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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be so glad WFH became a thing (and to absolutely hate anyone who tries to curtail its availability)

414 replies

Designless · 22/02/2026 09:55

It's just life changingly good

OP posts:
TikTokker · 22/02/2026 10:02

Me too

Nopenousername · 22/02/2026 10:03

100% this

MidnightPatrol · 22/02/2026 10:06

It would be impossible for me to work full time and have the positive work-life balance I do without it.

It must be a huge factor in keeping women in work post-kids.

Everything is just so much more manageable with my 2 days WFH - 2 less stressful mornings, 2 days I can do pick ups, the ability to get some laundry done, go to the gym or park after school

SunnieShine · 22/02/2026 10:07

I love it, its made my life 100% better.

MissingSockDetective · 22/02/2026 10:08

I can't work from home, but I still absolutely agree with it. I think it is excellent for wellbeing and productivity and must also have a pretty positive overall impact on the environment. It just seems far more efficient in all ways.

Revoltingpheasants · 22/02/2026 10:09

I think it depends on who you are and what your life looks like.

Being the partner of someone WFH (especially with young children) can be absolutely suffocating. It took a year for things to get back to normal after the lockdowns finished for DH. I had a toddler; trying to rent him while DH was working was awful and I really hated the house being an office.

Now DH WFH two days a week which is manageable but honestly still stressful in school holidays.

It’s great for the person WFH but there are downsides!

Burningbud1981 · 22/02/2026 10:09

I love it I never went back to the office after Covid. It has improved my work life balance 100%. I couldn’t imagine going back to the office 5 days a week. But I appreciate it doesn’t work for everyone.

BelleEpoque27 · 22/02/2026 10:09

Me too - I can't even imagine how chaotic life would be without it.

I like going into the office, but in this stage of life being able to WFH most days is hugely valuable. Thankfully a lot of my colleagues are parents of young children too so we're all in the same boat.

Whammyammy · 22/02/2026 10:10

Agree. No more sitting in fume filled traffic jams, wasting money on commuting or parking. Im more relaxed, achieve more at work and better for the environment.

TeenLifeMum · 22/02/2026 10:11

People do don’t/can’t work from home so don’t understand how it can be effective are the worst. I wouldn’t tell them how to do their job and if my manager is happy then why are they so adamant I’m not performing as well as I can in an office?

my workplace has hugely evolved so I could go to an office but sit on teams calls all day in an open plan room. Then I might get an hour to write a report but I have to do that listening to everyone else on teams calls. Of course I’m more effective at home! And my dc get to see me before school and when they get home (teens) which is really valuable for my family and my own wellbeing.

Offcom · 22/02/2026 10:11

No shared toilets. Clean computer equipment. Not having to sign leaving cards!

TheoreticallyAdult · 22/02/2026 10:12

I love having two hours to myself in the morning before work.

I can sleep in, go for a walk, go to the gym, sit in the garden and read or eat breakfast outside during the summer. Eating a home cooked lunch every day and being able to go to the park across the road for picnic lunches during the summer.

It’s life changing.

Denim4ever · 22/02/2026 10:13

Hybrid working is perfect for me. When I worked full time in the office my asthma was much worse. We have a fully paid up member of the awkward squad in our office. He's much more bearable in small doses. I like working from home and get a lot done.

Timeshavechangedcertainly · 22/02/2026 10:15

Cant do my current role from home sadly but 100% agree it should be the norm wherever possible/wanted; it's good for society to have less traffic on the road and for parents to have more time for parenting

dudsville · 22/02/2026 10:16

I do a mix of both. When I'm in the office I cram my days full of all the things I can't do from home, but the environment is so depressing, dirty, etc. When I'm wfh, my days are quiet and efficient, clean, healthy, etc. Being able to do this mix has been life changing.

Shinyandnew1 · 22/02/2026 10:17

I can’t do my job from home but I still think it’s a brilliant set up. My DH does (and did hybrid before lockdown anyway) and it has had a huge benefit to his work life balance and ability to juggle the kids.

Buscobel · 22/02/2026 10:18

The only people who should be telling you how to do your job are the people who pay you to do it. If they are happy with it, everyone is happy.

Teenagequeenwithaloadedgun · 22/02/2026 10:19

Totally agree. I manage a large team who work on a hybrid basis. WFH has meant that I can recruit great people from a wider geographical area, that members with disabilities can still work, and those with caring responsibilities can do school pick ups/take ill parents to hospital.

To answer the usual tired arguments against wfh;

No one does their washing whilst working, i have a great team of committed adults who get the job done and deliver good results because they're trusted to do so.

Pilots/retail workers/cleaners/doctors don't wfh. That's fine, if I was in one of those jobs I wouldn't either. As i'm not a pilot for example, I don't expect to work from a plane. All jobs are different.

If people are doing drop offs or pick ups, they aren't working. They split their working hours around these, I manage it carefully to ensure cover.

City centres will die out. Our office is on an industrial estate and the sandwich van does a roaring trade on the days we're in.

Won't you just think of commercial property prices. No. My team's wellbeing is more important.

Squirrelchops1 · 22/02/2026 10:22

I do a mix but that's because the nature of my job means I'm on site visits, then I might go to an office as well as WFH. I like a mix to be honest.

AllaMova · 22/02/2026 10:24

DP works from home since Covid and much prefers it. Loneliness sank in after a while, but they do organise breakfasts together (on company time!) every so often too.

I think most of the people who are against it are the ones who are jealous because they have to travel to the office, to be honest.

mel78y5 · 22/02/2026 10:25

Yes life changing for me. I have a husband who works away and a child with additional needs, WFH has enabled me to excel in my career in ways I never thought possible while sustainably managing a demanding home life!

mel78y5 · 22/02/2026 10:27

Oh and also enables me to be healthier than I was 10 years ago! No commute means more time to cook from scratch, exercise, I do Pilates daily (outside of working hours). Myself and my family are healthier for it.

Megifer · 22/02/2026 10:27

I prefer going in the office more than I WFH but there are days when I feel really not up to going in - say a full blown cold rather than just a bit sniffly - but am fine to still work. Or if ive just got too much to do and need to concentrate without office distractions. So its brill for me and id never choose to work somewhere with no WFH option now!

Anyahyacinth · 22/02/2026 10:30

It must be good for the planet and other commuters too..by taking the extra pressure off the system. In our increasing heatwaves (variable climate) it allows us to stay in place but also work. I'm very grateful it was an option after severe injury working from 4 months in hospital and then when I got home but wasn't well enough for full days plus travel

Shinyandnew1 · 22/02/2026 10:36

It gives you more time to sleep, to be with your family, to exercise and cook nice food, less time sitting in traffic or on a train and saves a fortune on commuting costs. This is all great for your average working person. I get why it’s not great for some younger people staying out as they might not get to know people so well if they’re working from their box room at home, but as someone who knows lots of people in their twenties, they love the opportunity to do a couple of days a week from home. 5 days forced is crap if they don’t want it but I don’t know anyone with a job like that!

I presume Farage is so upset about it because people are spending less on coffees, lunches and office rents!?!