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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:
ActDottie · 10/08/2023 20:22

I work from my parents house a lot. As long as the internet connection is good I can’t really see an issue.

Clefable · 10/08/2023 20:27

Our work has no problem with it. My boss works from his MIL's house one day a week! I wouldn't really think to ask about it at my workplace nor would anyone really care.

eurochick · 10/08/2023 20:49

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.

I've never heard of this. I work in the City with loads of people in the insurance, legal and financial sectors. Are you sure he doesn't want to work from your place?

TheWayoftheLeaf · 10/08/2023 22:40

Yes. I asked my boss to work from my mothers home in a different county and she said it doesn't matter where so long as there's reliable internet and it's not outside of the UK (tax reasons).

C8H10N4O2 · 10/08/2023 22:49

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.

Its for two working days. Not six months.

Provision of kit for regular home workers is standard, its then the employee's responsibility as a fully grown adult to make sure they use it.

He should be connecting via VPN for anything requiring a secure connection in which case the "IT bod" is also on a job creation scheme.

The whole story sounds bizarre frankly. A great excuse not to work from anywhere he doesn't want to though!

Luxwana · 10/08/2023 23:04

For me my principle work place is my home address and it's clear in my
Contract that's the only place I should work. I'd clear it with HR

moistclam · 10/08/2023 23:23

As previous posters have suggested, you need to at least run it by your boss. Most likely it will be fine, but if you neglect to tell them and then just go, it might not be. For instance in my workplace; although folk have days they work from home, if we're particularly short staffed or something comes up in the office we can still be asked to come into the office, even short notice on the morning of - if something like that happened and you had to say "sorry no can do, I'm in Scotland" without at least giving them forewarning, I reckon they'd be a little hacked off.

PippaAB · 10/08/2023 23:27

I wish I could but the Internet in my parents house isn't good enough.

Work would be fine with it.

Maraudingmarauders · 10/08/2023 23:32

Technically we should only work from somewhere thay we've completed our DSE assessment for - a particular set up in our house. In reality I work from whatever room and surface I feel like, so there's no real reason I couldnt work from a different house. I just put on a background on teams so my location can't be identified.

Clefable · 10/08/2023 23:38

Yes we have to compete DSE assessments every so often but no one is bothering coming my house to see if my screen is too high! They issue guidance to us to adjust our own stuff. My husband set up my stuff as he's an IT Analyst so it's all very smart and ergonomic. But I would still be happy taking my laptop, keyboard, mouse and maybe a spare monitor and going to stay with family for a few days. No one will notice or care at my work. Most people have blurred backgrounds or occasionally those comedy Teams ones so I've no clue where anyone is nor does it matter.

I work evenings and sometimes for the last hour, which is usually just quiet admin work and just ticking off everything for the day, I get into bed with my laptop Grin definitely not ergonomic but so cosy.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 10/08/2023 23:38

As long as you don't have a work from home but come in if it's an emergency arrangements

Blanketpolicy · 10/08/2023 23:49

Our work allows it and my boss regularly takes trips up to her mums, but she has tonnes of goodwill in the bag to be afforded lots of flexibility.

As long as you are transparent with your employer, keep them informed of your location and any issues, have reliable Internet access/hardware and a quiet appropriate space to work all day then I don't see the problem.

What would you do if you arrived, your laptop broke down day 1 and you are not in commuting distance to get it fixed?

Hiyawotcha · 10/08/2023 23:56

Our work allows this. Plus from overseas, subject to agreement. A friend worked while visiting family in Canada for 3 weeks (so had 2 weeks off and worked the middle week). Only time permission has been refused was when a colleague wanted to WFH while visiting family in China. Think it was refused because of computer security concerns.

wafflyversatile · 11/08/2023 00:02

I regularly wfh from Scotland for weeks at a time rather than wfh a few miles from my office in London. I did 3.5 months a couple of years ago.

If your employers aren't wankers they shouldn't have an issue. That said if they want people in 5 days a week despite implicitly conceding that's not necessary they probably are wankers.

marcopront · 11/08/2023 04:58

ElleEmmDee · 10/08/2023 19:08

Do it subtlety and just don’t mention it. See if you can check the policy on the quiet just in case it does say it’s supposed to be at a particular home address (unlikely). If you do get discovered and there’s a problem just say you hadn’t realised, won’t do it again if there’s a problem. Better to ask forgiveness than for permission.

This is terrible advice.

Just check the policy, there is no need to hide you are checking it.

If the policy clearly states you cannot do it, then "oh I didn't know" would not stop them firing you.

jabberwokky · 11/08/2023 06:42

I would always just check it with my manager/ let her know that I won't be at 'home home' but will still have a good connection. It's never been a problem as long as still in the UK.

I think it's a courtesy just to check it.

FannythePinkFlamingo · 11/08/2023 07:10

My employer wouldn't have an issue with this. Indeed my boss has a home in another European country and often sighs from there if he is in that country. DD works for a big national company in financial services. She's coming to stay tomorrow and will be working from here next week. Again, no issue. But nobody knows your employer's view OP, so you'll have to ask.

thinkkook · 11/08/2023 07:17

If I did this my work wouldn't even have to know where I was as long as I was working.

howdoesyourgardengrowinmay · 11/08/2023 10:09

usually if you're taking your laptop to use / sign in from another country your employer should be informed in case of security issues. There might also be tax issues, depending on where you are working from and for how long. It can get messy. Best to check.

TallulahBetty · 11/08/2023 10:11

Fine for my company, they are fine with wherever as long as no confi calls/screens are in the public domain. Why not just casually drop your plans into conversation and see what's said?

allhellcantstopusnow · 11/08/2023 17:25

My work wouldn't know if I was at home, in Scotland or up a tree. As long as the Wi-Fi worked and I was actually doing my job, it's fine.

marcopront · 11/08/2023 17:57

allhellcantstopusnow · 11/08/2023 17:25

My work wouldn't know if I was at home, in Scotland or up a tree. As long as the Wi-Fi worked and I was actually doing my job, it's fine.

Do you know that the OP has the same employer as you?
If not how do you know it will be fine?

kweeble · 11/08/2023 18:06

I would ask - it’s possible they’ll be more flexible so you can stay longer - could you offer to be in the office for a full week instead the following week?

TribeD · 11/08/2023 18:24

My work would allow it, providing you are still in the UK. I've worked from my parents home on a few occasions, but asking first if my line manager minded (it's never been a problem)

Equally I would let my team do the same, I know that some of them head to a cafe on a Friday as we tend not to have meetings on Fridays, but if it was for longer than a day I would expect them to check its okay - our laptops are pricey bits of kit so I'd want to know they are kept secure.

HeyThere111 · 12/08/2023 07:06

My work allows us to work away from home. But just ask them

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