Working from home

[hairykrishna]

So this chap is in the news saying that people abuse working from home and are generally less productive;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58662455

Thoughts? I found that, during the first lockdown, when i was forced to work entirely from home, I was much more productive. I also worked a lot of extra hours without really thinking about it. I was slightly surprised that he felt that a financial services company doing audits needed to be in the office. Seemed to me very much like the ideal job to be doing from home.

[ScotHill]

Says more about him and the way his company is run than it does about the concept of working from home.

Our company is more than happy for people to work from home, and in many cases people are working longer hours because they don't have a commute. I can't think of anything I've done this year that necessitated being in an office rather than a Teams call; maybe miss not having a whiteboard to get people to stand around every once in a while but that's about it.

Will still have 'hub' offices for when people need to collaborate properly and for 'team' occasions or meeting new staff, but the days of sitting at the same desk next to the same people every day are long gone, and I for one salute our new pyjama-clad mentally happier overlords.

[bitchstewie]

Always find it a bit odd when you see articles like these presented as if they're some kind of universal truth.

Some jobs can be done better remotely and some can be done better in the office.

Some staff will take the piss whether they're remote or in the office.

Some managers will have a view in either direction based on their age/biases/experiences etc.

[craigjm]

bhstewie said:

Always find it a bit odd when you see articles like these presented as if they're some kind of universal truth.

Some jobs can be done better remotely and some can be done better in the office.

Some staff will take the piss whether they're remote or in the office.

Some managers will have a view in either direction based on their age/biases/experiences etc.

Absolutely this

[ScotHill]

Also he's just publicly slagged off all his staff on the BBC for being lazy, which is great for building a sense of engagement and belonging.

[GroundEffect]

I definitely get more done at home than in the office. And I save over an hour a day commuting, which I am happier to use for extra work hours.

[BritishBlitz87]

hairykrishna said:

So this chap is in the news saying that people abuse working from home and are generally less productive;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58662455

Thoughts? I found that, during the first lockdown, when i was forced to work entirely from home, I was much more productive. I also worked a lot of extra hours without really thinking about it. I was slightly surprised that he felt that a financial services company doing audits needed to be in the office. Seemed to me very much like the ideal job to be doing from home.

I was the opposite. I did precisely f-all during lockdown and specifically asked for micromanagement to get me off my arse and actually doing something for my own good.

I'm still suffering from the total lack of motivation now, to the extent that i have applied to move departments into a more hands on role.

[barryrs]

As someone who worked from home for 7 to 8 years my view is that this has the potential to negatively affect huge numbers of people. A couple of years and it can be really positive; however, the isolation and pressure will grow which can lead to stress/mental health problems.

My wife would know within minutes if I needed to go for a walk when she got home.

[rscott]

I assume he's in the office all day, every day and never working from home?

[GT03ROB]

craigjm said:

bhstewie said:

Always find it a bit odd when you see articles like these presented as if they're some kind of universal truth.

Some jobs can be done better remotely and some can be done better in the office.

Some staff will take the piss whether they're remote or in the office.

Some managers will have a view in either direction based on their age/biases/experiences etc.

Absolutely this

...and another in agreement.

There are a large number of factors that will influence individuals productivity in different environments. One of the key factors is undoubtably the work space they will have a home. A good workspace & there is no reason many can not be as productive. Without this not a chance.

[MitchT]

The nature of the work I do means my output is easy to measure and obvious for my line manager and colleagues to see, so working from home provides no opportunity to slack off. My productivity has probably been better while working from home as my work environment is exactly right for me. I start work at the time that I would otherwise start travelling to the office, so my employer gets a bit extra from me each morning. I finish at the usual time so I get the benefit of the time that I'd otherwise spend travelling home. Everyone wins.

[speedy_thrills]

I don't think the major issue with working from home is productivity, typically studies have shown an increase in productivity when working from home. Unfortunately people seem to find it less rewarding and tend to quit in higher numbers than office based employees. I suppose there may be some social aspect to work that people find rewarding.

[zygalski]

I get more done WFH & have just applied to do so on a permanent basis.
All those companies that whine about productivity need to get better tools to audit their staff output, better managers and HR depts with teeth.

