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Original poster

Is it acceptable to work from home from somewhere else?

86 replies

SeventySphinx · 10/08/2023 14:11

My parents live in the far north of Scotland. There is no point going up there for a night or two. My new work have a policy of minimum 3 days in the office, but preferably 5. I want to fly up to Scotland on the Thursday night, work all day Friday, have the weekend, then work all day Monday before flying back down to London. Do you think I would be in trouble for doing this?

OP posts:
Overthebow · 10/08/2023 14:16

As long as there’s good enough internet connection and you’ll get all your hours and work done then it’ll probably be fine.

HundredMilesAnHour · 10/08/2023 14:17

Depends on your employer's wfh policy. Mine is fine about it as long as we're still in the same country of employment but definitely no working overseas without approval in advance (and a very good business case why).

spitefulandbadgrammar · 10/08/2023 14:18

People do this all the time at my work, though we don’t have the stringent minimum days so there’s more leeway. My colleague went to Amsterdam for a couple of weeks and worked from there! So long as the work gets done, meetings get attended, and hours are met, where you’re working from should be irrelevant.

CatsOnTheChair · 10/08/2023 14:22

DH has to be in the UK - and can't even take his work phone to some countries.
Apart from the uk stipulation, they don't really care.
I have to be in the building.

VimtoPassion · 10/08/2023 14:28

Personally I'd just talk to my boss and agree it. I'd agree it as a one off for my staff too. I wouldn't just go.

Mintearo7 · 10/08/2023 14:29

Sounds fine however I would mention to them you. Ours are fine with working within the Uk, only stipulation is if you have IT probs and needs someone to look at it you have to be prepared to make an urgent trip to the office, doesn’t matter how far you are.

mynameiscalypso · 10/08/2023 14:31

This would be fine at my workplace so long as you do actually work and are available online for the day. People who take the piss aren't normally granted permission again.

Florissante · 10/08/2023 14:32

Why not check with your employer?

LadyGeorginaSmythe · 10/08/2023 14:35

I went away for a few days but didn't have enough annual leave so boss agreed for me to just work one day from the holiday site. I know if I asked him he'd agree to what you're requesting. I think honesty is best though, don't assume it's ok and just do it.

theyareonlynoodlesmichael · 10/08/2023 14:39

Check your policy. My employer doesn't think flexible working means 'you have to work from home.' We can work anywhere we like, as long as we have internet and its appropriate for confidential work calls.

Look at it this way, how would they know?

enchantedsquirrelwood · 10/08/2023 15:02

We can work from anywhere - including overseas, but overseas has to be approved with HR.

Working within the UK is fine - people often visit family and work from there. For example, my mum needs an operation and I will work from her house after she has had it.

Florissante · 10/08/2023 17:34

Working overseas would be the dream.

Gaby5 · 10/08/2023 17:36

theyareonlynoodlesmichael · 10/08/2023 14:39

Check your policy. My employer doesn't think flexible working means 'you have to work from home.' We can work anywhere we like, as long as we have internet and its appropriate for confidential work calls.

Look at it this way, how would they know?

Exactly - I wouldn’t dream of asking my employer for permission! They wouldn’t have a clue?!

cuckyplunt · 10/08/2023 17:38

Not a problem at my work, I’m goi g to Scotland in November and tend to work from the Premier Inn for three days.

Ponderingwindow · 10/08/2023 17:39

Very common at my work.

Summertime109 · 10/08/2023 17:40

Depends on your contract. I’ve always just asked permission to work from Scotland and it’s always been approved. Maybe helps that I started during Covid so my Dad could provide child care.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 10/08/2023 17:40

Best to get approval just on the off chance that your laptop gets knicked or lost during travel and you then have to explain afterwards only to find out you were in breach of some policy or other.

BranchGold · 10/08/2023 17:41

I think the working overseas things is often to do with tax complications, so it’s easier to have a blanket policy of it not being allowed/only authorised by HR for fixed periods.

Cantstaystuckforever · 10/08/2023 17:44

Common, but we'd have to check with a manager as our work legally requires privacy and usually also the need of multiple screens, so working from a shared kitchen table in my mum's house wouldn't work. However other than that, working from somewhere else in the UK shouldn't really be an issue.

AnneElliott · 10/08/2023 17:45

Mine would be fine as they require 2 days a week in the office but averaged over 3 months. Some people do this (ie live innScotland) and come down to London and do a block week of 5 days (staying with a mate) and then going back home.

One of my colleague lived on a remote Scottish island and cows would regularly moo whilst going past her window!

ApolloandDaphne · 10/08/2023 17:47

My DDs both live in England and we live in Scotland. Both have worked from here when they have come to visit. It's never been an issue with their employees.

Badbadbunny · 10/08/2023 17:52

My son works for a big insurance firm and they wouldn't accept that situation at all, sorry. They provided the desk, chair, mouse, keyboard, screen and laptop, delivered it all to his flat, set it up, ensured the chair/screen were at the right height, all for H&S rules, and then an IT bod did something with his flat's broadband router/connection to ensure it was a secure connection. He says someone comes out every six months or so to look at the home office setup to make sure it's all remaining compliant.

They're informally allowed to use the laptop for short periods away from the home office setup or his main office workplace, i.e. in a cafe etc., but there are limits as to how long for (due to body positioning etc).

We've been through this as we asked whether he'd be able to "work from home" when he comes home to stay for a few days, and there was a resounding no when he asked his manager.

Caterina99 · 10/08/2023 17:52

No issue for DH. In fact he’s away with the kids visiting his parents right now. He’s taken the week off, but there was some important meeting one of the days, so he’ll just do that meeting and whatever else is required for it for a half day I assume. His parents have a study he can use and they’ll entertain the kids for the few hours. His work has never complained and we’ve stayed there loads of times and done similar.

WaitingForSunnyDays · 10/08/2023 17:54

No issue in my firm, you can work wherever in the UK. Working abroad can be a bit different because of tax implications.

BaileySurfer · 10/08/2023 17:55

I worked from a UK hotel after an overnight stay for a day, it meant I could have a day out that I wanted and not take an extra day's leave just to travel back the next day. Nobody had a clue I wasn't at home, and if I had mentioned it they wouldn't have cared, why does it matter to anyone else as long as I go to my meetings, maintain appropriate privacy/security and get my work done?
As others have said, overseas would be different as there are tax implications.