Be honest… what do you really do if working from home?

[Wffhh]

Just that really.

I often have a bath at lunchtime. Go to shops. Clean. Last Friday watched a Christmas film in the background in bed while doing some online training. Made a pie.

Sometimes I have to work very late. Sometimes on a weekend. So I think it balances out. Anyone else be honest? Do you ever have almost a day off doing life admin?

Your mistake is in thinking that bums on seats for a rigidly set amount of time equals maximised (quality) productivity.

What job do you do that an hour or sos work is enough?

It's the people wfh in customer/patient roles it's so annoying when you ring these people and the background is so loud with kids, dogs and tv then they have to speak to their manager/doctor and it takes longer as their not in the same building

A job either done badly or that soon won't exist by the sounds of it

I don't understand why people are getting angry at how other people work from home. Unless you're their boss it has nothing to do with you. My boss has the attitude as long as the work gets done, and he's all for us going out and having a break during the day, he actively encourages walking meetings too.

I remember I was interviewed by someone high up in their business who said he did his ironing during meetings, he was still listening and could contribute. My boss gets his hair cut during the day or goes to the post office.

Working from home has meant we're no longer fighting for the Saturday or early morning/evening appointments at vets/dentists/hairdressers so those times are free for those who can't go during the week.

Also, especially in the winter, going out for a walk or a run in the daylight is much safer. By 3.30pm, it was dark on Sunday.

Work. Sometimes put washing on or out while boiling kettle. I do what I'm getting paid for.

I do less and more work from home! More head down work, often sit for much longer then I should, might get one load bunged in the washing machine if I’m lucky but not on the line. But I also get a lot of valuable work done through being able to talk to a colleague in the flesh and even kitchen conversations in the office are valuable when you are in comms.

I don't understand why people are getting angry at how other people work from home. Unless you're their boss it has nothing to do with you. My boss has the attitude as long as the work gets done, and he's all for us going out and having a break during the day, he actively encourages walking meetings too.

I think people are baffled at how people get away with saying they are WFH ie meant to be working, when they are not.
The thread was asking people to be honest, which to me implies a sense of people not doing what they're meant to be doing. Statements like "dozed in bed while swiping right on Teams" indicates that person was meant to be working, otherwise why swipe right?

If the thread was "tell us about about wfh/flexible working day" and people came on to say they (with their manager's knowledge) are able to work 3 hours a day leaving them 5 to do as they wish then it would have been a different discussion.

I do the usual laundry and unloading the dishwasher.

But what I really love doing is some heavy duty skin care. I’ll have my shower before starting work as usual, then load up on serums then slug my face with a thick occlusive. Maybe a hair mask or Olaplex No 3. Body oil as I can wear a robe most of the day if I want. My team are used to my camera being off during meetings so that’s not an issue. I also might give myself a manicure during a meeting,

I work longer hours from home as I don’t feel pressured to leave in the afternoon to get home. If I have no other plans sometimes I eat dinner at my desk. I logged off at 8pm tonight.

I have a very well defined full workload so don’t get away with just doing the minimum, I have to perform.

If I have no meetings and deadlines I might be able to take an afternoon off for an appointment but I’ll have to get the work done some other time.

You don't be silly! It's literally the job of the manager to ensure that all of the team are pulling their weight! Nothing to do with their "ethics"!

If one person feels that someone is taking the piss, what do you think that does to their motivation?! That one person skiving has a knockon effect on the rest of the team. To think otherwise is deluded.

Such low standards. A race to the bottom. I'm glad I'm not like you.

I definitely slack off at home - do
Some cleaning, watch tv, go for a walk but I get my work done so don't feel guilty about it.

What sort of work do you do garlic?

I'm looking to change careers..

Might have been the case during the pandemic when a lot of poor souls had to work AND look after their kids due to not being allowed at school as they weren't key workers.

Now I don't find that at all. Most customer service is by chat bot or email these days anyway.

Would love to know what job you have OP.

Some of these responses make me wonder whether I should change jobs. In my current role it is difficult to grab 5 mins for a wee from 8am to 4pm. Lunch is often eaten whilst sorting out a problem/standing up/at my desk. I would love to have time to exercise but then there's also work to take home. I was already thinking about leaving as there is no flexibility and I have 3 kids so the stress doesn't seem worth it anymore.

Yep!

Also, some roles are pretty specialist and/or don't necessarily generate work at an even rate, but still needed. It isn't necessarily the case that there'll be something available of a colleague's for a non-busy person to do. And even if there is, for the sort of role that involves being available when needed, it's not good for the organisation if the person is in the middle of some colleague's work instead.

Go to every hairdresser, gym, golf club and tennis club and everyone will be saying the same.

I have 6 direct reports and if they get their work done in e.g. half their allotted time they can of course do whatever they want with the rest of the time. I would think it quite bizarre if they came running to tell me they had finished before the end of the working day or week. Why would they need to? So I can give them extra work? We are not at school any more.

I know my team often have quiet weeks when they are not busy. I have no issue with them doing personal stuff during that time.

Can I come work for you instead? 🤣 our senior leadership ask us to work on other projects if we finish something early. Not a minute of my working day is spare

Im in my home office at 10 with a coffee, work all day with a break to get some lunch, and clock off at 6.
I treat WFH the same as i would working in the office.

I guess we work in different industries. We never get our work completely done so I was only imagining a scenario where someone contracted for 40hrs finds themselves at a loose end. I would have thought in that situation it would be wise to let your manager know you're getting through the work so that either they can check things are being done correctly, or re-evaluate their own management/work distribution or to get your card marked for promotion.

We don't have busy or quiet weeks, just busy or more busy!

I’m busy today (currently on lunch) but the other day I watched 4 episodes of Orange is the New Black. It’s swings and roundabout really and if there’s genuinely nothing to do, I can’t just magically up work 🤷‍♀️

Emmerdale - what do you do?

Work.

Although admittedly I often play mindless games (e.g.,bubble pop) on my iPad whilst listening on conference calls, which helps my concentration and keeps me working on other things when I need to listen.

Yes clearly I’m saying there is one and that’s the problem!!! 😂