To think working from home is becoming a skivers charter

[Viviennemary]

Of course I know there are a lot of people who work from home very conscientiously. But it seems more and more people when they have childcare problems, house needs cleaning, traffic bad, staying in for delivery or they just need an easy day. Work from home. Anyone come across this. I know it's a bit of a risk putting this in AIBU but I just wondered.

The view in the OP is very backward and old fashioned. If you think that you clearly don't know many people who work from home.

I am old enough to remember when wfh was not an option for most office tasks. Mobile phones were not prevalent, Office phone calls could not be redirected to your home nor could office answer phone messages be externally accessed (if there was an answer phone facility at all). Internet not used. Most communications to and from an office by letter. Large typing pools.

So, I can also remember there being years when influenza (or even public transport problems) would devastate an office department for weeks at a time. Those that could have worked a few hours – and would have wanted to – did not have the wfh option. Staff often felt guilty about staying home (knowing the office was already short-handed) and would try to make it in (even though they were really too ill or not yet better) and stagger in. This often just passed influenza on to others exacerbating the problem. On some occasions people arriving at the office had been too optimistic and had to be sent home (often with another staff member to accompany them because we were worried about how poorly they looked).

So, let’s thank the “powers that be” that modern technology makes wfh a viable option benefitting staff and companies alike.

I would also be interested to know whether the “zero tolerance” companies have tracked their performances on real productivity, earnings, and staff retention.

The best place, for you to be doing your job is in the office every day (assuming you have the opportunity to) the man doesn't care about your commute- why would that make you less effective when you do it in your own time anyway?

This is bollocks though.

Plenty of us are more productive at home. People respond differently to different environments. Depends on the nature of the individual and the task.

And some companies care very much about commutes if it means they can get staff they couldn't otherwise get: it's obviously possible to live far enough away from a workplace that you physically couldn't get there, but wfh means they can still employ you if they want you anyway. Also do you really think tiredness from commuting and transport difficulties can't make people less productive?

If you're a manger it's about managing your own staff and their wellbeing. In person.

This says more about your limitations as a manager than anything else. Plenty of us are able to both manage and be managed remotely.

@bubblebubblepop. The total number of paid sick days per annum permitted is limited and statutory sick pay will often be at a rate below your normal (paid) earnings rate. So, why take a sick day when you are able to work (via wfh) but it makes more sense not to go into the office and infect others? So, the economic pressures of "zero tolerance" apply. Such a policy economically encourages people to go to work when sick and infect others.

I meet my 'manager' face to face about once a year, and I have worked from home while doing childcare for 12 years now (3dc), husband wfh about half the time too so it is very possible to do without childcare this way.

The work clearly gets done and dh is managing team of people, some of whom are in the office, without the need for someone to stand in. A lot of people to work like this, with none of this zero tolerance shit.

It also means not having to wear hideous office clothes.

I work from home every so often and get a huge amount done as there are fewer distractions and less noise. Yes, I stick the odd load of washing on but I'm much mode productive than when I'm at work when I don't get a minute's peace!

It maybe depends on your role. I have work to be done - where I do it and when is neither here not there

I love having the opportunity to work from home. However saying that I am constantly available and find it hard to switch off at times. I have to make myself turn off my emails or I constantly work at all hours. Just checked it this afternoon!! I am part time but do many more hours so for me its hard to stop myself from working and not skiving.