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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you like your job more or less, since WFH (if you are!)

59 replies

OneLeafHill · 08/08/2020 20:44

Like a lot of people, my company has been WFH for the last 4/5 months (crazy when you think how long it’s been!)

At first, it was a novelty obviously and everyone enjoyed wearing comfy clothes and didn’t miss the commute. There are certainly lots of benefits to WFH.

But does anyone else feel all the enjoyment has gone from their job? (If you did used to like it!) everything just feels such hard work, nothing motivating, boring but stressful, I am sick of being on Zoom calls all day barely getting a break.

It has made me think that, actually, maybe I’ve never really ‘enjoyed’ my work (corporate role) but rather I enjoyed seeing people, office interactions, getting dressed up and feeling confident, ‘me time’ on my commute etc. etc. If the only thing is the actual ‘work’, it’s awful!

It is making me think that if this is the ‘future’ maybe it’s time for a change! Even if I went back to the office I expect with all the restrictions companies would need to put in place it would be strange and somewhat cold/depressing.

Anyone else? I probably haven’t explained this very well....

OP posts:
JudyGemstone · 08/08/2020 21:50

I'm a therapist in an nhs mental heath service so I hate it. Miss the closer connections with clients from working face to face.

Original poster
OneLeafHill · 08/08/2020 21:52

@Lazysundayafternoons yes all of this!!

OP posts:
Snorlax86 · 08/08/2020 21:52

I prefer WFH, we still have team meetings and a team whatsapp group which helps with keeping connected, but I don’t think I’d ever want to go back to full time in an office again!

Purpleartichoke · 08/08/2020 21:52

I love wfh. I’ve been doing it for 11 years . I am so much more effective at home where I can relax and not deal with people.

Original poster
OneLeafHill · 08/08/2020 21:53

@BetsyBoo100 that’s really interesting - if you don’t mind me asking what have you retrained from/to?

OP posts:
Hardbackwriter · 08/08/2020 21:54

I also have the somewhat ironic situation of having moved house during lockdown with the primary motivation being that I've moved a 15 minute cycle ride from work now rather than an hour's drive. Which was going to be great, except that now we're not back until January and I've also gone and got myself pregnant during lockdown so, given I'll be 8 months pregnant, I think they'll actually tell me not to come back even in January - so we spent £100k on moving really conveniently close to somewhere I might not go to again until sometime around early 2022... Fab choice!

Original poster
OneLeafHill · 08/08/2020 21:54

@Purpleartichoke but if you do have to deal with people, do you find that easier from home? Constant phone calls just drive me mad!

OP posts:
YeahWhatevver · 08/08/2020 21:55

Much less

I resent my work fir taking over my home life
I really struggle to motivate myself when I'm alone
I miss the company and interaction with colleagues
I worry I'm wasting my 40s and 50s being miserable in pursuit of a pension pot that I'll look back on and say wasn't worth it.
I have a job with almost zero creative outlet. Lots of reports, spreadsheets, phone calls
I hate not having my commute to transition from work mode to home mode
I find that I'm working longer hours just to keep up as its definitely less productive

Hardbackwriter · 08/08/2020 21:56

I also changed career a year ago from a job that involved a lot more working from home and on my list of priorities when choosing a new career was 'work mostly in office and fairly set hours' because I was so sick of the way my old job took over my whole head and life because there was no division between work and home...

God really does laugh when you make plans!

BestIsWest · 08/08/2020 21:56

On balance, I miss the office. Some people are great at chatting on Teams, some just don’t bother. We have much more fun when we are physically together.
I miss working with someone on a problem, bouncing ideas etc. Looking at a screen together to see if you can spot an issue. I miss chatting to people from other teams that my work doesn’t actually cross over with.
However, I don’t miss the stress about parking, I like being at home with the dogs and have had some family issues that were made easier by WFH.
On balance I’d be happy to go back 50% of the time.

Original poster
OneLeafHill · 08/08/2020 21:56

@RedskyAtnight yes the constant teleconferences are just exhausting!!

