To think there are different 'types' of WFH?

[LittleRedRidingHoody]

Every thread we have on here about WFH has varying opinions on what you can/cannot do when you're working from home - and people get quite heated in their beliefs! But AIBU to think sometimes it's comparing apples and oranges?

Some people WFH and the expectation is they work their set hours - same as you might do in the office - and obviously work the whole time. Not do any childcare at the same time etc. These hours are often tracked in some way.

Other roles (like mine) are much more flexible, but demand more at different times. I end up doing 40 hours or more across days/evenings/the odd weekend, but flex this around household tasks/school runs. My boss is fully aware of this and it's accepted company practise across the board. I was aware of this when I started, and it suits me well.

Obviously some people abuse either system, but I feel on MN even a whiff of doing anything other than work during a day WFH is evil and you're pulling one over on your company, which in turn becomes a bun fight. Am I alone in thinking this?

I often have work questions that I need to ask people about their specialist area. Often these are quick to answer.

If I send them an IM/email and they are at home, they can ignore me (and my escalations to their boss) pretty much forever.

If I send them an IM/email and they are in the office and don't reply to me after a reasonable time period, chasers etc, I can go and sit on their desk and stay there until they talk to me. Although I generally don't have to do this because as soon as they see me coming, they instantly launch into "oh yes, I've been meaning to reply to your email ....".

Much easier to do nothing when no one is watching.

Regardless of all the arguments of whether you're breaking the rules, I don't think it's healthy. The lines have been blurred too much - the kids will just see you as working instead of being with them, you aren't seeing anyone for days, you come downstairs to sit at a screen then go back upstairs to bed, some people work in their kitchens or whatever so how do they "leave" the office. Some people may prefer it but long term, I don't think it's good for the generation.

yes, these people are known as ‘arseholes’ 😁

In all seriousness i’d say that’s a failure of their management - I’ve been wfh for about a decade and have never been in a situation where anyone could have got away with that!

I don't get people moaning about others 'taking advantage' by WFH.

It's like any other benefit. If you think it's unfair other people get a higher salary than you, get a job that pays more. If you're jealous other people have a short commute get a job closer to home. If you're jealous of the public sector pension apply for a job in the public sector.

It's not like WFH jobs are only available via a secret lottery, anyone can apply for them, if it bothers you that much that people WFH have an advantage you don't, in terms of flexibility, saving money, easier childcare or not being constantly monitored for presenteeism, do so.

Yes, entirely agree it is down to poor management. But I'm sure I don't work in the only place where management is poor, people take the piss and the hard working souls end up overloaded.

I find it really frustrating. 'Friends' (school mums at DSs pick up) are always making snide jokes about how I take the piss/don't work my hours and they wish they had my job ~ but they'd never work in a job where they'd pick up the slack after a child's bedtime or travel for work last minute. All of that is part of my role, good and bad. They could find similar if they wanted, but they don't want to. They just want to bitch about those who do.

I do wonder about this actually. I love WFH and the flexibility it brings me, but I do have to make a concerted effort to get out of the house. Luckily (? I guess) I have DS5 and a very unwell DM so I'm out of the house for at least 3 reasons every day and don't feel lonely at all. But I understand some people do and get stuck in the WFH rut which can be dangerous if they're never leaving the house!

Personally I don't worry about DS seeing me working. It gives me a bit of pride to be sitting replying to emails whilst he plays/draws/paints next to me, and I can chat to him as I plough through mindless admin. Same as I would if I were doing the washing up or some laundry! Definitely couldn't do it all day every day though.

That's my approach, and the way my team works. We work long hours and when things are busy you're expected to put in the time to get the job done (which does involve sometimes extremely late nights, some weekends etc) - that's just the deal with the industry I'm in and it's paid accordingly but the quid pro quo is life stuff also happens during the 'working day' (given our working day also happens in the personal life time!) so I absolutely do stuff like put the laundry on during days I'm wfh etc, and to be honest I also don't bat an eyelid about if I need to arrange appointments etc during the day (I don't take the piss though, I'll always broadly arrange it over lunchtime, and I obviously prioritise work stuff) and if there is a quiet time you're encouraged to take advantage of it because lord knows there are many very very busy times. All jobs are different but in my line of work we're expected to get the work done, and provided we're prioritising clients and not taking the piss then it's all fine. We have to record our hours anyway so it's not like you'd not be getting the work done.

I guess some people can’t do this though, depending on the meeting/conversation. The kids might just hear an endless “go upstairs mummy is working.”

My kids almost never see me working from home because I use childcare.

I agree that that can be problematic otherwise

That’s some serious handwringing there.

If you were working all the time then that’s not healthy, but tbh working is a normal part of life that kids need to be aware of. Working sets a good example to the next generation it doesn’t damage them.

Exactly this. I get my work done in a reasonable timeframe and to a high standard, I’m available for meetings whenever they’re arranged, I answer teams messages and emails as soon as possible. I’m praised regularly for my work and am a respected member of the team.

There are some days working from home where I log on at 6.30am and work until 6.30pm and barely manage a lunch break.
There are far more where I don’t do that as my workload doesn’t require it. I work quickly and very efficiently. Am I supposed to sit and stare at my computer unblinking for the full 8 hours? It used to be hellish not having much to do while working in the office every day, working from home 3 days a week means I can get stuff done round the house and have a bit more time to myself. My company is fully accepting/understanding of this and it’s the general office culture across the board. I’m so glad I don’t work at some of the places other posters say they work at where they can’t even go to the toilet without feeling guilty!

My kids don’t see me working because they are too busy staying in their rooms. They only appear when I call for dinner over Alexa. Or if they needed a print out from the printer in my office.