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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Working from home

71 replies

Hamjamwich · 08/12/2021 20:38

I know it sounds trivial but I could have cried when Boris said work from home.
Need some personal space ! DH is in the office 1/2 days a week and it's the only time the house is empty

OP posts:
Iggly · 08/12/2021 20:39

I know what you mean. But at the same time, the infection rates are worrying especially as omicron escapes the vaccine to some extent.

I think our office may remain open for people if they wish to use it, so I may take that option. Would your DH?

TottiePlantagenet · 08/12/2021 20:40

I hear you Flowers :(

EnnAndJay · 08/12/2021 20:41

Do you have a garage or summerhouse?

Stick a portable heater and his desk in there.

Original poster
Hamjamwich · 08/12/2021 20:43

No space in our little house so his desk is in the living room. Sick of it

OP posts:
prynaithda21 · 08/12/2021 20:44

I'm sorry that it is difficult for you. Perhaps you need to have a conversation with your DH about the fact it is difficult and why. I hope he is not one of those men (and there are some women) who are full of their own importance when it comes to work, or not self-aware of bad habits.

Woodmarsh · 08/12/2021 20:44

OH and I both wfh full time in a 2 bed semi and hardly see each other, it can be done Wink

fedup65356 · 08/12/2021 20:46

Could be worse, he could be WFH permanently like my DH who I wish would work away again

Nix2020 · 08/12/2021 20:47

Can he not set up the desk in the bedroom for the time being. That's what I did so the family had the rest of the house. I eventually cleared out all the lock down gym gear and moved into the spare room.

HangingDitch · 08/12/2021 20:47

Agreed. I currently do three days from the office and two at home and it’s been great. WFH full time is a total ball-ache, isolating and impractical. My house is not a good working environment.

CloudyStorms · 08/12/2021 20:48

It's only guidance so if it's going to cause emotional distress then that seems like reason enough?

hemhem · 08/12/2021 20:49

Can you rejig the bedrooms at all to squueze a desk in? WFH is not good for anyone with a young family

A580Hojas · 08/12/2021 20:54

I completely sympathise. What I want to know is how many employers give back an amount of money to their employees for wfh - heating costs and so on.

I know a couple in their early 40s in London. They have a 2 year old. All they can afford on their decent salaries is a 2 bed flat (not at all uncommon). Yet they both need desk space, constant good WiFi and a certain amount of privacy to do their jobs. Their living space is severely compromised in order to be able to wfh but they are just expected to do it without, afaik, any salary boost for this.

NotMeNoNo · 08/12/2021 20:55

Judging from what I see in backgrounds, many people are WFH in bedrooms, hallways, conservatories etc. Is it a one bedroom house?

Kshhuxnxk · 08/12/2021 20:56

It is purely guidance not law. I refuse to wfh ever again. My home is not my workplace and my MH needs me to separate work and personal.

anon12345678901 · 08/12/2021 20:57

I feel ya. I love going to the office twice a week, it's a nice break from home. Home is so cramped and noisy at times. I'm hoping our office will let us go in though if we ask.

LadyCatStark · 08/12/2021 21:01

I can’t do it again, I just can’t. Our work will tell us we have to WFH because we “can” but it’s not doing the job anywhere near like properly. I work with families with under 3 years olds FFS. How am I meant to do anything meaningful with them at home?

wtfisgoingonhere21 · 08/12/2021 21:04

I understand where it must be hard to be under each others feet with the work from home rule but I think in the current situation I would get him to set up in a bedroom out the way op if you can.

I'm not essential however in work with the public in very close proximity and right now I would rather be on wfh but I can't do my job remotely unfortunately

Or you Cld start wearing air pods and listening to podcasts all day Grin

Tayegete · 08/12/2021 21:10

I felt like crying too. So fed up of being at home. My local office still hasn’t reopened but we have literally just started having meetings scheduled in London again. Just so bored of being at home. DH had gone back 2/3 days a week but looks like we will be back in the tiny office 5 days a week.

2022HereWeCome · 08/12/2021 21:11

I've had enough of this too OP. Rising energy costs needing to be met. My DH just back to work and likely to be home again soon. Fucking entire house turned into an office. no bloody escape from work. Having to keep quiet while DH is still working (I'm part time) No way are we having an office in the bedroom again - its utterly grim. People who suggest this obviously haven't sat looking at a work filled desk while trying to get to sleep

2022HereWeCome · 08/12/2021 21:12

And I work in what is essentially a corridor off the kitchen/diner.

VladmirsPoutine · 08/12/2021 21:18

It's only recently I'm starting to see what a trap WFH is for some people. For me parts of it have been utterly life changing in an amazing way.

MackenCheese · 08/12/2021 21:20

I've been wfh from day one of the pandemic. This Friday is my first chance to get out of the house and into the office to see colleagues irl and I for one, can't wait! It will be so good for my mental health just to sit on a train for a while and watch the world go by....

prynaithda21 · 08/12/2021 21:25

Whilst it is guidance not law, and for some it's great, some OK, some bad, employers interpret this in different ways. There have been several threads about people told/forced to go back into offices where there is no social distancing or adequate ventilation, probably just because the manager (often male) prefers to lord it over everyone or dodge family responsibilities.

There should be the option of an office for those who cannot practically work from home.

Darkpheonix · 08/12/2021 21:25

Is it not having alone time or that you want time away from him?

ufucoffee · 08/12/2021 21:27

He said work from home if you can. I can but I hate it so will be ignoring it and going to the office. Encourage your husband to do so as well Smile

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