Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

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:

SittHakim · 27/04/2019 22:20

It depends a lot on the nature of the job. If I WFH it's because I need to do school pick-up - if I'm doing that, I tend to stop work at pick-up time and then log back in later in the day (work phone also rings on my mobile, and I have email on the phone, so I can keep half an eye on what's going on in case there's anything urgent). The office gets the same hours, but over slightly different times than on a day when I'm physically at work. But obviously if I had thousands of conference calls I couldn't do that. And I wouldn't dream of using the time to do housework!

tanpestryfirescreen · 27/04/2019 22:24

6.30 am (usual time to leave home). Log in and start work but in pjs. About 9 am have quick shower. 6pm realise I haven't moved all day from the desk. 7.30 pm (usual return home time) log off.

delilahbucket · 27/04/2019 22:26

I work from home full time. I do tidy/clean/put washing on and I try to cook tea everyday, but there is no expectation from dp and at busy times nothing is done around the house, I don't even start tea if I'm swamped. Dp understands this and we still split household stuff between us. If your working from home job is not earning £4000 a year because really it's a hobby, then working is working, and no household stuff should be done, or expected. Your lunch break is a break from work. If you choose to do a couple of bits around the house during this break then it's a bonus. It has to be clear from the off that you are "at work" all day.

Stuckforthefourthtime · 27/04/2019 22:26

Like everyone else.
Though I do have a longer commute, so given that working from home saves me 2 hours in travel (plus more in makeup and dressing up!), I'd generally pop on an extra load of washing and make a nicer dinner if WFH, and DH is the same.

Glitterban · 28/04/2019 13:20

I am less productive in reality when I WFH. so I actually agree with more draconian measures some companies take despite selfishly enjoying the privileges of WFH. Essentially i dont think wfh can be truly effective for many modern jobs (that require teamwork, relationships and problem solving). The sole benefit for a company for wfh is allowing for childcare flexibility and thus retaining working parents, because childcare provision is so rubbish in this country.

I find it impossible as you are not in office in person. School runs shorten the day considerably. I end up being 'on call': reply to emails, take a few calls and review some documents in meantime. I hate it when anyone without kids WFH, as i just know they are walking their dog, hungover or interviewing.
Any other tasks I delegate to someone in the office or leave it to when im back in office where you have multiple screens, full systems access and actual humans to talk to.

So for me when i WFH its a write off. I can cook, play with the kids when back from school, bring them out for McDonald's or ice cream as treat. I don't do any household chores though. My DH can WFH too and we both rather be in the office during busy times.

Glitterban · 28/04/2019 13:30

Just to add I think as long you can get the things needed done and achieve the same results for your company, id relax on the 8-6pm type presentism / virtual presentism because people are human and need some flexibility

Also depends on nature of work, if operational where maybe performance hinges on volume of support calls taken or something, then obviously this can't work. But those sort of jobs won't typically allow WFH anyway

MinnieMountain · 28/04/2019 13:50

DH works from home 3 days a week. He'll schedule post deliveries or trades people who can be left alone for those days. Otherwise he might do a small job whilst waiting for the kettle to boil.

He generally goes for a walk during his lunch break (if he has time for a break) as he's at home to work not do housework.

I've just applied for a PT WFH job. I plan on doing exactly the same if I get it.

SoyDora · 28/04/2019 15:45

That’s you though Glitterban. DH works from home at least 4 days a week, as his team are London based and we live 140 miles away.
He is very senior with a team or direct reports. In the 3 years he’s been working from home he has had 2 promotions to Director level in financial services, and gets hefty performance related bonuses. So he must be pretty productive!

Stuckforthefourthtime · 28/04/2019 17:31

Agree that’s just you though Glitterban. Your issue is that if it doesn't sound like you actually are doing much working from home if you are doing the school run on both ends, or playing with the kids, for example.

When I hear examples like this it always really pisses me off, because a team member who sees WFH like this (or worse a boss who thinks this is what WFH means for most people) ruins it for everyone else.

