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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get cross at people who think working from home means you can do other stuff during the day?

62 replies

bettycocker · 30/04/2013 08:55

Why do people think that I will be able to do odd jobs, house work, run errands and have visitors round during the day, just because I work from home? DP is not the main culprit here and DC are teenagers now, so they are relatively self sufficient. It's everyone else.

Say I am working 40 to 50 hours that week, why should I take a break for a few hours and work late into the night? Do people not realise that it is exactly the same as working in any other environment?

If someone works from home, they might actually want to finish at 5:00 - 6:00. And no, I don't want to talk to people on the phone about non-work related things. I don't want visitors during my working hours. I can't pop out for the day, make it up in the evening and work through into the night. I can't spend an afternoon or morning doing odd jobs and make the time up later. Why is that so hard for people to grasp?

Yes, in theory I can be flexible if I need to be, but I like to be flexible on MY terms.

AIBU to be pissed at people's attitude to my working life. I have tried to be polite and it doesn't work.

OP posts:
HoHoHoNoYouDont · 30/04/2013 11:00

I'm just Envy because I would love to work from home Grin

FredFredGeorge · 30/04/2013 11:03

Because most people working from home can? The reason I work from home is that flexibility - If you choose to use it for your own flexibility rather than the families doesn't mean it's impossible, it means that you've chosen it not to. You have to explain that...

Of course some WFH jobs don't have the same flexibility, but as you said yours does, it's your choice not to use it.

Tee2072 · 30/04/2013 11:05

Pigs you obviously didn't see my next post. And what kind of company has no offices? Are you sure you're not doing something illegal? Grin (I'M KIDDING!!)

In any case, if you're going to work from home and can't be flexible, then be more assertive saying that.

SoftKittyWarmKitty · 30/04/2013 11:08

So would I, HoHoHo.

What do you all do from home?

IShallWearMidnight · 30/04/2013 11:09

I work with a national business which has no offices (a virtual office for mail though) - everyone works from home. It's not that unusual IME

Tee2072 · 30/04/2013 11:11

I'm a freelance graphic artist/web designer. And I should actually be working but I feel crap so I took the day off.

Another advantage of working from home...

AliBingo · 30/04/2013 11:18

I do online customer service for a big online company.

My mum always starts off with "I bet you are very busy, working I suppose" in these calls!

Pigsmummy · 30/04/2013 11:18

Tee2072 my company is a PLC with around 10,000 people working from home in the UK with many more globally.

Tee2072 · 30/04/2013 11:21

Did you miss where I said I was kidding?

Perhaps you should get off Mumsnet and do some work then? And perhaps look into buying a sense of humour. I hear Amazon is having a sale.*

*Look! Another joke!!!! (Thought I'd point it out, since you can't seem to recognize such a thing.)

frumpet · 30/04/2013 11:26

DH works from home . Thats what he does , he works and absolutely nothing else . He may forage for food on occasions , check his ebay listings , use the toilet , but during the hours of 9 and 6 he is working .

It drives me rabid with rage most days , but what can you do ?

Pigsmummy · 30/04/2013 11:28

Did you miss where I said that I was maternity leave?

I was just pointing out that thousands of people work from home in the UK for very large companies. My SOH is present and working thanks.

BosomOnABesomBroom · 30/04/2013 11:29

Annoying enough if doing data imput or something - It's even harder if you need to keep 'in a zone' to work - i'm an illustrator and in the past have been led to tears by friends and family calling or knocking on the door when i've told them not to...gone back to find pic half done and paint dried out - i swear they think i just tinker all day and the images appear out of nowhere.

I've toughened up now and just don't answer. But it is hard if you keep hearing your phone beeping. And i don't touch the washing etc. in the day when DCs at school - that's my working time.

You really do have to get tough - why are folk so dim? Confused

Tee2072 · 30/04/2013 11:30

Yes, I did miss that, I apologize. I hope you're enjoying your new baby and/or it comes soon if it's not here yet.

And those that work from home, whether for companies or themselves, still need to be more aggressive about saying 'No, I can't.' Rather than feeling that they must.

