer your emails, though. I have colleagues asking for meetings: why? They don't read the draft papers I send around. What collaboration is there to talk about when you haven't read what I did? Argh. August is always tough for me cuz I don't go away but everyone else disappears even if they don't put in an auto reply message in their email to tell me so.

--I was only one in office out of 9 desks yesterday. Pffft.

The ONLY good thing is I got a parking space at 9:30 am the other day. Even though one of our carparks is out of action (for who knows why, 6 weeks!). Couldn't do that in term time!