To think remote workers exaggerate how much they actually work?

[ZippyGreyOtter]

WFH is convenient but AIBU to think lots of people log on, do a bit, then spend most of the day coasting, while loudly insisting they’re “more productive than ever?”

I work remotely and I'm expected to meet a minimum number of "jobs" per day; if I don't then I have to explain why (and provide proof if necessary). There is no way I could coast along, I'd be put on a PIP

Yup how original.

I was thinking more of the roles where the output is less immediately visible, so it’s easier to coast without it being obvious.

How would you know?
Unless you're talking about members of your own team. In which case you need to address it with them or with upper management.

You make it sound like WFH is almost a personality type or race. And that everyone who does it thinks and acts in exactly the same way.

Those ppl can coast just as easily in the office if they're poorly managed

I’m measured on my outcomes and certainly don’t need anyone standing over me. I love my work. My daughter works in a very different sector and her stats are higher when she’s at home because she’s not distracted.

Regardless of workplace, most people exaggerate how much work they put in. The exception is teachers and anyone in healthcare.

Well OP, I can’t speak for others but I know that’s what I do. Login, say hi, answer a couple of emails and then that’s my work day done. I spend the rest of my day on MN starting goady threads on topics that have been covered a million times but are guaranteed to drive traffic on the site…maybe MN should pay me!

I don’t mean everyone who WFH is the same, I’ve just noticed a pattern where some seem to take advantage of the setup more than they would in an office. That’s what I was questioning, not saying all remote workers do it.

Hahaha ha

Yes, lots of people in those sectors work very hard, but it's laughable to think they don't have their share of shirkers too.

Ok. So they do it at your workplace. Again, how can you prove it? Does it mean you're picking up their work? If so you should complain.

Of course some people take advantage of WFH to do less. Others take advantage of WFH to do the same amount, in a shorter amount of time, and enjoy th etime ethat frees up for themselves.

For myself, when I am on fire, I get huge amounts done WFH. ButI also can find it quite difficutl to focus etc at times which makes me frustrated that I feel less productive. But then I remind myself that in the office, there's always a chat going on, or even just the fact that the bloody bathroom means a minimum of a 5 minute break to get there etc.

For me personally, I don't like WFH every day. I like the structure of the office sometimes, and it makes WFH so much more productive.

I WFH and if my call or email quota isn’t met, my employers know about it. I don’t think you can generalise all people that wfh as people that don’t do their work.

I wasn’t talking about my own colleagues specifically, more the broader trend that gets discussed a lot. It’s an observation, not a workplace complaint.

I do way more than my hours as do several members of my team. I have one member of my team who takes the piss as you say. We’re working on it but she will be performance managed out if she doesn’t turn it around.

It depends on the role. I work just as hard at home as I have a very busy role, but i’ve no doubt that many in my team do not.

I echo what others have said. In general I get far more done at home. I work in an open plan office and I'm going to have to stop going in on a Friday, one of my preferred days, as a couple of people in my wider team go in on that day and just never stop banging on, talking absolute drivel, even though I don't even look up from my screen to engage. So distracting. Offices are nice for being social, great for collaborating and absolutely rubbish for getting your head down.

I WFH and like others I have to fill in daily timesheets down to every six minutes, with narrative explanations as to what the time is for. There is no dump code I can just put time onto so I can have a nap for an hour.

I also have reports to produce and deadlines to meet. Emails to respond to. Items to review. Meetings. Team catch ups.

If I was arsing about watching TV half the day it would soon be noticed.

Working from home gives me flexibility. So when its (rarely) quiet I do a bit less work, maybe 6hrs instead of 7.5 and use the time to do housework etc. Then when its busy (like today!) I log on early/finish later so today I was supposed to do 4hrs and Ive done 6. In the office Id waste the 1.5hrs chatting etc if it was quiet, then probably only be able to do 1hr extra on the busy day due to other commitments and travel. So for both me and my employer, WFH is better!

It was a good 12/15 years ago, but the least product job I ever had was fully office based. It was great fun, we used to chat a lot and get up to all sorts, but there wasn't really enough work so hugely inefficient.

This again?!

The people felt to be the laziest that I can think of are Donald Trump and Boris Johnson. Neither of whom work from home.

It’s much easier to slack off at home! And don’t get me started on all the parents who seem to think u can wfh with a toddler 🙄🤦‍♀️

I get zero work done in the office, someone always wants to catch up and then there’s swanning around at lunchtime and more chatting.

I’m way more productive at home.

Oh look another goady WFH post from a random three word username 🙄

If someone isn't producing the output they should be then there's a problem. If they're getting everything done that they should be getting done, then there isn't.

I work hybrid and I prefer it, because I like having the F2F time in the office and it has value, but assuming that everyone who WFH is skiving is ridiculous.