Don’t feel like I can ask to work from home

[endoftether28]

I’ve previously posted about my job/my boss etc and concluded that she’s not a great boss and is taking advantage etc.

I work in private healthcare - today I have one client in the morning and then nobody in the afternoon due to cancellations. She’s fuming about this as we’re not taking enough money atm.

Other friends in my profession say their bosses are very flexible - if they’re not seeing a client then their bosses don’t mind where they do their admin, as long as it’s being done. My friend will work from home whenever her sessions are finished.
I never work from home because I usually have clients all day, which is fine.

I don’t feel like I can even ask my boss because I’ll get moaned at. I have an empty afternoon, I feel nervous to say “can I work from home this afternoon” because she will say “why?!” And I don’t feel like I have a reason that even sounds acceptable, other than not needing to be in and still getting admin tasks done.

Is this an unreasonable request? Do other people do this or ask for this? Are bosses generally flexible with this now?

A perfectly reasonable request. I work from home whenever I want because my boss is a nice and reasonable guy.

I think so too @Oysterbabe i just don’t know how to ask though without sounding rude. Also when she inevitably asks “why?” I don’t have a major excuse other than it’s nicer 😂

Reasonable on both sides. But personally if I'm paying someone to work I would expect to see them work in the office unless theirs a reason. Your boss is paying for a work space

Do people in your work ever work from home? If they do it's a reasonable request, if they don't then it's unreasonable.

My boss sometimes goes home if she wants to get notes etc done. She has the excuse of childcare/school run though..

Your colleagues at your place of employment

do they work from home?

forget your friends at other places as irrelevant

Just ask. If she asks why say it's more convenient for you and it's nice and quiet to concentrate on getting everything done.

Don't give her the chance to say why - answer the question before she asks it. 'I thought I'd work from home this afternoon as my diary is empty and I can still fulfil all my admin tasks just the same- hope that's ok' then you're not leaving her much space to question it.

If its never been said to you that you can work from home, it's probably unreasonable to ask. I mean I work from home full time but that's my contract. If my contract was full time in the office then I'd probably want a good reason for asking. What is your reason?

Just ask, you won't spontaneously combust. If she says no you know in future it's not an option, if she says yes then you know it's fine in future.
Shy bairns get nowt.

Do your colleagues work from home? If so then ask. Just say it's quieter there for you to get more done or something

Use you voice OP, she can either say yes or no, but at least you asked. If she asks why, "Because sometimes you would like the flexibility. "
I personally think people respect you more for being assertive, even if she says no.

I know it's 'Don't ask, don't get' but here it's 'Don't ask, no chance of getting....'

You have nothing to lose by asking.

I think it depends on your work policy.

I work somewhere that the policy is now 2 days wfh if u want so it doesn't matter

Prior to covid though regular wfh was by a flexible working arrangement that you apply to HR for or a one off reason - children ill/ washing mahine repair/ drop car off for MOT / have a 1/2 day and easier to get to motorway etc

However as a manager I set the tone for my team. I leave early bec of children and I am supportive of them having a wlb too. So if I left early to do notes then I wouldn't have an issue with you doing so....but she doesn't sound that way inclined.

Tricky as can see both sides.

I own a private healthcare practice.
Whilst I don't think it's unreasonable to ask. And I do on occasions make provisions for this. I can understand the concerns your boss is currently facing if there are multiple cancellations and the diary isn't as busy as usual. Running a practice and salaries are expensive.

My main issue with employed clinicians working from home for a full session or leaving early because they have no bookings is that if there was a call for a last minute appointment, it means there is nobody there to see them. It means no money coming in to the practice this afternoon. It's sod's law that people will call to book an appointment if she lets you go home, but won't if you stay!
Also, it's unlikely notes will take a full afternoon and time would be better spent doing tasks in the clinic, an MDT meeting or CPD...

Ask and if the answer is no coyls you apply to other places where you know its the done thing?

I was told lies beyond the team leaders on private healthcare.

our two trainers wanted you to believe you can spend a lot of time with patients but I degress when you are told to solve SEVEN Cases in an hour, you soon realise the training team are telling lies if not pork pies. To me 7 cases an hour is less than 10 minutes due to an hour being 60 minutes.

If you are already in the office, why not work the rest of the day in the office?