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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think flexible working would revolutionise the workplace

39 replies

TopHat33 · 02/03/2016 20:24

I appreciate this doesn't work for all jobs. But for those it might...

I have an unpredictable job that sometimes means working 15/16 hour days or through the night. I take time off in lieu if I work a weekend or bank holiday but recently I've been on a project that has given me the opportunity to work from home a day or two every fortnight. Wow. The difference it has made to my mental health and home life is incredible.

I'm no less productive at home - probably more so. Don't lose 90 minutes to commuting and am more productive when I am in the office as it is a change of pace. Why are we so tied to office based working now we have the Internet and so many people have phones/laptops?

Today, for example, I worked a 12 hour day, but I will work from home tomorrow giving me the opportunity to put laundry on and nip out to the post office during a 30 minute break.

OP posts:

PegsPigs · 02/03/2016 22:32

Local government but previously research.

Twinklestar2 · 02/03/2016 22:34

My current and last two places did this. It's the norm for me

Xmasbaby11 · 02/03/2016 22:36

I don't think it would improve all jobs. I only work 2 miles away and drop the kids off at nursery on the way. I'd hate to then return to my messy house and try to ignore all the jobs while I work! I'd rather do my work at work, and not have to do it in evenings or weekends

LastInTheQueue · 02/03/2016 22:47

Another IT worker here.
I work from home on Mondays. It's the one day of the week when I need to do the most of my detail oriented work for the week, so it really helps not having to commute and having just the cats for company.
My manager also works from home at least once a week and actively encouraged me to do the same. And one of my colleagues works three days at home, works from another office once a week, and comes in to our actual office on the other day. We're also very flexible with start and finish times (hour earlier / later) as needed, longer lunch breaks to go to the gym or a run, etc. The thing is we're all grown ups. We know what needs doing and we get on with it.
Funnily enough one of my colleagues was today told to work from home in the afternoon. Her manager knew that colleague's husband was away for the week, so colleague's dog was home alone and lonely.
My husband (also in IT) works from home at least once a week, usually a Friday, but has just been telling me his company want to stop people from home working and get them into the office. Which is fine, except it means hot desking, scrambling for parking spaces, etc...

Sparkyduchess · 02/03/2016 22:47

I've worked from home full time for the last 12 years, with occasional trips to the office in NL. The downside is that it's hard to switch off, and I definitely do longer days.

Upside massively outweighs that - I'm here when DS gets in, laundry gets put on when I make a coffee, similarly dishwasher, start dinner, etc. no commute means I start the day relaxed, it's perfect.

I'm unusual in that I'm so rarely seen in person but I proved early on that I wouldn't take the piss, and it's been totally life changing.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 02/03/2016 22:53

I love working from home - well, I'm a freelancer so I don't have any other option, DH loathes it. But he's a terrible procrastinator.

I think - as with everything - there has to be a balance. Sometimes you can't beat face to face.

StarOnTheTree · 02/03/2016 23:09

I work from home full time for a small company that provides a specific type of holiday. I do 30-40 hours per week and the hours are flexible. It really works for me and for my family.

I have fibromyalgia so I can fit the hours in when I'm able to, the children have me here so they can be at home even if I am working and I can fit in lots of other stuff, like washing and appointments.

I do get lonely sometimes but I couldn't do a normal 9-5 job with a commute anyway.

Iambubbles86 · 02/03/2016 23:13

Absolutely love home working. I only come into the office once a month. I work in a well known car insurance call centre.

silvermantela · 02/03/2016 23:21

100% agree for all the reasons mentioned above - working 9 to 5 often doesn't mean people spend more time in the home or office - they waste it in the car/train!

Also think it reduces workplace moaning - everyone isn't on top of each other all the time, and for it to work well you have to have trust in your colleagues/employees.

Also think it has the potential to reduce sick leave - sometimes (e.g with very heavy cold/period pains or something) I'm just about well enough to do some sort of work after that first hour of hacking coughing/sickness has settled down a bit - but it's the extra hours of getting presentable, commuting, plus having to be 'interactive' with people that tips me over the edge. If I could work at home I could have a quieter and shorter day, stop for sick breaks when needed and just get on with less interactive tasks - plus wouldn't feel guilty for spreading lurgy among colleagues!

HerRoyalNotness · 02/03/2016 23:24

We have flexi time and also compressed weeks so we have every 2nd Friday off and the working Friday is early finish. Half the city does . But the Friday we do work, traffic is significantly lighter as well.

Also is very nice as DH and I can go out for breakfast after the school run, no sitter costs, and get other stuff done together

Andrewofgg · 03/03/2016 08:15

Quietwhenreadibg Fine if it suits you but there are some people whom it doesn't and they should not be pressured.

Trills · 03/03/2016 08:26

I work for a software company.

Agree about working from home being good for days when you are bit poorly and capable of sitting at a laptop and catching up on emails or doing something useful with a spreadsheet, but where doing a commute and talking to people would make you feel much much worse.

Quietwhenreading · 03/03/2016 08:39

Of course not Andrew

Bambalina · 03/03/2016 08:43

absolutely agree, I have done this in a few roles, mainly contracting though. The one I did about 10 years ago I would do one late evening a week (1-2 meetings out of school hours) and reports til late, and would plan the rest of my working wee how I needed (re appointments and personal things).
I have a great work ethic and am honest, trustworthy and hardworking, and its nice that that was recognised by my line manager at the time.
10 years ago I was telling anyone who would listen that this is the way forward with working! (I didn't have kids then)

I also did another (completely different type of work) role where I was in the office 2 days a week, and working from home 1-2 days a week - it enabled me to blitz through a more laborious and time-consuming aspect of the role, and worked really well when pregnant, and the tiredness hit, stop the clock and have a nap. Definitely better for productivity than forcing myself through the 3pm slump.

Now I am looking to return to employment when DD goes to nursery, but it seems that the majority of work from home jobs (I am not in the UK) are where people have come back to an existing employment after maternity leave and negotiated working from home. So have already had an established relationship with their employers.
I contracted prior to DD as it enabled me to fit two very different part-time jobs into the week, but those roles will no longer be available. I would love something that would allow me to do the nursery drop off and pick ups, and work late when DP home or work around DD's inevitable days off sick without us spunking money into childcare

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