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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does anybody feel happier WFH?

121 replies

Spanakopitas · 13/05/2023 08:12

I've never done it before, but I've got a new job which is 60% WFH 40% office based, and I've no idea what to expect.
I am just ready for a change. I've always worked in education and social care which involve being around others constantly, I've never had an office sort of role.
I'm fed up of toxic workplaces, cliques, bullying and so on. Not saying the new role will be perfect but I'm hoping that being at home most of the time will help things.
Just wondered if anybody else feels happier now they WFH?

OP posts:
Aspargustips · 13/05/2023 08:14

Yep gives me a much better work life balance which makes me happy

i also get the quiet time I need to get my work done

Aspargustips · 13/05/2023 08:15

I don’t think I could ever do a job that meant more than 2 days a week in an office tbh

but I worked from home pre covid so it’s not a new thing for me or the area I work in

MiIIiex · 13/05/2023 08:16

I work from home full time and absolutely love it, love the flexibility.

Original poster
Spanakopitas · 13/05/2023 08:16

That's great to hear. I don't drive so I'm used to long commutes on public transport,so I am looking forward to not having that 3 times a week.
I can be quiet but still be friendly, but also like to just get on with my work, so hopefully this will be a better setting for me too

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 13/05/2023 08:16

I have one day a week in the office. Rest wfh.

Much happier, feel I do a better job as well. Use the one day in the office to have the face to face conversations that are valuable/productive, the social element as well. The team I work with does not have cliques, or last people, or those who have annoying habits, so none of those reasons to prefer wfh.

I prefer main meal in the middle of the day (which I can do), with a local market twice a week now have no frozen food at all, and not being tied down to a precise time to be up and about has a benefit to me.

hellocats · 13/05/2023 08:17

Yes, I am much happier. I've realised jobs I hated in the past were due to being in the office and office culture, rather than the actual work itself.

In my current job I go to the office for ad hoc meetings and it's great.

mumonthehill · 13/05/2023 08:18

I really enjoy it. I am strict with routine and have an office so I feel I go to work and then can shut the door at the end of the day. I have lots of contact with colleagues during the day so feel part of the organisation. Not sure I could office based again.

Sissynova · 13/05/2023 08:18

Lots of people on MN complain about it but everyone I know in real life has enjoyed the switch to hybrid working. It’s much more conducive to family life and work life balance.

Personally I would not want to WFH 5 days a week.

Tygertiger · 13/05/2023 08:18

I usually do two days at home and three days in the office and love it. I would struggle to be entirely home-based as I like the in-person interaction too, but being able to be flexible makes such a difference to my life.

Alltheshoes74 · 13/05/2023 08:19

I worked from the office full
time pre covid.. now fully at
home and love it. I’m far more productive, have 2 dogs and my husband comes home for Lunch. Honestly I’ve never been happier! I also get to see my teenagers at lunch in the holidays which is fab

sunshineandshowers40 · 13/05/2023 08:22

I WFH full time and love it!

billyt · 13/05/2023 08:25

I've been based from home for fifteen years and I wouldn't work anywhere that didn't allow it. (Technically my current role should be three days WFH and two days office, but as I've spent so little time in the office my contract has just been changed to home-based.)

I've been to our office (Central London) twice in the last four years. I do get out and meet clients but that is generally on-site. Meet up with colleagues and suppliers but either in a coffee shop or pub.

I get so much more done, any meetings that involved long treks into the office are now on Teams.

You just need to ensure, if possible, a separate place to work in so you have created a work/non-work divide. Also, I don't have a TV in my office so even for important news items I have to choose to leave my work area.

Make sure your working environment is comfortable and well-lit. Good chair and desk. I don't have tea/coffee making facilities in my office as I then have to have a break to get a drink.

Good luck in your new role.

Oysterbabe · 13/05/2023 08:26

To start with I was, I did it for nearly 3 years. I loved how I felt less of a slave, more free time etc. As time went on my productivity really started to slump. Eventually i struggled to focus on anything and started falling behind, felt really miserable, lost confidence in my ability etc. I also gained weight, no more walking to the office, temptation to snack every time I went to make a cup of coffee.

