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AIBU?

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Original poster

What does working from home mean to you

95 replies

Ilovepizzatoomuch · 27/04/2019 13:09

Firstly will start by saying I know that I am lucky to even have the option to work from home, as I know many people don't have that option.

Dh works in a manual job where he can't work from home.

So to me working from home means just that - do the same work but from home. I stop to do a quick lunch I don't normally have a lunch break at work either as I prefer to leave early to pick DC up if I can.

Dh seems to think that if I am at home I should be doing everything round the house...cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, doing the washing, ironing etc.

I do put an odd load of washing on and empty the dishwasher but that's about it.

I worked from home this week and dh came home complaining that u hadn't done enough around the house, when I had been working for 8 hours straight and got loads of work done.

He doesn't seem to grasp that I actually have to work and not just answer the odd email.

OP posts:
TinselAndKnickers · 27/04/2019 13:11

How bloody belittling!

endofthelinefinally · 27/04/2019 13:13

He must be really annoying to live with. Does he find it hard to grasp other simple concepts?

SoyDora · 27/04/2019 13:16

DH works from home. He occasionally loads the dishwasher or has a quick tidy up in working hours, but the vast majority of the time he’s working.
Surely your DH understands that working from home means doing the same work but at home rather than in an office? It’s a pretty simple concept!

Squickety · 27/04/2019 13:17

DH WFH most of the time, me occasionally. Rarely on the same days. Whoever is at home will try and put a wash on or do some other quick tasks / get dinner ready if we can. The person who is at home is under no expectation of doing anything that they don't have time to do around their actual work.

ADarkandStormyKnight · 27/04/2019 13:18

Your are in the right!

I work from home at a job which requires me to be responding to phone calls and emails, and I'm mainly shackled to the computer.

I will schedule things like deliveries and people to service the boiler etc during working hours but I'm most definately working and would not skive off to do my vacuuming while I'm being paid to do stuff for my employer.

iklboo · 27/04/2019 13:19

Ask your husband if he'd like a meeting with your boss so they can agree an arrangement for you to do everything at home while working.

He's an idiot, sorry.

Spudlet · 27/04/2019 13:19

It's like working. But at home. I'd try explaining it like that to him? Possibly speaking quite slowly and clearly? With pictures, maybe?

I might bung a load of washing in before I start and whip it out again on my coffee break, but I work for myself so I can. When I was employed I wouldn't have done that, and that's a five minute job.

howrudeforme · 27/04/2019 13:20

I work mainly from home and it’s work. Meals are prepared after 5pm. Same goes for hoovering/dusting/ironing.

I save time travelling but other thank 9-5 I’m working just as I would in the office.

He’s being rude.

Helplessfeeling · 27/04/2019 13:20

I cant really see the benefits of working at hoe if you are expected by your DH to act like a SAHM as well as doing your paid work. I would just work in the office in that case, at least your boss only expects you to do the paid work during office time. If your DH asks you why you are not WFH anymore you should explain why. Maybe the penny will finally drop.

AlunWynsKnee · 27/04/2019 13:22

He's out all day so perhaps he could do the weekly shop one afternoon. Sure his boss won't mind.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 27/04/2019 13:22

If SE, it's different but if employed it should be work only for the full contracted hours.

BlueJava · 27/04/2019 13:22

He's ridiculous. If you are working from home you are obviously meant to be working for the people that are paying you! I have worked from home a lot recently as I've broken my ankle but I do my 9+ hours as I would in the office. I will put on a load of washing before I start, or empty the dishwasher in my 20 mins for lunch or something, but it's important to actually work. As you know, if you don't actually work you run the risk of losing the option, or even worse your job.

UriGellerbentmyspoon · 27/04/2019 13:23

Your husband is a cf!

Working from home, the clue is in those three words.

goodwinter · 27/04/2019 13:24

The only "housework" I do while WFH is stuff that can be done in the time it takes for the kettle to boil.

olderthanyouthink · 27/04/2019 13:24

Send him into work with some ironing and a travel iron Wink

tealandteal · 27/04/2019 13:26

My DH works from home once a week, he does 30 minutes or an hour max of jobs, eg accepting the tesco shop and putting it away, putting a wash on and then out on the line plus walking the dog. This is offset by no commuting time (40 mins each way) and the fact that he will work through lunch (30 mins). I wouldn't expect him to do anything else.

MaybeitsMaybelline · 27/04/2019 13:26

I’d tell the twat he did even less at home this week around the house.

I work from home, have done 14 years. I do a normal office type job, sit at my desk all day, don’t chat to colleagues on the way to the loo or make coffee for fifteen people at a time.

I have no one to chat to over the desk about my weekend, other than the cat.

I do throw a load of washing in whilst I am making a cup of tea yes, but I don’t wait for a kettle as I have a hot water tap.

I get dinner ready in my half hour lunch break which is taken depending upon my call commitments.

I frequently log on in an evening or weekend if I need to do something urgent.

My company gets more out of me than they would if I went into the office and worked set hours.

My family also get more out of me than if I went into the office and worked set hours.

I have more time for me without a commute than if I went into the office and worked set hours.

MancaroniCheese · 27/04/2019 13:30

What Maybelline said

scratchbass · 27/04/2019 13:30

Probably over the top, but when working from home I still only take the same tea breaks that I would get in the office 😂

I might put the washing machine on to coincide with emptying it at lunch time but I definitely wouldn't be doing any household chores!

LizB62A · 27/04/2019 13:31

I work from home a lot - I load/unload the dishwasher while the kettle is boiling, put washing on while my lunch is in the microwave
That's pretty much it.

Your DH is an idiot.

M0reGinPlease · 27/04/2019 13:31

I worked from home for eight years. WORKED from home. Never once did my DH expect me to do anything other than THE JOB I WAS BEING PAID TO DO during those hours. Yes, inevitably you get a spare five minutes here and there, waiting for the kettle to boil etc and obviously save time with no commute, but if you're doing more than switching the dishwasher on or wiping down the side after you've made lunch then you're not doing your job properly.

greenpop21 · 27/04/2019 13:36

He sounds very ignorant and a little thick tbh!

sackrifice · 27/04/2019 13:37

I work from home and do compressed hours 4 days a week, and my OH doesn't expect me to do the housework on any day, especially not my non-working day. That's a day for me to decompress.

Iamnotagoddess · 27/04/2019 13:40

If I WFH I am expected to be online and available if a Skype call comes in a y’know - working!

I have friends who don’t get it either and want to “pop in”.

DonkeyHohtay · 27/04/2019 13:48

This is not uncommon. I work for myself, from home. People do not perceive working at home as having a proper job. My parents are the worst for this, they don't understand what I do (web content stuff) and have no idea about things like deadlines.So I can just drop everything and pick them up from the station or whatever.