Sorry, not sorry, but wfh really is much easier

[Jeannie88]

I know it's become the norm, especially post covid, but do those who wfh realise how much easier their lives are?

Sorry, but I have found it a bit pathetic and embarrassing that there has been a big defiance of 'going into office' once a fortnight to be such an horrific ordeal?

Don't you all realise how fortunate you are? No commute, time at home to do things those of us have to do after a day of being on our feet, all frontline and retail etc then look after our children?

Sp my point from.personal experience. We are a group of 6 friends (f) and go out regularly together. When we have been to midweek gigs, comedy nights, meal, the 4 who wfh joke how they can roll out of bed and be online within minutes to show present, then have breakfast and just work at their own pace and even during teams meeting they can sit back and contribute what they have to.

Then, the 2 of us who have to get up at 6am, dress for work, ready to drive so sensible of alcohol intake the night before and buy ourselves soft drinks in rounds or even drive and give lifts. Then do a full intensive day with full on human interaction and check e mails on the evening when we get the time to do so.

Of course childcare issues come into this. We who don't wfh have to take our DC to breakfast club or childminder then go on to work, the 3 of the 4 who have DC drop them off at school and rush back having been seen to log on early but not really working as getting them ready.

Ok so my observation and opinions based on this. I guess all the moaning on MN about having to go into the office (which really isn't so hard is it?) had incited me to raise this point.

Oh and I do have DP who wfh and he totally agrees with me. He's hardworking and doesn't do the slob thing, but agrees, in his own words. 'It's a piece of piss compared to going to the office and even that was so easy compared to your job'.

So please those who have the privilege of wfh stop moaning! Honestly, how would the world work if everyone wfh? It wouldn't.

I've WFH for many years now and I find a really effective way to separate home/work is to essentially "commute" by going for a little walk before work and after (I have a very active dog so it happens anyway but honestly, it works just like the drive in and out does).

Just in case it helps.

I work hybrid and yes, going into the office is a hindrance.

I need time to get ready, and travel, which means three hours of work lost (potentially more if the trains are as shit as they often are) and I sit in the office on calls to the same people I’m on calls with at home, since my team are scattered around the country. Other than maybe a chat with a stranger in the kitchen the only people I talk to are friends who work in the same building if we have a brew together.

I actually quite like going in, but lets not pretend there’s any value in it for either me or my employer. It gives me less time and therefore gets in the way of both my productivity and family life. When I wfh I can start really early (husband takes kids to breakfast club) and be finished in time to pick up. I can be as flexible as required and get everything done without as much hassle.

I'd love to work from home and not spend approximately half an hour each way driving in because of numerous bastarding traffic lights and traffic. Less money spent on petrol.

Get way more done at home too as no distractions.

There's times I like the chatter in the office but if I need to focus on something I'd much rather do it from home. The ideal for me would be a 2/3 split either way, unfortunately the culture here likes people in the office

I hate that I like WFH so much, as I'm very heavily office based! I'd prefer to hate it then coming into the office would be a relief.

In response to a PP:
I used to WFH before it was cool.

It was very much pre covid because of the hours I did (online customer service) it was better to WFH. I also did odd hours but it covered business needs and around my child care.
I had to work hard, couldn't do 50% of what the staff in the office did, as it was all reported on and everyone knew how much you had done.

In response to OP - 100% it's easier to WFH.
My DH now works from home 100% of the time.
They are encouraged to go to the office but then downsized the office so not actually enough hot desks for all.
He goes in every few months for meetings he has to attend but those days remind him why he doesn't bother every day.....the commute.
We only live 7 miles from his office in a city centre, but public transport is appalling & parking would cost double the public transport. It can take an hour or more to get from our house to his office for an 8.30-9am start.
Adds so much to his day when WFH means the kids (high school) have someone around when they get home, even if they don't actually need him, he's there, and he likes being there for them.

He's said loads of time now, WFH is soooooo much easier than going to the office. Even though he spends a lot of time on calls.

My job doesn't give to WFH....maybe one day a week ish or half a day here and there but the role doesn't suit WFH so I go to the office 5 days a week...but its only a 15 mins walk from my house and super flexible hours so it works for us.
But I wouldn't want to go back to commuting in to the city centre again - that was a positive from covid for me - I got made redundant and actively searched for jobs closer to home.
If I needed to move on again, I would be looking for jobs close to home/WFH for sure.

I think this is a valid concern and moving forward remote offices etc will have better advice around this and other issues, including keeping a close eye on overwork.

In terms of physical health, flexible hours could allow for exercise, walking meetings can be included, standing desks suggested where appropriate in DSE assessments etc. I think physical health and mental health are very interlinked, though one being poor does not always equal the other being poor. I think in MH there’s also a concern that people are ‘unseen’ in full WFH jobs and guidance around that may be needed too.

However, there’ll be plenty of pros and cons to both office and WFH as I mentioned earlier and I think better guidance could be really useful.

Just read through the numerous threads from people moaning and whinging about having to go back to the office. It’s pathetic.

I once worked from home full time for six months and hated it. Lonely and boring. I ended up retraining as a teacher to avoid it.