[romeogolf]

hairykrishna said:

So this chap is in the news saying that people abuse working from home and are generally less productive;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58662455

Thoughts? I found that, during the first lockdown, when i was forced to work entirely from home, I was much more productive. I also worked a lot of extra hours without really thinking about it. I was slightly surprised that he felt that a financial services company doing audits needed to be in the office. Seemed to me very much like the ideal job to be doing from home.

When working from the office, am I productive for 7.5 hours of the day? No, I spend time chatting with colleagues, browse the internet between emails, stop for coffee, stare out the window, reply on PistonHeads... but because I'm in the office, it's assumed I'm working, productive.

When I work from home the same amount of work is being done, but those breaks between moments of productivity might be putting the washing on or fussing with the cats instead.

I've had 1 WFH day per week in my contract for a few years and now manage my workload such that 90% of my work is done Monday to Thursday, so when I'm at home on Friday I can ease off and become more reactive/on-call to incoming tasks. I think that's common of most roles, that you can condense your work to a shorter workweek and the extra days are just when you're "available" for a colleague who has a query during office hours.

[Sheepshanks]

Presumably everyone posting is on their lunch break?

[MattyD803]

Sheepshanks said:

Presumably everyone posting is on their lunch break?

no comment.

[Electro1980]

romeogolf said:

hairykrishna said:

So this chap is in the news saying that people abuse working from home and are generally less productive;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58662455

Thoughts? I found that, during the first lockdown, when i was forced to work entirely from home, I was much more productive. I also worked a lot of extra hours without really thinking about it. I was slightly surprised that he felt that a financial services company doing audits needed to be in the office. Seemed to me very much like the ideal job to be doing from home.

When working from the office, am I productive for 7.5 hours of the day? No, I spend time chatting with colleagues, browse the internet between emails, stop for coffee, stare out the window, reply on PistonHeads... but because I'm in the office, it's assumed I'm working, productive.

When I work from home the same amount of work is being done, but those breaks between moments of productivity might be putting the washing on or fussing with the cats instead.

I've had 1 WFH day per week in my contract for a few years and now manage my workload such that 90% of my work is done Monday to Thursday, so when I'm at home on Friday I can ease off and become more reactive/on-call to incoming tasks. I think that's common of most roles, that you can condense your work to a shorter workweek and the extra days are just when you're "available" for a colleague who has a query during office hours.

It is odd that some people think everyone in an office is productive at all times. There are many people I can think of over the years who spent a large chunk of their time chatting. I feel like the big gain in productivity in working from home is those people now only distract themselves rather than the person they are chatting too and a half dozen others in earshot.

It’s a bit like the open plan office. People being visible is seen as a sign of productivity and good management, work allocation and performance monitoring go by the wayside. I wonder how many people in none task driven roles actually know what their job entails rather than just dealing with whatever lands on their desk.

[BritishBlitz87]

speedy_thrills said:

I don't think the major issue with working from home is productivity, typically studies have shown an increase in productivity when working from home. Unfortunately people seem to find it less rewarding and tend to quit in higher numbers than office based employees. I suppose there may be some social aspect to work that people find rewarding.

I think its easier to swan off when you hardly know any of the people you'll be letting down/dumping work on and can see work as a simple business transaction.

[thewarlock]

The way they phrase the article is a bit cheeky.

He's a CEO in London.

Then quarter of the way down the article, it tells you they have 20 people working for them in London, so not sure why we should value his opinion over anyone elses.

[NerveAgent]

romeogolf said:

When working from the office, am I productive for 7.5 hours of the day? No, I spend time chatting with colleagues, browse the internet between emails, stop for coffee, stare out the window, reply on PistonHeads... but because I'm in the office, it's assumed I'm working, productive.

When I work from home the same amount of work is being done, but those breaks between moments of productivity might be putting the washing on or fussing with the cats instead.

I've had 1 WFH day per week in my contract for a few years and now manage my workload such that 90% of my work is done Monday to Thursday, so when I'm at home on Friday I can ease off and become more reactive/on-call to incoming tasks. I think that's common of most roles, that you can condense your work to a shorter workweek and the extra days are just when you're "available" for a colleague who has a query during office hours.

Absolutely.

I think in none “reactive” jobs, people tend to work in bursts. In the office you have to spend the in between time being social or looking busy which can be pretty draining. At home you can go and sit in the garden for a bit or whatever.