KellyElly · 30/04/2013 11:31

Because you can do other stuff during the day. You choose not to. Some people who work from home will start earlier or finish later so they can go to the gym, run an errand etc. It all depends on the nature of your work and if you have to work within certain hours. No point in getting cross about it!

BosomOnABesomBroom · 30/04/2013 11:40

I can't do other stuff in the day Confused - i won't get paid if i don't proiduce the work. And io need those 7 hours to produce what i do (scanning / admin / posting etc. happens outside of those hours) - the assumption on this thread are just plain weird.

zzzzz · 30/04/2013 11:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NynaevesSister · 30/04/2013 11:50

I need every bit of my time to get my work done. Plus I can't just take breaks here and there. The work I do means I have to concentrate. I take a break now and again, same as I would in the office. But I can't do a bit of work, pop washing in the machine, do a bit more etc. Constant interruptions are a killer!

As OP said, I do this so I can be flexible, but on my terms. Yes with notice I can be the PTA person who pops into the school in the middle of the day to do something that can't be done at any other time. And yes I can take some time off to go for a lunch. But that's because I know my workload, and I know when I can do this and when I can't. And it isn't always possible.

squiddle · 30/04/2013 11:52

Yanbu. I work from home, and the only person I meet during the day is another freelance - because we are on the same wavelength, so can do a quick coffee and then get back to work. I screen calls and tell friends/family that I can't talk when I am working (even if I am on a break). Nobody ever really gets it though, so you just have to develop a slightly brusque unfriendly persona during the working day.

MoonlightandRoses · 30/04/2013 11:53

YANBU - although, in my case my main source of irritation is me! Think I ought to change my title to Procrastinator General some days.

I'd agree with other posters though - when you're working, you're working, irrespective of where you physically are. I tend to do loading washing/supper planning during my lunch-time, when I take one. Otherwise, it waits until the evening or week-end.

Dahlen · 30/04/2013 12:03

Well I don't want to offend someone but I choose to work from home precisely so I can do other stuff. I still make sure I do the hours but on a more flexible basis so that I can visit the dentist, nip to the shop that's only open mon-fri, 9-5, pick up the DC from school one day a week - all without using annual leave. I thought that was one of the main advantages. Confused

I don't do housework though, and people know not to call in for coffee unless by prior arrangement or emergency.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 30/04/2013 12:05

I do think it's perfectly reasonable to ask if you can have lunch. I have lunch with workmates when I'm working at the office so you can have lunch with a friend if you want to. Fair enough if you don't want to but a perfectly reasonable request for them to make. Fine to say you can only be away from desk for an hour but you're entitled to a break.

When I worked from home I did used to put the washing on. It only takes a few minutes to load it and transfer it to tumble dryer. I actually found it a good use of time as if you're working you are there to load and unload. If you work on a computer you're supposed to have a few minutes every hour away from your machine so popping out to put a load of washing on is ideal.

Obviously people popping round for extended visits or expecting you to be free to go out during your working hours are unreasonable but some of the stuff on this thread is OTT.

MidniteScribbler · 30/04/2013 12:08

YANBU. I'm on extended ML and doing my Masters, and twatty friend took that as an invitation to keep ringing me asking me to babysit. No, my DS is in day care so that I can study, I'm not going to send him to (and pay for) care just to look after your child because you're too cheap to pay. It took a lot of "no"s before she finally accepted it. It doesn't stop her dropping hints about me "being home doing nothing" all day and how desperate she is for babysitters (because she pissed off all her other friends by expecting them to babysit for free).

MrsDeVere · 30/04/2013 12:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BosomOnABesomBroom · 30/04/2013 12:19

I am cross and also frustrated at times. It's the same premise as people who are always late - they do not value your time or what you do. That is annoying.

Also can't shake the feeling that if i were a male artist (insert your own profession here) i'd be left alone more.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 30/04/2013 12:22

It is a cross thread. I think it's because people who work from home feel defensive that others see it as skiving when in fact you still have the same amount of work to do. BUT that doesn't mean you have to be a martyr who can't have a lunch break or put the washing machine on in the background.