I thought it was just the job sucked but now I know it was because I was working from home. I changed job and am now 80% in the office and it's night and day. My productivity is through the roof. I'd never go back to fully remote. It was OK for a while but it's better for me to be in an office where the environment is work focused, I can discuss issues with colleagues etc. I just feel better mentally being up, out and about and not stagnating at home.

Maybe 60/40 will be OK, but I resist the trap of increasing days at home.

Summer2424 · 13/05/2023 08:27

Hi @Spanakopitas yes 100% love wfh!!

ZenNudist · 13/05/2023 08:27

I do 2 days WFH and 2 days office. I don't want to go into office that much but my team appreciate it. WFH is not good for my trainees and they benefit from me going in. I have trainees over the country and so my 2 days WFH give me space to also do teams meetings with the whole group.

WFH I get up a bit later its a more relaxed start to the day, get more work time in because I come back to my work later. Go out for lunch with DH and pick up DC from after school earlier.

WFO I see lots of people, I benefit from walking to and from public transport and I eat nice lunch from pret. Its also more tiring and less productive. My work really approve of my 2 day commitment which has been led by me. On balance it's good I do it.

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 13/05/2023 08:28

Yes, I've worked at home for the last 7 years and I love it

No commute
In the comfort of my own home
When it's quiet I can do housework
I'm in when my dc get home from school
A lot less office politics
Less 'peoply'
Can walk during lunch
Dogs

Ourshoddyhouse · 13/05/2023 08:30

I WFH full time, absolutely love it.
I have a room I use as my office so it's separate from my home life.

ChimChimeny · 13/05/2023 08:30

Love hybrid, as @LlynTegid said I go in the office for the social/net working/face to face meetings and then quiet at home to get on with work.
We also didn't need breakfast club anymore because we can drop DD off and get home in time to start work now we don't have a commute so saved money.
the only downside is having to arrange Teams calls for everything because we don't have work mobiles and since covid so many desk moves and occasional hot desking we don't have phone numbers h
but would never go back to an office full time.

pineapple360 · 13/05/2023 08:30

I predominantly work from home and mostly enjoy it. The flexibility is great and of course it saves money on travel as well as the fact I can see more of my daughter.

If you aren't used to working from home, if I could give you two tips they would be to stick to a routine and have firm boundaries between home and work stuff. I've failed in this respect and need to get back on track! It's so easy to get distracted at home, or at least it has been for me. It's probably easier if you're lucky enough to have a separate study or work area at home.

NollyNilly · 13/05/2023 08:31

I don't like it but I know I'm in the minority. From speaking to colleagues it seems that the people that like it are the ones that benefit from it the most (with kids with dogs long commute).

It's also really frustrating when trying to get hold of a colleague as they usually aren't right there at their desk like they would be when in the office so it does delay things somewhat.

I also worry about the disadvantage it gives younger people, I've learnt so much over the years from work colleagues, work related things but also life skills.

ChimChimeny · 13/05/2023 08:32

We also both have dedicated office/work spaces as.well, I wouldn't want work stuff all over the dining table

orangegato · 13/05/2023 08:32

MiIIiex · 13/05/2023 08:16

I work from home full time and absolutely love it, love the flexibility.

Which industry please? I need some of that!

Divebar2021 · 13/05/2023 08:33

I do a mixture ( 2 WFH and 2 Office days) and although I appreciate the WFH for my life I definitely don’t work as efficiently on those days. There’s no way I would want to WFH 100% of the time.

Ambi · 13/05/2023 08:34

Absolutely love wfh, especially since my company is very flexible, i appreciate how lucky I am in this. As long as the work is done to an excellent standard and we are available to take calls and have regular meetings. I'm able to run quick errands, do the school run, do jobs around the house, get food and amazon deliveries, I'm around for workmen, I can nip out for school assembly, dentist or sports day etc. It frees up my evenings and weekends as I no longer need do cleaning, laundry and shopping. I also take fewer days holiday as I don't need to book a day off for the plumber etc. We also dropped down to one car as I no longer commute.

florenceandthemac · 13/05/2023 08:36

I do two days WFH (Monday and Friday) and the other three in the office.
After WFH full time for two years during the pandemic, this works for me.
I love the flexibility I have on those two days, but love being in the office for some routine and contact with people.
I because very isolated being at home full time, even though I was regularly speaking to my colleagues. It just wasn't the same. I'm a social person and need human contact!

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