To think people who work from home don’t get it?

[Wfhwhat]

It’s not just the reduced stress as no travel, but it’s also the reduced sick days as it’s easier to wfh than go in if unwell. It’s being able to have a contractor at your home instead of booking a day off. It’s cheaper. You have more time with family.

I work in the nhs so there is literally no scope for me to work from home. I do love my job but had I known office jobs would turn in to work from home, I wouldn’t have gone into the nhs. I know I could change if I wanted to… but it’s not exactly realistic. I’m 48, two kids, trained in what I do.

just having a moan really after seeing so many wfh photos on Instagram out in the garden today.

What makes you think we don’t get it? We do, that’s why we work from home. No, I don’t think about millions of people working in the office before I post something online, why would I?
By the way, I work for the NHS and am 100% remote.

Some people don't have a choice, WFH is the only way they can work.

Just remember that if firms find that staffing working from home can be just as effective as physically on their premises, it's only a small step for them to start employing people from abroad who are just as well qualified/experienced but expect much lower wages.

I think anyone working from home is at much greater risk of being made redundant in the next decade or two. Whereas jobs requiring the physical presence of their workers are likely to be far safer and not as likely to be affected by increased globalism.

There should be a workplace premium of more than£££ for those who cannot WFH

and why are they all out in the garden? Unless it's a lunch break they should be concentrating on their job

I would have thought that the majority of people who now work from home have had a point in their lives when they didn't, so, i would guess that they do get it, and are in the main grateful for the opporutnity to be able to work from home and enjoy the benefits.

I get it, I work from home because I have to- post covid we had our office sold. I find it depressing, isolating and difficult to switch off from work. It has had a negative impact on my mental health - everything has pros and cons

Unlike the op who found the time to scroll through social media while being at work, you mean?
I can take my laptop to the garden. Unless I have an appointment, nobody cares where I write my reports. Wouldn’t have time to snap a picture for the gram but that’s another matter.

I know, just having a moan as it seems very unfair especially today when sweltering!

What on earth do you mean don't get it? They get it very well, those are precisely the reason people have chosen wfh jobs.

Often lower paid, administrative roles however the wfh benefits are worth the lower pay for a lot of people. It's a balancing act of the pros and cons, depending on your individual circumstances

I agree there should be a working on site pay element. A number of my colleagues on the same grade work from home some of the time but I can't at all due to the nature of my work yet we are paid the same. Frustrating!

Do you think we’re not working? I’m stuck in my flat in front of my laptop, staring at the sunshine through my window. I don’t know anyone who has the time to sit in the garden when they are supposed to be working.

also WFH is not always a choice, it was forced upon most of us during the pandemic and honestly being isolated in your house all day long is not for everyone.

I do think there is a serious point about sickness absence especially at companies where there is a mix of WFH and not (like where I work). People should be very cautious comparing sickness records between people who do and do not work from home.

I certainly think that ultimately the job/salary market will change so that there is a premium paid to people who are required to work at an employer's premises, at least to compensate for commuting costs, if not also for commuting time etc.

Will probably take a few years, but ultimately, organisations wanting staff to work on their premises will have to pay more to attract staff and the market will adjust so that people wanting to WFH are generally paid less to reflect the time and money they save by not having to commute.

Or people WFH should be paid more to cover the electricity, heating in winter, WiFi. We got a bonus the first year of COVID to cover some of our extra bills.

Actually in my company the continuation of full time WFH is seen as a benefit in kind and does feed into salary. Precisely because of the work/life balance and flexibility it provides.

So I would not presume more employers won't view it that way.

Of course we get it.
I spent 20 years of my life not working at home, part of that on wards in a hospital.
I actively sought out a 9 to 5 desk job because I didn't want to be on my feet all day anymore working shifts. This has now become a partially WFH job and I much prefer it. I never want to have to commute 5 days a week again.

of course I know people who work from home are working! I’m just saying the perks go far beyond not having to commute

I've spent a lot of the last 10 years putting right cock ups that has been outsourced to people working offshore, so firms are having to pay cheaper offshore workers - and then pay me. Winner.

We do get it. I spent 15 years working in the NHS on wards, now I have a pain in the arse WFH office job but at least I can pee or get a drink when I want to.

If you want to change to a WFH job, you could. It might take time, but it depends what you prioritise.

I think you have quite rosy spectacles re WFH. There are plenty of downsides as this thread shows.

How is reduced sick days a benefit to the employee? If I would have had a day off sick from office work, but soldier on through at home, that’s a benefit to the employer not me.

The vast majority know that. It must be a tiny % of workforce who joined the workforce in the time period this has become the norm.

Therefore the vast majority also sucked it up for years before hand.

Why do they need to get it?
I have relatives who work from home who are NHS workers. Change jobs.

Do you think those who wfh have always wfh? That’s unlikely.

Of course we get it.

Some of do understand the benefits from previous jobs where WFH wasn't an option. It's never too late to make a change if you want to do something else, you have many years left in you and if you'd prefer to be doing a job with WFH as an option, you can start putting the wheels in motion now. It may take some time but that time is going to pass anyway!