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Original poster

WF "Home" question

299 replies

CheesesandWines · 15/10/2023 14:15

I am in the lucky position to WFH 5 days a week. Of course this happened in COVID, and I have since secured this permeantly. I'm good at my job and at this stage don't feel the need to "network" and be physically present at work.

One of the benefits of wfh is that I don't have to commute and can also fit in hobbies and exercise in the day. Twice a week at lunch (which is 1.5hrs) I like to go to my local gym/ Spa and really relax / switch off. To fit this in, I then work from the spa in the afternoon. There's a private booth in the cafe with no outside noise and because I'm a regular customer I have the space reserved for the afternoon automatically.

Here's the issue. On one occasion the laptop moved and my line manager could see someone at the spa walking around in their robe. Nothing more. She is now saying that wfh means your home and that I can't work from the spa two afternoons a week. I think her attitude is discriminatory and is impinging on my own health. I work much better from the spa and all the work is done with my body benefiting from a full body massage before an afternoon of work. She says that me working from the spa will affect colleagues who have not been allowed to wfh. I've looked at my wfh contact and nothing i am doing is not allowed. I have a good mind to work from the spa every afternoon now to prove my point !

OP posts:
HeatherMoores · 15/10/2023 19:07

I say go for it. Why shouldn’t we all have nicer lives? What’s actually wrong with that?

supadupapupascupa · 15/10/2023 19:09

Our gym has a room purpose built for working in, next to the cafe.
I don't see the problem.

BobblePin · 15/10/2023 19:11

I actually think it's amazing you can get in two spa sessions a week and fit it around work. Great work !

Treesinmygarden · 15/10/2023 19:11

SilverGlitterBaubles · 15/10/2023 18:37

And people wonder why so many firms are ordering their staff back to the office.

I think it's abundantly clear that this is the exception not the rule.

Thinking about it logically, if it's secure, and private, it's probably better than working from a cafe? I'm always surprised employers allow that (or maybe in many cases they don't know).

There's plenty of inequity though. I am part of a team WFH 5 days a week, because of the functional area I work in. Some of my colleagues have been forced to return to the office because their work doesn't lend itself well to homeworking. I'd be a bit pissed off tbh.

BobblePin · 15/10/2023 19:14

OP must have these pods at the gym which are popping up everywhere. I would love to work from here after a jacuzzi!

WF "Home" question
TheFifthTellytubby · 15/10/2023 19:17

hattie43 · 15/10/2023 18:33

@Puffalicious

Because I feel lucky to be able to wfh as most of my colleagues aren't allowed to . It's not fair to them if I'm larging it up elsewhere .

Why is working somewhere other than home "larging it up"? There is no reason for the OP's colleagues to know what her daily movements are, unless the manager tells them just to stir things up! Background-blurring cockups and daft discrimination claims aside, as long as the OP completes her tasks, meets her targets and doesn't compromise security, it doesn't matter where she does her work. And if her colleagues find out and don't like it, then what's stopping them from asking for a remote working arrangement too?

NatashaDancing · 15/10/2023 19:28

I'm always surprised employers allow that (or maybe in many cases they don't know).

My firm doesn't.

tpxqi · 15/10/2023 19:29

Mickey taking Morons like these have spoilt work from home for the recents ones.

FrillyGoatFluff · 15/10/2023 19:31

Those massage oils have gone to your head

Womencanlift · 15/10/2023 19:35

tpxqi · 15/10/2023 19:29

Mickey taking Morons like these have spoilt work from home for the recents ones.

Agree. While my employer is still fairly flexible two of my friends work for different companies, both of which work for companies who are enforcing 3 days in minimum with no excuses. One of them is in a company where their security pass scans are being monitored to make sure they actually come in 3 times

Thehonestybox · 15/10/2023 20:04

Yanbu. I do the same thing twice a week and in the coffee/foyer of the spa the tables are always full of other people working and on teams using headsets.

Not sure what your manager thinks all the usual laptop people who fill up coffee shops and hotel foyers around are doing if not working remotely.

MayThe4th · 15/10/2023 20:44

This thread makes it fairly clear why so many people fail to take people seriously when they claim to work from home.

Hanging out in a cafe/spa/<insert hobby area of choice> is hardly working is it? Even if you’re looking at your laptop from time to time.

It just makes it harder for those of us who do a real job from home to be taken seriously. Because nobody who is “working” in a cafe is doing anything of the sort. Either that or their job isn’t really that important.

