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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WFH, On Calls All Day

74 replies

namechangetoxyz · 06/01/2021 16:35

just for a nosy as i can't work from home (utilities infrastructure) On here i keep seeing people who are On calls/Zoom etc, but what do you actually DO .

OP posts:
Agirlnamedsam · 06/01/2021 16:36

Same as I did working from the office.

katmarie · 06/01/2021 16:40

I'm first line tech support, on calls/video chats or typing answers on our customer service desk all day. I'd be wfh even if there wasn't a pandemic though.

Biancadelrioisback · 06/01/2021 16:40

Well, we meet in the morning to discuss what we did yesterday and will do today, talk through anything that blocks other people and set tasks etc.
Throughout the day we'll go off and do stuff, meet with others to hand over / update / review / ask for help etc.

SeasonFinale · 06/01/2021 16:41

My husband is working in the kitchen (corporate lawyer). I am working in the study ( sixth form admin).

EmmaStone · 06/01/2021 16:43

Accountant/finance business partner. I need to speak to various heads of department regularly plus my own finance team. Whereas normally a lot could be done in person on site, it's all done via the phone/Teams now.

afromom · 06/01/2021 16:45

Meetings over zoom are constant and all of those catch ups that you would have had informally about issues in the office now need to be done via phone.
To be honest my job prior to Covid was spent on the phone and in meetings pretty much all day anyway, so really not much different. Now I just have capacity for more of them as I don't have to travel to the meetings in between.
The great part is I don't get dragged into helping resolve everyone else's issues, as they are less likely to ask over email than in person in the office (my desk was just next to reception!)
I'm far more productive now than I've ever been!

afromom · 06/01/2021 16:46

Sorry I realise I didn't answer that actual question! I lead on volunteering across our services in a large national charity, supporting around 500 services, hence the volume of contact with others.

shouldistop · 06/01/2021 16:47

I'm on maternity leave currently but first lockdown wfh. I work for a charity assisting people with benefits, usually a face to face service converted to telephone. 1 hour appointments back to back except lunch break.

Dh on calls quite often but not back to back, he's a technology consultant.

rosegoldivy · 06/01/2021 16:48

If I'm honest I log into the really long boring conference zoom calls, turn camera off, mute my mic and do my housework

ProfYaffle · 06/01/2021 16:48

Every conversation we would normally ever have in the office now has to be done on Teams (it has replaced our phone system)

I work in HR so am talking to people all day, advising managers, talking to colleagues, conducting formal meetings etc All on teams now.

WishingHopingThinkingPraying · 06/01/2021 16:50

Tech projects. Coordinating teams of specialist developers and customers etc.

ShatnersBassoons · 06/01/2021 16:51

I work for a charity supporting vulnerable people with their mental health. I spend most of my time on the phone doing what I would ordinarily do face to face i.e. support planning, listening, supporting people with their well-being, providing grounding support, helping with practical issues around finances/housing/physical health and general checking in on people. It's hard work especially whilst attempting to home school.

XelaM · 06/01/2021 16:58

I'm a litigation Solicitor and part-time law lecturer. Can do both jobs from home

BiddyPop · 06/01/2021 17:03

I spend a fair amount of time on calls, as we would have a lot of collaboration in person as we work on draft policy and legislation. But then I spend other time just with my head down researching or drafting on my own - the same as when I was in the office.

DH is also on calls almost all day - he used to spend a fair amount on calls to manage people in a number of locations, but would also meet people in person in/near his actual office, and travel a lot to the other offices/clients. His work also involves a lot of collaboration of teams to progress projects.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 06/01/2021 17:04

I’m a lecturer. I’ve been teaching remotely since last March, via Teams.

Atrixie · 06/01/2021 17:08

Team meetings, leadership meetings, external working groups, 1-2-1 meetings with my team, board meetings Sometimes it’s a couple of hours, sometimes back to back all day

MintyMabel · 06/01/2021 17:09

Same job as I did before, but instead of being dragged from one site to another to have an in person meeting, I have teams calls instead. I have way more time to actually do my job now. It’s great!

Plussizejumpsuit · 06/01/2021 17:10

I'm not on calls all day. But the calls I have replace in person meetings. I work for an art gallery and museum in an audience development / project management role. The work I do and projects I manage would normally involve a lot of in person sessions, me going to schools and community settings, artists doing the same, hosting visits and workshops. So lots of this is moving online.
Then the work to organise this, develop community relationships, create ideas for events and activities, this would all be office based anyway.

As its quite creative at times it is harder to do when we can't just do a half day session and generate ideas etc!

I normally love my job (and feel privileged to have it as its a very competitive sector) but I'm just done in and not massively enthusiastic right now!

Itstime1 · 06/01/2021 17:10

Scientist here. We have split rota so WFH/On site. My wfh days are the busiest! Catching up with paperwork, reports and admin, chasing people for information and trying to speak to them as you can’t when you’re in work. Most of this is done via teams to speak to people and ask questions.

So when I WFH it’s 50/50 calls and then actually getting the rest of the work done

Calmandmeasured1 · 06/01/2021 17:13

My DH spent most of his time in the office in meetings and therefore does the same using MS Teams at home. Corporate Governance in large Business Consultancy.

Plussizejumpsuit · 06/01/2021 17:14

@afromom I agree about the more meetings thing, with no travel there's definitely room for more. But not sure if the mental capacity for more is there!

Also what pp's have said about all the informal conversations. The getting opinions or what would you do questions. All have to be done via video now. But also sometimes don't happen, which can mean you do feel quite isolated at times.

goodwinter · 06/01/2021 17:15

I produce reports. I spend a lot of time on calls with various stakeholders (people who input to my reports or consume them), then there's team calls etc.

Mabelface · 06/01/2021 17:16

I deal with complaints, so some calls and meetings to catch up with my team.

QueenPawPaws · 06/01/2021 17:16

Contact centre. Answer calls constantly for 8hrs. Work for a prestige car brand

DerelictWreck · 06/01/2021 17:16

I'm in education policy. So some days I'm in back to back Teams calls, other days just one or two.