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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I the only one who actually LOVES WFH?!

149 replies

Battleoftheislands · 23/09/2021 08:13

I genuinely feel like a bit of a freak as I have seen so, many posts about WFH over the last 18 months on here and an overwhelming number of posts on those threads are stating that they hate it. I’ve started to feel a bit weird about it all and am genuinely thinking, is there something wrong with me socially because I’m honestly okay with not seeing many people?

I will pre-face this by saying I am extremely fortunate to have a nice house and a designated study to work in so I appreciate that this plays a huge, huge part, but I really don’t want this thread to be derailed and turned into a bloody class debate.

Is there anyone else on here that enjoys WFH and doesn’t wish to go back to the office? My colleagues and I all meet up every 5-6 weeks for a ‘social’ event so that’s working well in keeping us all ‘bonded’ if you like and I speak to them a lot during the day day on Teams meetings etc.

Honestly, I used to do so much travelling, I’d cover 450 miles a week in my car and I was completely burnt out. I don’t miss that part at all.

I love being able to walk my dog every lunchtime, I have more time for exercise now so have taken up running 3-4 times a week. I see my husband more, I can whip the hoover around or hang a wash up if I get a spare 10 mins etc which means my weekends have been freed up.

I also try and ensure I have a social life and meet up with friends or family every weekend to do something. I have a hobby that I do 2 evenings a week too so see people then. I see the odd person out when I’m walking the dog at lunch and as it’s a small village, mostly know them so have a chat.

Can we have a bit of a WFH appreciation thread for those that enjoy it?

OP posts:
Tintino · 23/09/2021 16:58

I have only ever worked remote wfh jobs, apart from a 3 month attempt years ago, due to a disability, so I'm glad it's becoming more widespread, as hopefully it will give me more job options!

Annoyedanddissapointed · 23/09/2021 16:58

@TheReluctantPhoenix

Money + middle age= great WFH.

No money + youth=awful WFH.

If you have already built your career and have a lovely house and are married (or long term attached) the. What isn’t to like about WFH?

If you want to be noticed, mentored, maybe meet someone romantically, go out for (real) drinks after work, live in a crappy box, WFH is rubbish.

I disagree with part. I recently changes career and company completely and actually I am getting properly noticed. So do many other new starters. It is a lot about a good management and actually giving shouts to people for their contributions.

Also. Early 30s, not as much money as some might think (super cheap house in super cheap postcode), but yeah. Having the space is absolutely important. I know quote a lots in early 30s, late 20s who enjoy wfh. The childfree ones usually.

the80sweregreat · 23/09/2021 16:58

My son loves wfh !

Superfoodie123 · 23/09/2021 16:59

I love wfh! And I live in a flat without a home office. I really needed this balance in my life

LukeEvansWife · 23/09/2021 17:02

Plenty of ways to get noticed when working remotely

MummaMinxi · 23/09/2021 17:03

I love, love, love working from home. I started in May this year, following furlough & sickness. I've came back from being a early years practitioner to a sales consultant and it was the best decision I made!
I may be a minority though as I'd stay inside my home 24/7/365 if I could and hate having to talk to people face to face, so this is an awesome job for me 🤣

MummaMinxi · 23/09/2021 17:04

@LukeEvansWife

Plenty of ways to get noticed when working remotely
100%! I've been WFH since May and have already earned myself a promotion & today found out my name is well known at the head office.
userlotsanumbers · 23/09/2021 17:05

I love it, love it, love it. Gutted to have to go back.

SirChenjins · 23/09/2021 17:06

@LukeEvansWife

Plenty of ways to get noticed when working remotely
Agree. If you work for a good company and good manager then your actual physical presence shouldn’t be needed - your output and productivity should count. Too many places confuse presenteeism and ability to talk a good game with this though.
MajorCarolDanvers · 23/09/2021 17:09

I thoroughly enjoy it and never thought I would.

As a manager I have always supported requests from staff to wfh but never fancied it myself. I didn't believe I had the self-discipline needed and I thought I would miss the chit chat.

I will never return to an office M-F 9 to 5. I am happy to go in days here and there for meetings, to connect and collaborate. But full time is totally unnecessary and in my sector I don't see it ever returning.

NotMeekNotObedient · 23/09/2021 17:09

Love it. Dont want to go back!

Saving 5k on train fare plus petrol.

2.5hrs of my day back to see my family.

What's not to like?

Speak to my colleagues on Zooms regularly and would be happy to go in for important meetings or events.

Squirrelblanket · 23/09/2021 17:11

*I will say that people who want to wfh tend to

  • have a dedicated work space
  • previously have had a long commute
  • have a job that doesn't involve much collaboration with colleagues
  • don't have the sort of personality that sinks into depression with so much time spent on their own.*

Yes to all these, I love WFH.

bonbonours · 23/09/2021 17:12

My DH loves it and has no desire to be back in the office. It saves him 4 hours a day commuting, plus thousands of pounds on train tickets. Plus he's here if the kids need something after school, and can get house jobs done in his lunch break. I also work mostly from home so it also means we have some adult time with no teenagers in the house!

