to think it doesn't really matter what you do when WFH as long as you get the job done?

[workyworky1]

When I WFH, I get most of my household tasks done in the day, I will do top up shops, pop to the library to return books etc.

Occasionally I have been to IKEA.

The work gets done. I just do it between life admin and tasks.

I have won an exceptional performance award in the past and my manager told me last week that he wants to nominate me for another.

It depends on the nature of the job of course but it works for me.

No my job can't be outsourced to India because it involves some face to face work along with expertise.

What someone at the desk next to me chooses to do with their working time and unpaid breaks is none of my business.

Actually, I might ask them to bring me a bag of the meatballs back

Its role dependent clearly.

I get stuff done around my work tasks and encourage my team to do the same - I actually find everyone more productive as they can break up tedious tasks etc.

In the places I've worked, people take extended lunch for all sorts of things, the most common being going out for lunch with a friend. And this is a workplace with the lunchbreak noted in the contract. I've also worked in places with core hours and lunch can be any time between 12 and 2 so going to Ikea could fit into that.

I think it's fine to work flexibly as long as it doesn't cause problems for your colleagues - which was the case of the recent school run thread where a meeting had to be reorganised around someone's school run.

Aren't there then further tasks to be done?

Is getting 100% of her work completed, to a high standard, taking the piss?

While wfh? What would happen if you moved from your desk? Can you not just check your messages once in a while?

Nope.

I'm a big advocate for working from home, but to your point, and as you said, it depends on the role.
If you work in sales, at home, and you can hit target by doing 4 hours work then yes, you're doing your job - but what about the potential to do more? Arguably, if you were in the office you'd keep going, making calls, sending emails or whatever your reach out is, making more money for the business and presumably for yourself.
I don't know many roles where it's a fixed daily workload - so if you're only working 6 out of 8 hours - what more could or should you be doing? Shouldn't you be cracking on with tomorrow's workload?
If it's project work and you can't or don't need to do more then crack on with non- work stuff.

I'm a big believer in judging people on output and efficiency, rather than being a bum on a seat. In my role I'm paid for my knowledge and experience as much as I am for my time. And if I can carve out an hour of my day to nip to the shop, walk the dog, prep dinner etc I'll take it. There are days when I'll be working until midnight so it's swings and roundabouts really.

I have the same amount of downtime at home as I do in the office. I don't actually care what my colleagues do with their time as long as things get done that need to be. And actually I'd rather everyone be well rested and enjoy a decent work/life balance because I believe it results in better outputs for the team.

In some jobs you have to wait for the work to come in.

Do you spend the amount of hours you are paid for working? Just at other times. Or are you being paid to go to ikea?

Agreed. I WFH and if I want to take a 2 hour nap or get the big shop done I do.

It’s agile working - that means you can be agile and your company understand an employee given flexibility has a much better output than one in a rigid routine. My company saves money not paying overheads and in return I expect flexibility with my pattern.

Also in (mine) some jobs tasks are done to a deadline. So X data needs processing by Y date for reports to be generated.

I provide X well in advance of Y.

Once Y comes out then I have follow up Z tasks to pick up. So I do them.

Then the calendar date for X is not far away so then it starts again.

Lots of gaps. Lots of time.

"I'm a big believer in judging people on output "

Bit unfair on those who just have less work to do, but are available for any work given to them.

I'm the same @workyworky1 . I'm not running to ikea, but basic household maintenance, especially things like washing (2 young kids) which require time but not my time, iyswim. Picking things up as I get up for the loo, make tea, etc. I also am available evenings and weekends in urgent need, it works both ways. My boss has no issue also with me doing essential appointments like dentist during work hours. For us it's a good balance. I don't take the piss, and my performance is excellent.

But life is unfair.

I've done many a varied role across a rage of industries. Situations are different in them all, so there just cannot be a blanket expectation.

How do you work that out? Output doesn't mean volume. It means the work produced.

What about a lunch hour?

How? My manager wants to nominate me for an exceptional performance award.

This is specifically allowed where I work. We are allowed to flex our days however we like as long as it doesn't interfere with meetings or deadlines.

So for example, if I had a week where I had no afternoon meetings, I could work 5:00-13:30 every day if I wanted, as long as I let my team know. If my manager had a reason for not wanting me to do that, they could say no, but in practice this doesn't really happen. I do 7am-3:30pm in the office most Mondays. If I wanted to do 7am-5:30pm with an extra long lunch break to go to ikea, that would also be fine.

Sometimes it might be only 2 hours. A lot of it is project work where I am waiting to hear from others. I have busy days too where I will work until 10pm. It just depends.

I guess I am being paid to go to IKEA.

However the work gets done and I am being nominated for an award.

It's obviously working for you so I think why not?

I used to work in a really flexible job but even though my manager was really only bothered about the work getting done (I got bonus for high performance every year) I still felt weirdly obliged to be logged on 9-5, even if I was actually doing my best work in random bursts of energy in the evening!

I now work for myself and work equivalent hours of 4 days a week, I've got it in my client contracts that I work those hours completely flexibly within a working week. It's way better for me as I can work to my energy levels, so I'm productive and also a bit more balanced.

I think working that way suits some people very well, while others are more productive in a structured office setting.

If it works why change it!

Oh so you mean the quality of the output and not the quantity?

It's role/employer dependent.

I work for a tech company, fairly senior. I will happily block out my calendar for the school run, or mention I can't pick up the phone because I'm throwing a wash on. But so will my boss, the CEO, and the people in my team/more 'junior' roles. We'll also work evenings/travel on Sundays frequently if needed so it evens out.

I can see why, if I were doing this and hiding it (as many people brag about!) it would piss people off. And in some roles it wouldn't work. But I'm very happy with my setup!