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Original poster

Working from home.

22 replies

nellyjelly · 02/04/2012 21:33

My company is closing it's office and all employees (all 30 of us - small company) are being told we will now have to work from home. We have all been giving laptops and othe equipment and are having a meeting with one of the senior managers to discuss any other requirements.

Most people are ecstatic but not me. I hate the idea of it. Alot of the staff are out and about during the week so it probably won't make that much difference but my job is office based much of the time. The thought of being stuck at home 5 days pw is driving me nuts. I have raised my concerns, I don't think the company has thought enough about the implications - on our mortgages and insurance for one thing but not least the imposition on our home lives! Personally I have no space for home working. I do it occasionally now but am stuck with a laptop on my knee and it's not good or healthy. We have no office space - have children and a dog in a 2 bed flat so you can imagine!

I am really going to struggle with this. I know they can't make me do it against my will but don't know what tack to take with it. I have raised various concerns but looks like the move is going ahead. What should I do? I don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face and end up being directed to a satellite office miles away from home due to kicking up a stink about it but I need to be realistic. full time working from home is just not possible for me.

Any suggestions how to take this forward? I am already in the boss' bad books for not loving the idea. I can see his frustration every time I raise my (valid) concerns. DH thinks I should just accept it's happening and then really make the most of it - ensure I get absolutely everything I need which would probably mean some sort of built in storage to be squeezed into thehouse somewhere and to work my hours around kid's school drop offs and picks - not currently possibly due to the commute.

WWYD? Am I mad for not loving the idea or entirely sane for realising I will bored in a week and watching Jeremy Kyle with a cup of tea every morning. Help me get the best out of the situation?

OP posts:

letseatgrandma · 02/04/2012 21:49

I would love this, but it's never going to happen with my job. How would it impact on your mortgage?

Seabright · 02/04/2012 21:51

Do you need to use the phone or just a laptop? Would you be more comfortable working in a cafe or library? Not ideal, I realise.

Are there any temporary office rental places near you (Regus are a big name in this, I think). Would your firm rent a single office for you, if your home is unsuitable?

Original poster

nellyjelly · 02/04/2012 21:52

There are tax implications and also insurance issues when it is deemed that your home is also used as a working environment. I don't know full details but you certainly have to tell the mortgage company.

Do you think I am mad for not wanting this then? I guess as a mum of 2 small children I should welcome the flexibility but it just feels like an imposition. We have a tiny flat - the thought of squeezing in more stuff and office equipment fills me with horror!

OP posts:

AgentProvocateur · 02/04/2012 21:52

Your work will need to come and carry out a H&S assessment of your working area before you start. If you have no suitable space, then they will need to reconsider asking you to work from home. But I think this could technically be a redundancy situation if there's no suitable office within travelling distance.

What do you want to happen?

Original poster

nellyjelly · 02/04/2012 21:53

Good idea Seabright - I might look to see if an office can be rented. The library is one option too although the storage problem would still be an issue.

OP posts:

Beamur · 02/04/2012 21:53

Where I work is going in this direction, but not wholly. I currently work one day a week from home, but we do have the space for a home office which helps.
How far away is the satellite office? Could you do a combination of home and this other office?
Would it affect your insurance much? Possibly from an Insurers point of view there would be less risk of a break in if you are home more.

Original poster

nellyjelly · 02/04/2012 21:55

Not sure they could make me redundant for refusing to work at home.

What I want to happen.............work from home when necessary but have a space I can go to where all my 'stuff' is, so don't feel like my work is taking over my home life!

OP posts:

Original poster

nellyjelly · 02/04/2012 21:56

The insurance bit is about change of use and having expensive computer equipment or whatever in the house. There is also liability insurance if you have work colleagues or customers in your home - though unlikely in my case.

OP posts:

PeelingmyselfofftheCeiling · 02/04/2012 21:57

I would look into renting a small office/workspace share or local hot desk centres. Do you have local contacts in a similar industry who might have a spare room you could use?
Presumably if you are all working from home you have more control over your hours? I think you may find you'll get used to it very quickly.
Of course if you are being given no workspace and no flexibility, that sucks!

chinax · 02/04/2012 22:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

nellyjelly · 02/04/2012 22:01

Thanks. Will research local office space. Any more ideas people?