Blurp · 23/09/2021 17:39

I love WFH, for so many reasons already mentioned.

I can drop the kids off at school and be at my desk 10 minutes later; if I had to commute in, it would be an extra 30 mins at least, so I'd either be finishing later or I'd need to arrange childcare to do school drop-off.

I can vacuum a room or stick the washing machine on and then hang it out or bring it in on my coffee break.

I'm here when parcels arrive, so I don't have to go to the post office every weekend.

I don't get pestered so much by people asking me questions all day (I'm the "go to" person in our team, apparently), but I'm still available on Skype or a quick Teams chat.

Online meetings are great because I can knit the whole time and no one notices (I concentrate better when I have something to do, but it's frowned upon in person).

I don't get sucked into office dramas just because they happen to take place next to my desk.

Generally my work-life balance is much better, I'm more productive and much more relaxed and happier.

HairyScaryMonster · 24/09/2021 22:36

I love it, relaxed morning instead of rushing to breakfast club, walk with my husband at lunch (also wfh), no speeding tickets 🤭 rushing home to collect kids. No dressing in uncomfy clothes, adjusting a hot desk every morning. No trying to find a meeting room or rushing from meeting to meeting. I’m back in when there are big team meetings, training etc. Drove for 2 hours for an hour meeting the other day. What a waste of time.

Wauden · 24/09/2021 22:43

I much prefer it. I sit at the dining table and when I want I can see the roses in the front garden and pop out to feed the wild birds.

marieantoinehairnet · 24/09/2021 22:54

Yep, I also love it, allows me to see my kids and husband rather than spending 3 hours a fecking day on trains.

Sadly my work don't agree and dragged us back in 3 days a week, despite us all working 12-14 hours a day whilst wfh full time.

We've gone back in as we're a support function in a bank environment and none of the effing bankers/consultants are in. Absolute piss take and so demotivating.

Gizmo98765 · 24/09/2021 22:58

I love working from home too. DH is also working from home most days too, its lovely. I have the dog at my feet can open the patio doors if I’m too hot. Can hang washing out bring it in if it rains. Don’t get involved in office politics and can dress comfortably. We seem to have more time together.

forthebothofus · 24/09/2021 23:28

Loved it! Got more work done, more productive by 25% I guess, more flexibility, worked longer hours, wear what I want, go for a walk or run at lunch, etc.

Back to commute now again. Notice the cost in petrol for sure! Plus I’m getting less work done.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 25/09/2021 07:16

But surely working longer hours isn’t something to be pleased about? It worries me that companies seem to think it’s acceptable or even expected for employees to work longer at home than they would in the office

Lemonyfuckit · 25/09/2021 07:52

I love wfh too. We are now going to a hybrid model where we have to spend 50% of time in office over two weeks, so the way I see it I will do 2 days / 3 days a week in office on alternating weeks - ie the 'minimum' in the office I can, as I much prefer wfh for all the reasons you've stated. I like going in the office for the odd day but I'm not really looking forward to going back in regularly - I find it very tiring and I actually get less work done (and there is a LOT of work - perhaps if the workload was more manageable and we could go in and do a 'normal' length day I wouldn't mind as much).

marieantoinehairnet · 25/09/2021 08:55

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

But surely working longer hours isn’t something to be pleased about? It worries me that companies seem to think it’s acceptable or even expected for employees to work longer at home than they would in the office
Yes but I'm done industries longer hours are just the done thing, you are salaried with bonus and it's an expectation. So in the office you'll be doing the longer hours plus commuting, so yes being at home gives me at least some time back.
knittingaddict · 25/09/2021 09:07

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

But surely working longer hours isn’t something to be pleased about? It worries me that companies seem to think it’s acceptable or even expected for employees to work longer at home than they would in the office
My husband has been working from home since mid March 2020. He has a fairly highly paid job and hasn't been working longer hours at all. He logs on at 9am and is usually done by 5.30 to 6pm.

Previously he left home at 7.30am or so and got home between 7.30 and 8pm. That's a saving of 3 hours every day.

Any company that takes advantage of it's staff and requires a longer working day is being very unreasonable. There will be better employers out there. If the person chooses to work longer hours then that's up to them, as long as it's not an implied expectation built in to the office culture.

SirChenjins · 25/09/2021 09:29

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

But surely working longer hours isn’t something to be pleased about? It worries me that companies seem to think it’s acceptable or even expected for employees to work longer at home than they would in the office
As others have said, clock watching in a more senior role isn’t always an option - you have to do what needs to be done. Otoh, if I need to take my son to the dentist one morning for example then I can - I’ve ‘built up’ hours. DH and I now use the commuting hours to do any additional work that’s required beyond our core hours - so we effectively gain time for family life. It’s brilliant.
ThePlumVan · 25/09/2021 09:56

Leisurely smelly poos in peace Grin

Yes WFH works for me.
I did a thread recently about being asked to go back to the office (against Gov guidance AND company wide policy) and was told I’m the new form of CFer.
Some people are stuck in the dark ages with fear and mistrust, shame.