To ask if you would want to wfh full time?

[LadyCatLover2]

The thought of going back to work 5 days a week seems excruciating, but I'm unsure I would want to wfh five days a week either.

I recently had a job opportunity, but turned it down as it was 100% remote and I thought that would be bad for my mental health. I don't have many friends so work is my main interaction. But maybe I'm mad - wfh has benefits like no commute, privacy, more time in the evening etc.

Would you want to wfh full time, permanently?

Two days WFH before, now full time WFH.
I save 4 hours a day not having to commute. 4 hours a day to spend with the kids, on time with DH, in the garden. Just not being generally knackered.
I never had work friends, I had colleagues. I still have colleagues. I could happily speak to them less but they keep calling me.
If I didn't have a happy home life I could see how I need an outlet at work but I see other people on the school run, hobbies, friends. I don't need to make small talk with colleagues for the sake of it.

I'm also leaving because my boss is a complete narcissist.. But that's another story!

I'm perfectly happy WFH 100% of the time. However, I'm not perfectly happy sharing our tiny home with my husband also working 100% of the time which is now looking increasingly likely as our respective businesses are downsizing space.

WFH is going to be another wealth divide. Those with spare rooms and top notch broadband are going to find this way of working much easier. People already struggling for space with zero flex in the budget are going to find it much tougher...not to mention young adults starting out who would probably find that their bedroom and office is now the same place (not great for mental wellbeing) alongside missing natural learning moments from their colleagues.

It'll be interesting to see how successful this is as a strategy long term.

No. I've been working from home for over a year and can't wait to get back to the office next month.

We've been told to expect to be in 2-3 days a week which I will be happy with. I miss the company and whilst it's quite nice being at home a bit, all day, every day, really doesn't suit me.

No, I hate WFH the one/two days that I do. It was fine during lock down last year as we were all at home, but we’ve been back in office since June 2020 and now I can’t tear myself away when I’m home so don’t enjoy the 11 hours sitting at my desk.

It’s far harder to separate myself at home. To be fair I have next to no commute though, and enjoy the office dynamics.

I hate it.

I WFH for 12 weeks in the first lockdown and hated every second of it.

I’m also complete pants at it, totally unmotivated, and ended up working late into the evenings to do my hours as I procrastinated so much during the day.

I only work 10 minutes from home though, and don’t have a spare room or anywhere separate to use as an office

No, I got told last year that it was likely we would never being going back to the office so I promptly got myself a new job where I can be in 3/4 days a week. I do job that relies on lots of collaboration and round table chats and it just does not work on Teams.

Also I have nowhere suitable long term to work at home and I do not want to live in my office.

@RunHobbitRun

I'm perfectly happy WFH 100% of the time. However, I'm not perfectly happy sharing our tiny home with my husband also working 100% of the time which is now looking increasingly likely as our respective businesses are downsizing space.

WFH is going to be another wealth divide. Those with spare rooms and top notch broadband are going to find this way of working much easier. People already struggling for space with zero flex in the budget are going to find it much tougher...not to mention young adults starting out who would probably find that their bedroom and office is now the same place (not great for mental wellbeing) alongside missing natural learning moments from their colleagues.

It'll be interesting to see how successful this is as a strategy long term.

I think the long term expectation is that it won’t be WFH, but working locally. Small local spaces where people can work outside their homes but not within their organisation is likely to become the norm. This will replace a lot of the empty high streets etc. I’ve seen some really interesting modeling on it. It won’t be WFH in crisis mode as in the pandemic, but also not working in big offices either. It’s very exciting I think.

Very lucky my company is introducing flexible working and will be doing 1 or 3 days in the office.
My work is collaborative, and I really do think we need to have some work done in the office.
Working relationships, presentations etc just aren't the same at home

No I like a mix

But I have a very small commute & my colleagues are friends.

I do and have for over 3 years. I love it, but I'm an introvert naturally so I'm good with it. One of my colleagues wasn't sure about it, being much more social but she's found it works for her too (she trialled 3 months pre Covid and went perm remote).

I’ve been full time WFH since last March. It’s been great and I really couldn’t cope with going back 5 days per week. Thankfully, when we go back in September it will be a hybrid of 2/3 days in the office and the rest at home. Which is perfect.

I’ve always worked a hybrid of two office days and two wfh days, so assumed I would love full time wfh. Nope, have hated it! Have never worked more hours in my life and had less work-life balance as there is no switch off and go home cut off - people assume that we are always available/ can work what used to be our commute. I genuinely thought I would have more time wfh full time, instead I rarely leave my desk for 10 hours

I worked from home most of last year and quite liked it but I have put on weight through inactivity. My new job is 3 days home and 2 in office and I find I am enjoying the change of scenery and hopefully the walk to work will do me good.

No way, I’ve chosen to go back to the office because my mental health was suffering being stuck at home constantly

But I think people who have a separate workspace away from their living areas and who live with other adults seem to enjoy WFH more than those working in their living area and not seeing another person for days on end.

Absolutely not. I would miss my colleagues. I feel blessed that we have been open throughout. It has kept me sane seeing their lovely faces every day throughout the past year.

I’ve been working from home full time since starting this job nearly 6 years ago. Have a separate space (converted garage) which does help.

DH started working from home

during the first lock down and will be doing so forever now.

There are times when I miss having the space to myself. Especially when he’s running online training courses. But I have headphones so mostly manage to block it out.

I would 100% love to work from home full time. It actually costs me money in heating/printing etc (cost me nothing in commuting costs to go in to the office as I walked, and took my own food) but I prefer it so much more. I am really dreading returning to the office. I feel anxious and panicky in an office environment and have been so much happier in my own environment - been more enthusiastic and productive too. I also have more energy as I found the office environment draining. Thankfully I don't think we'll be back full time but even one day a week is too many for me!

Yes. I get more done without the commute,both family and work wise.

I chat with colleagues so we are now more open about home lives.

I turned down a job which offered 3 days in office. I'm fine with that actually but it seemed condescending to demand it as a minimum in an industry where WFH is ver effective. Also if you commute to london in past... you might have forgotten how soul destroying it is at rush hours getting out of tube stations etc...

I love working from, I have always hated work, always resented it but WFH has enabled me to enjoy my work. No socialising to do, no driving to other sites, no clicks pens, eating sounds or fingernails on keyboards. It's transformed my productivity too. I do not want to go back to office based working.

@Megan2018 there are many many jobs that require large screens and/or confidentiality where that kind of set up won't work.

I had the choice to wfh when it suited me pre covid, not full time wfh though (never tested whether it would be allowed or asked) I enjoyed the hybrid and appreciated the flexibility to wfh as and when I wanted. I previously only had my laptop screen at home and did not have the whole keyboard, and screen setup at home so worked more in the office as the laptop screen and keyboard are naff to work on full time.

Since wfh work have provided the screen, keyboard, mouse and office chair so i would def prefer a hydrid of 2-3 days at home. Work are reviewing working models as they have found that wfh works well and there are plus points for them also eg office space, they have already announced that there will be a hybrid model for staff whose jobs are suitable to be carried out at home, I expect to be in that group so am probably going to be wfh part time from the autumn (they are taking it easy and not returning people to the office unless they have to so am wfh at the mo).

I wfh full time now since last March . I love it and hopefully will be able to continue indefinitely! I am very much an introvert so prefer dealing with other people via email.