XenoBitch · 15/10/2023 20:49

I know someone who WFH, and he rarely is actually at home. He flits between cafes. His manager is fine with it, and even the change of background during online meetings.
My friend gets his work done, and that is all that matters really.

CagneyAndLazy · 15/10/2023 20:49

tpxqi · 15/10/2023 19:29

Mickey taking Morons like these have spoilt work from home for the recents ones.

But everyone who WFHs on MN is "far more productive" when they're just putting a wash on/ walking the dog/ looking after a toddler working from home!

XenoBitch · 15/10/2023 20:51

MayThe4th · 15/10/2023 20:44

This thread makes it fairly clear why so many people fail to take people seriously when they claim to work from home.

Hanging out in a cafe/spa/<insert hobby area of choice> is hardly working is it? Even if you’re looking at your laptop from time to time.

It just makes it harder for those of us who do a real job from home to be taken seriously. Because nobody who is “working” in a cafe is doing anything of the sort. Either that or their job isn’t really that important.

Harsh. My friend works on his laptop in various cafes throughout the day. His job is important, and he does get work done.

TheCunctator · 15/10/2023 20:51

Another MN thread which is bollocks but which won't be deleted.

BobblePin · 15/10/2023 20:56

I'm not sure why people getting so exasperated that OP maximises their lunch break. Should they sit in the office with a tesco sandwich at lunch scrolling mumsnet to keep their productivity high ?

MayThe4th · 15/10/2023 21:03

BobblePin · 15/10/2023 20:56

I'm not sure why people getting so exasperated that OP maximises their lunch break. Should they sit in the office with a tesco sandwich at lunch scrolling mumsnet to keep their productivity high ?

This isn’t about what OP does in her lunch break though is it?

People are free to do whatever they want in their lunch break, I know people who go to the gym/the pub/a cafe even when they work in the office. But the key here is that they do it in their lunchbreak and afterwards they’re expected to be back working.

It’s one thing saying that wfh is convenient because you don’t have to commute. It’s quite another to think that it should give you a chance to do your hobbies/pick up the kids/essentially be paid to take the piss.

tachetastic · 15/10/2023 21:04

BobblePin · 15/10/2023 20:56

I'm not sure why people getting so exasperated that OP maximises their lunch break. Should they sit in the office with a tesco sandwich at lunch scrolling mumsnet to keep their productivity high ?

Yes, totally. So long as you're at your desk and online you're being more productive.

Even if the only two windows you have open are Mumsnet and Amazon. Only two months to go the Chrimbo!!!

😂

BobblePin · 15/10/2023 21:05

But OP is back working in the afternoon , just at a different location than morning ?!

Purpleyogamat · 15/10/2023 21:07

Mikimoto · 15/10/2023 16:44

I smell lemongrass!

Show quote history

😂

Mumof2teens79 · 15/10/2023 21:07

We were given rules...not in our contract (because that still says I work from the office) that your WFH set up has to comply with DSE and H&S requirements, and has to be reasonably private and secure so confidential information and meetings cannot be overheard, and we would have to go into the office at any time if required...so no childcare and no working from holiday accommodation etc.

DailyMailHater · 15/10/2023 21:08

Our WFH policy states you can’t work from a public place, and if you wish to work from somewhere that is t your home address (I irked from my parents once when our wifi was down) it must be pre approved by your manager

working from a spa is taking the mick

Puffalicious · 15/10/2023 21:13

TheFifthTellytubby · 15/10/2023 19:17

Why is working somewhere other than home "larging it up"? There is no reason for the OP's colleagues to know what her daily movements are, unless the manager tells them just to stir things up! Background-blurring cockups and daft discrimination claims aside, as long as the OP completes her tasks, meets her targets and doesn't compromise security, it doesn't matter where she does her work. And if her colleagues find out and don't like it, then what's stopping them from asking for a remote working arrangement too?

Show quote history

I feel the same. It's almost like people don't want anyone else to have decent conditions just because they can't have them. It seems surly.

BrightGreenMoonBuggy · 15/10/2023 21:14

I suppose logically if you still do the work so efficiently that she’d never have known you were not WF’H’ then it’s daft for her to have a problem with it. You’re still fulfilling your obligations as an employee regardless of where you are, nobody can see a difference in output and it’s making you happy with your working life.

On the other hand, I can appreciate that seeing you in a spa with people wandering round in robes doesn’t necessarily look professional as it has chilling, not working, vibes.

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