SoyDora · 28/04/2019 19:52

Yes, DH wouldn’t pick the children up from school or play with them whilst working from home, as he’s working.

puppymouse · 28/04/2019 20:21

DH can be a little like this with me but being jokey. He gets loads done when he works from home as his job is much calmer and less stressful than mine and his workload is never that high. I try to unload the dishwasher or put a load of washing on if I can.

For me, wherever I am, if I have a deadline, the work gets done. I'm not a slave to 8 consecutive hours at my laptop when I'm at home, I will pop to the post office or wherever if I need to and I start slightly later than an office day so I can visit my horse after dropping DD at breakfast club. But I'm always available on my phone and email and more often than not I'm working well into the evening most days so my boss would be an absolute twat to object to it. Our team is very flexible though.

NCforthis2019 · 28/04/2019 20:25

He sounds quite stupid. Sorry OP.

BrokenWing · 28/04/2019 21:07

If I WFH and it looks like the weather will be nice I'll load the washing machine the night before and hang out in the morning. I'll maybe unload/load the dishwasher and stick the recycling out while my lunch is cooking (quick 4 min poached egg on toast), but otherwise it's work as usual, but with less interruptions than in the office so get much more done. I wouldn't leave the house or finish early while WFH unless it was an appointment I'd mentioned to my line manager.

ForalltheSaints · 28/04/2019 21:11

Other than putting in and taking washing out, on the few occasions when I am working from home I am working, not doing other things.

PookieDo · 28/04/2019 21:29

I work from Home frequently and I do find it easier to keep on top of everything if I am home - I get up and walk around for a couple of mins every half hour or so (bad back) and will bung a washing load on etc but I wouldn’t go full on housework mode - in fact I tend to do most of it before I would work from home so that i am not distracted by it all.
I do the school runs and add this time to my work time at the end (so add on 30 mins perhaps) so I am not taking the piss

PookieDo · 28/04/2019 21:33

I’m way more productive at home than in the office as too many distractions people constantly talking to me and too much going on
I usually have a to do list and spend a lot of time on the phone but make sure it’s only calls I need to be on!

Livvylovesgin · 28/04/2019 21:39

Public sector, but can WFH or rather have no choice but to WFH because the LA can't afford to provide us with office space...and it saves their service too as we are paying our own heating, lighting etc...but that's another story!
I do household tasks instead of my commute in the morning. During a short lunch break I also try and have a quick walk as I am much more productive in the afternoon if I do. I very often work much later than the usual work day.

We can't be occupied with other things, we have to log in on the computer system and if this isn't in use it shows as dormant.

Pinkprincess1978 · 28/04/2019 21:47

I worked from home for most of one day in the Easter holidays due to childcare (my children are 10/11 so don't take much caring). I had asked ds and dn (has dn for a sleep over) to hang up the washing while I was working. They did a terrible joke b of it but as I was working I didn't have time to sort it. I heard DH comment when he came home about it and he was t sorting something that I should have done as I was off all day 😡

I work from home occasionally during the day (but lots on an evening) and I get so much more done without the distractions of colleagues and phone calls.

Sindragosan · 28/04/2019 21:47

Is part of the issue that he does a manual job? I've seen so many people who do manual jobs think that office workers are sat on their arse doing nothing, so obviously if you're at home you've time to do everything around the house.

I've always worked for old school companies who don't believe people actually work if they're at home, and I can understand why given some of these replies. Yes, there are lots of people who work diligently, but there's always at least one who takes the piss and ruins it for everyone.

PookieDo · 28/04/2019 21:48

I think I am lucky as no one counts my time and it’s all on trust
I have 2 jobs - public sector and WFH officially about twice a month but often catch up and do extra at home in the evenings
My 2nd job is a few hours a week all from home and completely in my own time and I invoice what I have done. If I haven’t done the work my boss would know as I am the only person doing the job so I can’t ‘get away’ with anything

Flip

1 2 3 4