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.

Yeah I don't get this either, I worked from the picnic bench in the garden earlier!

Lots of people who work from home will have had to go into a workplace previously so will 'get it'. Even those that have always worked from home will be aware of the advantages.

I don't get the 'it's not fair' part. Some jobs allow working at home and some don't. If others had to go into the office would you be happier? It would make no difference to you unless you are someone that only feels ok if others are also having to do what you are. Who told you life was fair anyway?

YABU simply because your stating your view on WFH rather then reality.

What you save in commuting costs is eaten up and surpassed by the energy bill! So actually no it's often not cheaper.

Your also judging your opinion on some SM photos which isn't real life. It's very difficult to work in the garden due to the glare of sunshine off a screen. Plus side I do get my lunch in my garden.

As for working when ill yep except your pretty much expected to work unless vomiting/unable to get out of bed. The number of times I should have called in sick but felt the expectation to just log on and work anyway because I could from home is unreal.
You also are missing the downsides like unable to shut off, often working longer hours to get things complete and lack of human interaction and taking up space in the home.

I work hybrid but mostly wfh whilst it does help as I now have a long term health condition I definitely work way more then when I was in the office!

I hate wfh. But I have no choice, I'm stuck in this job and it has completely ruined my mental health

I miss human interaction so much, it's really not good for me. So it's not as rosy as it seems.

I envy you and your 'job in a workplace'

Erm I don't know, it wasn't my comment mate

Come in you lot, don’t be mean! We can be very grateful that our surgeons doctors nurses don’t work from home, they save our lives by being present. It’s a luxury to have work that doesn’t require you to be in person and thank God, they’re still up for doing it.

My husband can work from home but chooses to go to the office 25 miles away every single day and if I ask him to WFH for a specific reason eg a contractor or delivery it’s a MASSIVE drama.
I just don’t understand it at all. I’d love to WFH even just 1 or 2 days a week but it’s just not possible in my job. He can’t possibly WFH even 1 day a month 🙄

My dh wfh since 2020 and finds it very hard to switch off. Last night he wouldn’t finish work until 9pm, whereas before, he would be home at 6:30pm. There are ups, but also downs. I guess nothing is perfect. He certainly hasn’t been in the garden enjoying the sunshine but takes the dc to school, which he never used to:

I was freelance for years working from home and it was great when DD was small etc cos I could do the school runs and finish early and etc. But Lordy it was depressing and isolating and not stimulating and a bit relentless because I couldn’t really switch off and ended up answering emails at 11pm at night.

I now work in an office a 5 min drive from my home and I feel so much happier.Work stays at work.

Why can't you work from the garden? Dh did today, took his laptop off outside and sat in the shade.

Working from home isn't all it is cracked up to be for everyone.

I work for the NHS and WFH except for one day a week. I work in an attic room where there is barely any light with a tiny window which I can't see out of. I am so busy that I don't get to go outside and couldn't anyway due to confidentiality.

I don't have a separate office so there is very little distinction between work and home anymore.

Not all of us working from home have a nice office and get to work outside or have breaks to potter around at home and do other things.

Going into the office doesn't have the same feel as it did in the past. My role is largely remote so there aren't many people in anyway, so it doesn't really help with the feelings of isolation.

This is the major concern in the long term.

Previously, London was the ideal location for large corporate offices and many roles were UK-based as a result. If roles are no longer office based, there is no longer a reason why these roles will be based in the UK.

The UK’s employment rate remains below its pre-pandemic level. The UK is the only G7 country where this is the case.

Wrong post

I wfh, I haven't been out in the garden today either. Self employed, the deadlines don't disappear because it's a sunny day.

Yep, this!

I used to have a five-hour round trip four days a week on top of an 8 hour day in the office (was 'fortunate' to WFH one day a week)... I absolutely get how much easier my life is now!! (Do two days in an office 20 mins away and two days from home).

Honestly don't know how I did it tbh.

Having done both I think a mix of both is preferable. Too much WFH = hard to switch off, lonely, makes you feel like you are going mad at times. If there was a way I could do 60/40 or something WFH / in office I would.

Surely the cost of extra utilities is offset by the savings on travel and even childcare.

I work for the NHS and wfh 1 or 2 days a week and go into the office the other day. I am hugely grateful for this but having said that I worked for the NHS for 20 years doing a 50 mile commute so I feel I have done my time. This only came about because of covid. It gives me a lot more flexibility with my children, I am able to take them to school most days and it means I may only need to book an hour here and there for events rather than taking a whole day annual leave. The employer benefits as others have said with sick days as I will try to muddle through at home rather than taking a sick day, the commute can really make the difference. I have never worked in the garden, I have my laptop and monitor all set up indoors.

The old "comparison is the thief of joy" saying springs to mind here.

How does it impact anyone outside of your day to day whether someone you don't know is working from home or not? Imagine if we didn't know who worked from home.

There are pros and cons on both sides, I think wfh has more pros and so I'm looking for a role that allows for that. I'm not slagging off people that already have that while I don't though.

Lol I’d rather be in the office for the air con than working from home!

I work for the NHS doing video appointments with clients. I am full time wfh. I used to be office based. Wfh has totally enriched my life. I appreciate it greatly. It is a stressful band 7 role and wfh offsets some of the stress.

I have WFH for 20 years.

I was self employed, at least part time, for 20 years and now work in the public sector.

It can be very difficult to switch off. I work very long hours. My commute to the office pre COVID was 1.5 hours one way. Now it's more like 2.5 hours because epu lic sector travel just isn't back where it was. I have a disability and WFH means I can stay in employment.

I totally get it isn't easy for everyone and it's a privilege to be be able to WFH. My OH has a job that he must go to, no WFH.

@Wfhwhat why are you claiming there are no options for you to wfh in the NHS?

I know quite a few people who WFH for NHS. Obviously you can’t do patient care but there are other roles at every grade.

But who forced you to work for the NHS?

I have specifically made life choices so that I could precisely be in my Cotswold garden for days like this. Your job probably gives you more personal satisfaction than mine (data scientist), I’m not going to sit here and bemoan you. Swings and roundabouts.

Free will is a thing.

“You have more time with family.”

hahahahah

No. My work life overspills into family time now!