I think I would have loved it for a couple of days each week when my children were little though.

@LadyPenelope68 a lot of people in London have very long commutes as the jobs are in the centre and people can't afford to live there. I have a lot of sympathy with people whose commute is 2-3 hours in total each day (as is common in London) and also have young children.

I work hybrid but mainly wfh. It's perfect for me. And I'm so grateful my work does it.

If it wasn't for pathetic people moaning and whinging, you'd still be working 12 hrs a day 6 days a week in a cotton mill your Ladyship. Working conditions are SUPPOSED to get better, and if people in office jobs working from home means that jobs which require attendance, like teaching, nursing and retail have to improve the pay and conditions in order to compete with flexible options, that's good too. Having more time with your family and to spend on hobbies along with reducing the environmental cost of commuting with no loss of productivity is a wonderful thing for everyone except people who own city centre office space.

People being allowed to work at home does NOT improve pay and conditions for jobs requiring attendance, get real and back to reality 😂😂😂

I do hybrid which is perfect for me. I like the flexibility and the “head down” ability of working from home. But I also like seeing colleagues and interacting in a more meaningful way in person. I find certain things do get done more efficiently in person. A mix works for me.

I was hybrid working pre pandemic.

Different jobs will have pros and cons, and those pros and cons change as society changes. I think it must be hard for some people to see the jobs they chose, when most people travelled in to work, remain as they always were whilst other people’s jobs may be improved by wfh.

But that’s life - lots of things change. Your friends could possibly be more understanding though.

If your husband WFH though, and you say WFH people don’t need to use childcare whilst you do, isn’t that a bit inconsistent? Surely your husband can be doing this slipping out on school runs etc? Of does he not because it’s actually a crap way to live and work?

This is very true and something else I meant to say.

WFH has become more necessary, and more of a dividing factor, because people (not only in London but perhaps especially there) are pushed further and further from their place of work due to house prices etc.

In the past people didn’t commonly have 2 hour each way commutes, and certainly the primary carer for children wouldn’t.

WFH has also allowed many women to work when they wouldn’t previously have been able to, or at least not in the same roles. Because in practice it does tend to be women working around children, much as it shouldn’t have to be.

We're currently in a phase where companies cannot recruit for in-person roles, it's only a matter of time before they work out that the only way people are going to want to do them is if they increase pay. It's very basic economics sweetie.

Wfh literally cured my depression. I would never go back to life before

Pre-Covid I would wake up 6:30, walk dog, cook breakfast, get kids up, drop kids and dog off at nanny’s, get showered/dressed, drive 45 mins if not 1 hour plus depending on traffic (company moved HQ) and be at the office for 9am.

In the evening I would be lucky to be walking through my front door at 7pm - considered that a good day. After cooking, cleaning and baths dh and I would have an hour of watching tv together before going to sleep. It gave me existential dread and I had some very dark thoughts driving back in the dark during winter.

I will never apply for a job where I need to be in the office more than 2 days.

It seems really weird now to think I used to be in the office 5 days per week.

Anyway, my company have cut down on their workspace so it would now be physically impossible for all of us to be in daily. Which is absolutely fine with me.

Well yes, of course it is. I took a 20% pay cut about 16 years ago to take a new job working from home for a better work-life balance, and I've not once regretted it.

Of course, I'm also autistic, which - for me - means that the office environment works directly against my productivity, whereas my home office is set up specifically for all my needs.

Accordingly, COVID felt pretty much like the rest of the world was just catching up with my lifestyle ;)

Tbh I didn’t really like wfh. Thought I’d love it but, no. I don’t want to associate home with work.

That said I don’t have long a commute.

Same. I work in a beautiful building, a pleasant 20 minute walk from my home with people who I enjoyed spending time with. At home my desk is in the kitchen where I'm constantly interrupted by people getting food and drinks and snacks and having leisure time while I'm working, and also distracted by all the housework that needs to be done.

Wfh without your own study would be a nightmare. It’s not comparable to having a nice study with a good view.

I never get distracted by housework though 😂

Im hybrid and do 3 days in some 2 at home. Sometimes more. Im well aware some of it is easier. But in my role the workload doesnt get any more reasonable at home. If anything when wfh i usually work an extra two hours a day.

The thing is if you are jealous of it change jobs dont begrudge your friends more time for themselves.

I have a garden office. This is essential for me to allow me to switch between home and work.
I would not have taken a remote job (back in 2015) if I did not have this set up.

I agree with this @YaMuvva as being a downside

I work hybrid, always a Fri, sometimes a Mon as well, it depends what's happening. It's great for when I have loads of spreadsheets to grapple with as I can talk myself through it out loud. And I'm very much in favour of WFH as it wasn't an option when DD was young and I support my younger colleagues and am glad that they have occasional days where they aren't racing home for nursery pick-up (our office is central London). And it's great for people with disabilities. I once managed someone who couldn't always make it in. She was perfectly competent but the not coming in was so problematic back then - no-one had a clue what to do. I remember thinking during the pandemic that this must have been a game-changer for her.

Perfect mix for me is a day or two in office and the other 3/4 WFH - stops me going feral!!!