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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not work much on a Friday

69 replies

GoodGrief10 · 08/07/2022 12:53

I work from home a couple of days a week including a Friday and I can't seem to get motivated at all today. Logged on obviously and answered a couple of emails first thing, then I've tidied the house, put some washing on, looked on facebook, had youtube on, phoned my sister and now it's lunchtime. I'm feeling guilty :( but am I alone? Items on today's list have been crossed through and added to Monday's list!

OP posts:
FrownedUpon · 08/07/2022 12:58

Same. I keep thinking “I’ll do it on Monday. “ It’s just too hot & the tennis is on later.

maddening · 08/07/2022 13:02

I am usually productive wfh but today I have the most awful period pains as well as hay-fever.and between the hay-fever tablets and the pain tablets and the fact I am anaemic and having to take take tranrxamic acid tablets and iron tablets my brain is like a jelly today 😅

OhmygodDont · 08/07/2022 13:04

I’ve not clocked up any hours today so I’m with you but I’m not being paid unless I log hours so I guess I took a holiday Grin

theemmadilemma · 08/07/2022 13:05

I've worked over my contracted hours this week, and it's beautifully sunny so I'm taking a lot of garden breaks today... I have my phone, I'm keeping an eye on things.

VladmirsPoutine · 08/07/2022 13:14

I don't think you're being unreasonable. Some days it's just how it is. Beware the crowd who'll admonish you for taking the piss as you're working from home. Honestly, a content and balanced employee is far better at their job than a hurried one.

HilaryBriss · 08/07/2022 13:15

I could have posted this myself... you are definitely not alone!

Nidan2Sandan · 08/07/2022 13:18

My employer emailed us out and told us to make sure we're taking lots of breaks in this heat and plan our diaries accordingly.

I love my employer. They encourage naps as well, their feeling is happy staff good productivity. Everyone has bad days, unproductive days. As long as it's not every day and your work is done I hope most employers get that.

QueSyrahSyrah · 08/07/2022 13:18

Well I'm not working from home and I've not exactly stretched myself either. I've just got back from a stroll to the shop for a sandwich in the glorious sunshine. Sometimes I feel guilty but it's swings and roundabouts. Some days I'm 120%, work extra hours, mired in stress, other days when it's not so busy I can take it easier, and I know the same is true of the team I manage. So in short, no YANBU OP.

I've worked for two managers in the past who were insistent that everyone should be run off their feet all the time and would come up with 'busy work' for us to do in quiet periods. Unsurprisingly they weren't popular.

orangeisthenewpuce · 08/07/2022 13:35

You're being paid to do your job though. If you can't be bothered to work take leave. Would you skive like that in the office? If I knew an employee was doing what you're doing I'd get rid of them.

RedCarsGoFaster · 08/07/2022 13:39

I'm taking TOIL. It's far too nice to sit at a desk.

Secondsop · 08/07/2022 13:42

If I have lots to do on a Friday and I think motivation might be difficult, I go into the office. That’s what works best for me. The office is often quiet so I can get my head down without lots of calls whereas with the best will in the world at home it can be harder to gee myself up by that point in the week. I do also treat myself to a nice lunch on the days I go in.

Womencanlift · 08/07/2022 13:44

orangeisthenewpuce · 08/07/2022 13:35

You're being paid to do your job though. If you can't be bothered to work take leave. Would you skive like that in the office? If I knew an employee was doing what you're doing I'd get rid of them.

Depends on the job though. I am in charge of my diary and workload so if I do less today I will do more on Monday.

My boss packed up yesterday and went and played golf. He was logged on at 7 this morning. Swings and roundabouts I guess

I have messaged a friend and we have just agreed to both finish early and meet in the pub at 4

PresidentByeThen · 08/07/2022 13:47

We're actively encouraged to do less on a Friday. The business blanks out our calendars from noon onwards to stop people putting in meetings, and the expectation is that generally, people will be logging off early.

DottyDotAgain · 08/07/2022 13:49

Once a month I WFH on a Friday, get up early, work from 7.30am and then go for a massage at 11am and kind of easy breasy it through the afternoon....! I'm logged on, keeping an eye, but all pummelled and relaxed and chilled out Grin

I work crazy hours during the week and it's a once a month treat, but I don't book it as leave - it's unofficial TOIL and makes me very happy!

Shitscared123 · 08/07/2022 13:51

I think you are being v v reasonable. Only a matter of time, me thinks, where the 4 day work week becomes the norm. As long as I get my tasks done, I don’t see it as a problem. I e emailed my boss lots of work, and he hasn’t replied to a single email.

Mitsouko67 · 08/07/2022 13:52

Wfh today and yes, it's too nice to work. Though I have actually been working.
Planning to finish at 4 if I can and that's fine in my organisation.

GoldPig · 08/07/2022 13:52

I WFH and am usually productive and proactive if there’s not a lot to do. Today I’m being really slack though and it seems like everyone else is too as it’s radio silence when I try to communicate (Teams chat and email). I’m taking that as approval for slacking off.

Aposterhasnoname · 08/07/2022 13:53

I’m in the office and I’ve done rock all. Well, apart from a very detailed inspection of the grounds, and a “safety check” of the picnic tables.

AppleIsMyName · 08/07/2022 13:56

Same cant be bothered today tbh and I'm just browsing and on MN

CirreltheSquirrel · 08/07/2022 13:59

My Fridays do tend to be easier. I manage my own workload and will usually clear any big tasks off before Friday lunchtime leaving the afternoon for monitoring email/chat and winding down for the weekend. If anything comes up I will do it, but I try to plan my week to minimise the risk of being overly busy.

TokyoSushi · 08/07/2022 14:01

I worked very hard this morning, but now...

I have done a LOT this week though!

notanothertakeaway · 08/07/2022 14:02

If you are being paid to work, then you should be working. Unfortunately, people who doss about when they should be working give WFH a bad name

bumpytrumpy · 08/07/2022 14:04

This is one of the great benefits of WFH that evens out the negatives of evening work / being able to log onto emails on days off etc.

Enjoy it, like 90% of the WFHers today will be (whether they admit it or not!)

VioletCharlotte · 08/07/2022 14:05

notanothertakeaway · 08/07/2022 14:02

If you are being paid to work, then you should be working. Unfortunately, people who doss about when they should be working give WFH a bad name

I'm being paid to do a job. I manage my own workload and diary, if I slack off on a Friday, it means I'll have more to do next week. That's my decision. Good employers measure productively on output/ outcomes, rather than time put in at your desk.

5128gap · 08/07/2022 14:06

orangeisthenewpuce · 08/07/2022 13:35

You're being paid to do your job though. If you can't be bothered to work take leave. Would you skive like that in the office? If I knew an employee was doing what you're doing I'd get rid of them.

A lot of people have jobs where the important thing is what they achieve for the company, and/or they are paid for the knowledge, responsibility or decision making they bring to the role.
These jobs don't require them to be engaged in activity between set hours of the day in order to provide what they're being paid for.