OP posts:

BackforGood · 02/04/2012 22:03

How much equipment are you actually going to need ?
I work at home and my lap top sits on the table, then goes away when I'm not working, so the table is free again.
That said, I wouldn't like to be home on my own 5 days a week - I am out on visits a lot and we also have an office base which I go into once a fortnight or so. The one thing our staff really don't like about working from home (and there are a lot of advantages) is the lack of contact with colleagues - just asking a question or checking a decision with someone without the more formal route of e-mailing or calling. We often share an idea that one colleague is working on with a 3rd person. I think a lot of this is lost if there are not arrangements in place to meet up for staff meetings, etc.
I like Beamur's suggestion about a combination of the further office and home working. WOuld that work for you ?
Neither my mortgage company nor insurance company are interested in the fact I do paperwork at home - they only seem to be interested if you are having clients / customers visit at home, or if you are making alterations to your home to accommodate the business.

BackforGood · 02/04/2012 22:04

x posted with quite a few!

AgentProvocateur · 02/04/2012 22:04

Regus is quite dear, IIRC. I worked from home (self employed though) and found it really hard to get motivated and I really missed the office atmosphere. Do you have any friends who work in offices that your company could "rent" space from? I know that DH's company has made a lot of people redundant, and they're all rattling around in a big office.

I suppose if your company has done it to save money, they're not then going to want to pay out. Also, I second what chinax said - if you've not got clients traipsing in and out, your mortgage and insurance won't be affected.

culturemulcher · 02/04/2012 22:08

Just to allay one of your fears - if you're working from home (as I do) doing 'clerical' style work (i.e. 'office' type stuff, not welding or mixing chemicals) and if you don't usually have clients / colleagues visiting for work purposes then there are NO tax, mortgage or insurance cost implications.

HTH

Hollyfoot · 02/04/2012 22:11

For insurance purposes, I suspect it will only make a difference if clients visit your home, otherwise it should have no effect on your policy. Re your mortgage provider, you wont be running a business from home, so that may well not be an issue at all.

I worked from home for years. Wasnt looking forward to it at first, but oh the flexibility. And the lack of commute. And no driving in the snow and ice. And having parcels delivered. And working with the dog at your feet. And putting the odd load of washing on....etc ad infinitum.

It can be isolating, but if you work hard to maintain email/phone contact with lots of people and make sure you get together with colleagues regularly, then you can have the best of both worlds. I hope you can find a way to make it work (space allowing of course), you might enjoy it

PeelingmyselfofftheCeiling · 02/04/2012 22:17

Oh and get all your colleagues that you like on skype and you can banter away to your hearts content!

maybenow · 02/04/2012 22:22

i work from home, but there are places around here where you can rent a desk which i've thought about - they're usually full of really interesting creative types, sort of an artists studio but for desk workers.
i dont' know what you do, but that might be an option.

i claim a % of my heat and light etc as 'business expenses' and my broadband as i'm self-employed.. your employer would have to compensate you for the same i'd say (i have the heating on during the day in winter when i used to have it off for example)... once you establish those costs then renting a desk outside your home may be no more expensive.

Original poster

nellyjelly · 05/04/2012 20:18

Thanks everyone

OP posts:

BackforGood · 05/04/2012 20:23

I don't get any expenses like that, but I save more money than I spend through not having to drive across town to the office each day. (Before you even start on the time I save)

teanosugar · 06/04/2012 22:59

We both work from and love it!
We tend to split the day up to get a bit of structure,
Do two hours work, have breakfast and walk the dogs, do another two hours then potter in the garden for an hour etc.
Like Backfor Good says, saving time and money by not having to do the commute.
Getting up and doing three hours work while still in your PJs when its sleeting outside (cos you know nobody is gonna visit!

Wafflepuss · 06/04/2012 23:13

Working from home is great, I've done it for nearly 10 years and would really struggle to go back to the restriction of being office based. You have flexibility and freedom when you're home based, no asking for time off for docs appointments, missing deliveries, asking permission to go online in your lunch hour, no miserable commuting, you can get the housework/chores done mid week which frees up your evenings and weekends and you don't have to listen to other peoples tedious chat unless you phone or email them! If your working day is busy you'll be constantly on the phone, conference calls and emails and won't have a chance to get lonely. Honestly, give it a chance for a few months and you'll look back at your days of busting a gut to get to the office by 8.30am and laugh.

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