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?

😂😂😂 I literally just barked a laugh so loud my cat fucking glared at me.

Competitive UTI's.

This stood out to me. I’m the same. When I used to work in an office there were a few of us on the same grade. My output was significantly higher compared to my colleagues. I finished ahead of deadlines and the work was to a higher quality. I didn’t get promoted, I didn’t get a raise, I was given more work compared to the others.

I no longer work there. They now have a significantly lower output to a lower standard.

I have to say as well about WFH that I’m an extrovert and when I started this job I thought I’d really struggle with it. But actually I don’t miss office politics, cliques, overly chatty people, listening to people drone on about their weddings, holidays etc. I worked in some very intense work places where everyone seemed to be best friends and socialise all the time. It can be a bit much

I WFH. I might take an important phone call related to my kids, but I'd be allowed to do that in the office.

I might do a load of washing, make a bed or stack dishwasher whilst making a cuppa, just a quick 5 min job, but that is it really and wouldn't do all that on the same day. I listen to podcasts whilst I work and would probably be able to do that in the office too. I certainly couldn't have a bath or go out for a walk outside the time I get allowed for a break.

I can see who is online and whilst I don't check on people. I rarely see people away most of the day. I think most people in my organisation are working.

I do a fair amount of unpaid overtime and stay on sometimes and dont claim it back, so it evens out.

I'm extrovert too, but it's about more than that. It depends how much of a social function you want your work to fulfil.

Agree it can be very lonely in physical workplaces where everyone's best friends. It's fine if you're part of that too, but not when you aren't.

You'd be better off not trying to make other people's work conditions about you, and yours them. The norms of your role and someone else's are unrelated.

Yes! The only person I've had to let go is someone who, for two years, has refused WFH. She would go into the office and just...chat. All day. She couldn't prioritise her own workload. I made her WFH for a bit, she actually vaguely improved although she was still on Teams chatting most of the time, and insisted on being in office after that period. Nothing, and I mean nothing, got done.

There are people in office who just see it as a bit of fun. A social thing. Whereas the people who mainly WFH and just come in for certain things, they can balance themselves. There's absolutely zero issue. Apart from a chatty person literally playing Disney music from their desk and rolling over their chair to show them photos from their trips to Disneyland.

I'm an extroverted introvert! 😂 I love WFH because I can get a balance. The sheer distractions and, like you say, the intensity of office work! I'm so glad that's over.

Sorry but you're the reason people are coming under pressure to return. I'm part time and public sector, when I'm working from home I'm working. I do house and personal stuff in my non work time. The people totally taking the piss by watching movies and having baths in the working day are noticed and are why others are being made to come in more and also "having your laptop beside you" isn't working.

I WFH about 80% of the time. I've just come from a Teams meeting during which my line manager nipped off for a couple of minutes to take a loaf of homemade bread out of the oven 😆

No one gives a fuck as long as the work is done to a high standard and on time. And that's as it should be, because we're intelligent, experienced, qualified adults who trust and respect each other. It also means we're more likely to go the extra mile for each other when necessary.

Some of you clearly have really awful, overloaded or micromanaged jobs, for which you have my sympathies. Others on this thread just have terrible martyr complexes and should probably take a moment out of their oh-so-hectic days to reflect on why they equate busywork to integrity or morality.

I work the number of hours I’m supposed to work.

I might flex occasionally if I have something I need to do/ use my lunchtime more productively (or more restfully) than I could in the office, but I’m still doing a day’s work.

My old job was horrible in that everyone had to be working at the same time so you couldn’t be flexible at all (ie start early to finish early/ start late and finish late, take a longer lunch and compensate at another time etc)

I do agree with this.

Theres working flexibly but that’s different to spending your days watching a movie or having a bath, and never making the time. I agree “laptop beside me” is not working.

Mind you right now I’m on MN as I’m on hold to IT!

Always surprised that so many people think their work is best measured in hours spent actively doing the task in question.

The breaks I take in my working day help me to do my job better and faster. I frequently get my best ideas while out for a run. When I read magazines, books and watch TV, I'm staying culturally connected and getting inspiration. A few hours away from my desk means I tend to return mentally rejuvenated. A task I was struggling with, and slogging through badly, suddenly becomes something I can knock off in half an hour to the best standard.

It's not in my company's interest nor in mine to cram my working day so full of desk-based grunt work that I have no time to exercise and have no idea what's going on in the world outside my job.

I don't normally WFH as I prefer to be in the office but I had to yesterday and I got loads of work done. I also had a decent lunch, did 2 loads of washing and hung them out etc but I worked longer than I would have done in the office as I didn't have to travel there and back again.

But this is precisely my point. Those who abuse the system and watch films during the working day are the ones who are making employers force people back into the workplace when those of us who are disciplined work harder at home.

I only get half an hour for lunch. I usually do a quick lap round the block for some fresh air, as there isn't really enough time to do anything else.

It's like some people on this thread can't read. So many people are writing that it isn't an issue in their workplace. For some, it's encouraged. Yet for some reason it's considered "skiving". How can it be if it's encouraged?

Not all jobs are the same. And some people just sound a bit...uncomfortable.

Competitive jobsworthery.

I'm really surprised people have time to do watch a film, have a bath etc. I have so much time critical work that needs to be done each day, I simply couldn't leave it because it would have dire consequences for the team. I couldn't just not work for most of the day.
I do shove a couple of loads of washing on if I'm working form home but this takes about 20 minutes and I often end up working later to make up for it.

Not really. Mention of the employers who want people in the office more, which you haven't even said is happening to you, is new.

Your posts were about your wage and how other people's working norms make you feel. You talked about it being a kick in the teeth for those who work during their hours, by which you evidently meant a specific working pattern that resembles yours. I don't watch films during my work hours, and it isn't a kick in the teeth to me if other people do because it's not even slightly relevant.

In any case, plenty of us have roles where the actions of other remote workers would never make two shits of difference to anything, and there are all kinds of reasons why those employers who want more office presence have made that decision.

Exactly. There must be CEO's out there on a yacht right now, drinking champagne and doing the odd business call. Am I jealous? Maybe! I'd love that, who wouldn't? But not jealous to the point I'm fuming. Just a fleeting "ugh, lucky fucker!". Everyone's job is different. When I worked as a tutor, I couldn't choose my hours. I still didn't feel angry at people who could! It had zero impact on me because my job was different!

I'm also not angry at famous actors who get to fly around the world, have time off, etc. Or authors who get paid to write full time, even though I'm also a writer!

Similarly, DH isn't jealous of well renowned historians or violinists.

I'm never at all surprised. A surprising number of people are unwilling or unable to look beyond their own direct experiences. The outcome is always putting themselves at the centre, and it seems to be a particular problem on remote working threads.

I work 9-5 strictly and 5-7pm as needed. My job involves a lot of active meetings.

Unless they work for those companies being made to go back in it is irrelevant what they do.

My son and DIL both wfh. They have flexible schedules. They have a dedicated office space they work in. They both work while kids are at school and work opposite schedules for the couple hours when the boys are home.
They each put in 7/8 hours a day.

Where did I say I’m working for free? I just don’t stop at all.