If I was in the office and had back to back meetings I would legitimately have to just get up and leave in between meetings - when you’re on calls it’s literally hang up one and start another Sad

OP posts:
YeahWhatevver · 08/08/2020 21:57

Strangely, our work did a WFH survey and apparently 81% of respondents said they liked WFH.

I can only assume those who don't just couldn't muster the enthusiasm to fill it in.

goodwinter · 08/08/2020 21:57

I love it. My team are all based in different offices so I never spoke to anyone (beyond niceties) when I went into work anyway! I'd probably feel a bit differently if the office was a social outlet for me.

NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace · 08/08/2020 21:58

@OneLeafHill

Just the company. I've moved from a major university to a small community interest comany but I'm still an accountant. I love being an accountant Smile

goodwinter · 08/08/2020 21:58

I should say, I'm on calls for at least 2-3 hours a day. I'd be on those same calls, still virtually, if I were in the office.

Hardbackwriter · 08/08/2020 21:59

@YeahWhatevver

Strangely, our work did a WFH survey and apparently 81% of respondents said they liked WFH.

I can only assume those who don't just couldn't muster the enthusiasm to fill it in.

I'm the only one in my team who didn't say they preferred working from home. Two theories: a) I'm the only one with a small child and so the only one who is not finding home 'so much more peaceful and relaxing' b) I'm really awful to share an office with and so everyone is just thrilled to see the back of me
Hardbackwriter · 08/08/2020 22:01

In all seriousness, I work in professional services at a university and everyone but me says they want all the flexibility and home-working the academics get - as the only ex-academic, I know that 'flexibility' turns really fast into 'working all the time' and that actually there are a lot of advantages to having an office that you leave at 5.30 and you should be careful what you wish for

Wolfcub · 08/08/2020 22:01

More. Partly because I'm not spending 8 hours travelling one or two days a week but mostly because, as someone who is a remote worker anyway, it's really levelled the playing field and made the whole department much more inclusive

Original poster
OneLeafHill · 08/08/2020 22:02

@Hardbackwriter oh god, what a pain Sad

OP posts:
Taswama · 08/08/2020 22:04

Less.
Not helped by the homeschooling between March and July of course.
I miss individual spontaneous chats with people. Chats are now either group chats or you have to schedule in individual chats. People used to ask my advice on stuff - like pp said - can you just read this for me? Can you just check my spreadsheet? Doesn't happen now. (And if I need something proofread its a lot harder to ask). Used to pick up a bit of news from other departments at the coffee machine, now I have no idea people are being made redundant until their names are missing from the org chart.

Original poster
OneLeafHill · 08/08/2020 22:04

@Wolfcub yes I can see that actually, it has made things more equal and there’s less of a divide obviously between head office and other offices etc!

OP posts:
Original poster
OneLeafHill · 08/08/2020 22:06

@Hardbackwriter absolutely - there is such a thing as too much flexibility really and it’s a two way street, there’s no reason for me mot to work late into the evening now as I don’t have to physically leave the office and go home. I miss the separation!

OP posts:
Taswama · 08/08/2020 22:07

Oh and the utterly pointless management meeting that used to be 2 hours once a month is now one hour long (at least) but weekly.

elfin79 · 08/08/2020 22:15

I found out during lockdown that I’m not suited to WFH full time. I told DP that much as I love him, I need to see people who aren’t him as well. I bounce of other people work-wise, socialise with a colleague over lunch and also use equipment at work. Lucky for me I work for an essential business and our offices are open with those who can, WFH. I started 40% in the office and have now increased to 80% which suits me down to the ground. 1 day a week at home is fine, 5 days really isn’t...

shinynewapple2020 · 08/08/2020 22:22

I absolutely love working from home

My role previously involved working from different bases so Sometimes I only met up with colleagues in my own team once a week, if that. We now speak every day over Teams and have a much closer relationship.

Without the commute I have so much more time in my day.

I work part time 5 hours per day so without the commute I'm able to start earlier so I have now most of the afternoon free.

Alternatively previously I would never want to do anything in the evening as I was worried that I would be tired for work the next day, not that my working day was long but I had a long drive

I can honestly say this has made a huge difference to my quality of life

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