If you WFH full time - what do you do and do you enjoy it?

[Aria20]

Those who WFH either pre pandemic or post but are fully remote, not hybrid. What do you do?

I have one year left of my psychology degree and think I'd like to work from home - reasons mainly flexibility and being at home after school for the children - even if I'm still working that's fine. I have 3 children who in September will all be in different schools in different directions so logistically going to be a bit of pain to work around. The older 2 are at/will be at secondary so will get buses, the youngest will be starting reception so I am hoping to be able to do school runs - 10 min walk. But of course this leaves school holidays and with three different sets of term dates and inset days this makes finding a flexible job hard! Also have a young dog who I'd have to arrange daycare/walks for if I work out of the home.

My DH works long hours in a high stress, high earning job so is not around to help pick up the slack. We don't need me to work but I'd like to earn some money even if it's just for holidays/extras. I have worked in education settings but before having children I worked in property law - this was 13 years ago though so no recent experience. The psychology degree was partly for interest and to gain a degree to hopefully enhance my employability and pay opportunities. I'd ideally like to utilise some things I've learnt on the degree, however, I'm not sure what a psychology graduate can do from home?? Any suggestions?

I'm a specialist teaching assistant in an SEN school. I love my job.
The working day is relatively short and, the holidays are great fitting aroung family life and my ds perfectly.

I work for a charity. All jobs in my org have choice of wfh, hybrid or office.

DH is in comms for a different org also wfh.

Both enjoy it.

DH is in software development.

But even though he WFH permenantly he can't do all school pick ups and drop offs, no one in his department/ company can.

In the NHS you can be a physiotherapist working from home and treat patients over the phone - I’ll not got into how utterly useless that is as a patient, when you are dealing with a serious injury

How do you work from home though - surely you need to be with the kids?

@Cloud16 out of interest how do you get into marketing thanks!

Not only WFH but abroad as well. Admin and bookkeeping, credit controller role. Can't say I love it but it's our own business and I work opposite my DH. He write reports for the building trade , mainly planning related. All our staff WFH and mainly UK based but they could be abroad if they wanted. One flits between UK and Europe, takes his Voip phone with him and just plugs it in wherever he is . Isn't technology amazing?

I WFH term time only. I do software support for schools. I love it. Suits my slightly geeky side and introvert nature but spending most of my work day on the phone means i do talk to people!

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After a long career break, worked from home for last two years, poorly paid, and busy. I live with bells and alarms, and little break time.

This job is hell, with no prospects, I have a degree and had a good job previously. But I don’t have to drive and try and park anywhere, but it’s soul destroying. Everything advertised, seems to be lowly paid, locally.

I work from home for the civil service. My job was advertised on a wfh contract.

The civil service is very flexible so I am able to drop off and pick up my 3 DCs every day. I can also build up flexi time which allows me to have an extra 3 days off every 4 weeks on top of the 25 days annual leave that i get.

I previously worked in a school so i do miss the school holidays but this role is perfect for family life. I can pretty much log on and off when i like so i am able to go to assemblies and sports days etc.

Fraud advisor for a bank - FT WFH & no plans to go back to office

@Asvan aren't they pushing for all civil servants back in the office as I did think about that as years ago a friend enjoyed her job and the flexitime in civil service

Hi @Aria20 I've been full time WFH for 6 years now, working in IT as a project manager then moving back to my preferred career in TV as a production manager.

I have kids in school and nursery, however, and this might not be everyone's experience, if I am working, I am working, therefore not able to deal with the kids (unless there's a childcare/sickness emergency). They are in school/nursery/after school club 8.30-6 so I don't think you can assume that if you're WFH that you can nip out to do pickup and keep working whilst you deal with getting multiple snacks and other demands.

Some workplaces are flexible enough it'll work, others it just doesn't. And people just assuming they can do it or just doing it and it affecting their work is pushing employers to push people to go back to the office. So whatever you go for please make sure the understanding is there between you and your employer first if you want to be on school run and then dealing with a reception age child from that point every day.

I agree with PPs something like online sessions using the psychology would be great. There's a massive need! I am sure you'd get a role. Also that would allow you to schedule your own day to some extent and use your degree and have some passion for it.

Good luck

Oh and we use holiday club combined with annual leave for the holidays

Writer and editor and I hate it, but that’s to do with my current company. Liked the last job but it was a FTC, alas.

I WFH full time for the local authority. My particular role is business intelligence but nearly everyone is home based, unless you’re in a front facing role. There are plenty of entry level admin type roles wfh. maybe see what your LA is like for wfh and keep an eye on the LA vacancies?

I work nights as a counsellor on a helpline.

Lots of my colleagues do this, stay up for the school run and go to bed until kids hometime. There may be opportunities for you with an EAP provider or similar doing something along the same lines.

@SeriousAlligator is that via a charity and if you don't mind me asking is the pay decent? I believe id need to do a masters or an additional counselling qualification plus however many hours practice to become a counsellor as my psychology degree doesn't transfer over as no practical experience which is very unfortunate! It would have been cheaper and quicker for me to do a level 3/4 counselling qualification instead of psychology degree but we live and learn!

@Catscatsandmorecats yes I would arrange after school/holiday care for the youngest. It's more about being physically at home when the oldest gets home as he has special needs and has been known to make stupid decisions on occasion or wind the 11yo up and cause issues! But he wouldn't need any input from me just that I am in the house is enough. Also the after school club is only until 5.30 which is a bit useless for a working parent with a commute so then I'd be having to look at childminders etc so being 10 min away I'd hope to make the pick up.

That sound like WFH would be ideal in that case. There's a lot more opportunity for it now, fingers crossed you will find something good 🙂

Thanks to everyone on here for their suggestions as some things I hadn't even thought of. I have been inspired to look at different roles and found some possibilities that would interest me and make use of the psychology degree. It will just be a matter of actually getting a job.... it does make me anxious thinking of applications and interviews having been out of the game for a few years but I am definitely capable and pick things up quickly so hopefully someone will employ me! I'm 35 so plenty of work years left in me and I'm definitely done with babies so companies won't have to worry about me going on maternity leave and not coming back...

I work in publishing, not the best paid but company has said we can all work fully from home forever, with office provision if we ever want it. It's been brilliant and life-changing.

Legal/ governance consultancy. I had to change jobs to finally embed 100% wfh. My husband is an IT PM and already had it, so is now elective 3 days in office ironically.

I'm surprised we don't hear more about it in the context of inflation, as companies both save on costs and imho are using flexibility to counter rises. I was amazed how much I save by not having a separate work wardrobe and so on, and although I kept my car, on mileage and expenses which I never had time to reclaim.

They are pushing staff who were on office based contracts to go back in on a hybrid basis. My particular contract was a fully remote/WFH contract therefore I never need to go in. I do have the option of going in if I want to but I havent done so ever since covid.

Hop you find something that suits you. I love my role and I see at as a fantastic opportunity as I am a carer for an elderly relative, I have 3 DCs, and I live in a pretty remote area where there are literally no jobs.

@Asvan do you mind sharing what your role/job title is in a pm?