Working From Home Megathread

Quin_Dub

2lazytogetup wrote: »

have employers allowed you guys to go into office/work to retrieve anything. ive left a few things that i want to pick up. after 6 months i think i should be allowed to go back. they make it hard requiring all these top management level approvals.

Mine did that a while ago for anyone that needed stuff.

Personal Stuff was boxed up and handed over at the door and you could also "book out" Office chairs , Monitors etc.

SusanC10

My Husband took the opportunity the one day he needed to go in to the office. He drove and brought a box and took anything personal with him. He was told that he could take reasonable stationery supplies too.
His office had already delivered chair, monitors, keyboard etc early on.

JTMan

Ronan Glynn has said: "It’s hard to believe that people haven taken the message to heart that they should not be going to work unless it’s absolutely essential".

He is right. There is still a good percentage of companies and staff who are not following the WFH rules.

They should put Gardai checkpoints (in particular around the city centre) and go looking for letters from employers plus fine employers who are breaking the rules.

nearzero

JTMan wrote: »

Ronan Glynn has said: "It’s hard to believe that people haven taken the message to heart that they should not be going to work unless it’s absolutely essential".

He is right. There is still a good percentage of companies and staff who are not following the WFH rules.

They should put Gardai checkpoints (in particular around the city centre) and go looking for letters from employers plus fine employers who are breaking the rules.

Totally agree with this!

You can see it with the amount of traffic on the road - businesses are not allowing staff to make the right decision to stay at home by forcing them to return to offices - its very short sighted, the way things are heading they will be locking down the entire country again

Irish Aris

2lazytogetup wrote: »

have employers allowed you guys to go into office/work to retrieve anything. ive left a few things that i want to pick up. after 6 months i think i should be allowed to go back. they make it hard requiring all these top management level approvals.

yes, I was in the office 3 weeks ago to empty my desk, take personal belongings and anything else I needed and store whatever needing storing.

My employer was very organised on that aspect: they appointed a 2-hour slot that I could go and do this and the same time as me there were another 4 colleagues doing the same - but in different parts of the floor, so we didn't interact with each other. It only took me 15-20 minutes anyway and off I was.

Chairman Meow

JTMan wrote: »

Ronan Glynn has said: "It’s hard to believe that people haven taken the message to heart that they should not be going to work unless it’s absolutely essential".

He is right. There is still a good percentage of companies and staff who are not following the WFH rules.

They should put Gardai checkpoints (in particular around the city centre) and go looking for letters from employers plus fine employers who are breaking the rules.

I had to go into the office yesterday to set up a video call that literally could have been done on any device, phone, laptop, desktop, etc, without my help, but they wanted it done in the boardroom, which meant i had to get the bus into and out of town to literally turn on a screen and dial into a meeting. 5 minutes of work.
Even tho they push this message of "were concerned about our employees health, so work form home", they have no problem dragging us in for completely pointless crap like this. I have chronic respiratory issues and i need these pointless trips on the bus like a ****in hole in the head.

2lazytogetup

dont mean to sound selfish, but my company is technology and profits are skyrocketing so i wouldnt feel bad.

But besides from a laptop, chair and keyboard, are your employers giving you extra to work from home. i heard some employers are giving about 5 euro a day towards heating, electrictiy, broadband etc. employers are saving on this so wondering if they are passing on the savings.

OU812

2lazytogetup wrote: »

dont mean to sound selfish, but my company is technology and profits are skyrocketing so i wouldnt feel bad.

But besides from a laptop, chair and keyboard, are your employers giving you extra to work from home. i heard some employers are giving about 5 euro a day towards heating, electrictiy, broadband etc. employers are saving on this so wondering if they are passing on the savings.

I have my laptop, had to buy a keyboard & mouse (non refundable) because they wouldn’t let us back in.

Was using a kitchen chair and back was sore so went to the office on day & stole a chair & monitor.

Get no extra money although I can apply for a tax credit at end of year. Wife gets €3.20 a day paid monthly.

893bet

3.20 is not a tax credit.

The employer has an option to pay you it.

OU812

893bet wrote: »

3.20 is not a tax credit.

The employer has an option to pay you it.

I'm aware of that. Wife gets the payment from her employer, mine decided not to pay it stating we can apply for a tax credit at the end of the year (which is very much not anywhere close to €3.20 per day.

But considering we have to pay for tea/coffee bring in our own milk, I'm not surprised at all.

Do bills have to be in your name to claim does anyone know? Could someone living at home make a claim for tax refund against the household electricity bill for example?

nearzero

How is everyone getting on with Level 3 lockdown? Has anyway who was working from home been sent back to work from home?

Even though in Level 2, its states: (gov.ie)
'Work from home if possible.If you can work from home, you are advised to only attend work for essential on-site meetings, inductions and training.'

alot of people obviously were back in the office but now Level 3 states:
'Work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person'

So people should be back working from home! My manager has said because I'm already working from home, they are going to leave me where I am but other people who now should be working from arent being sent to home so its back to being a mess. Its very short sighted though because Level 4 or 5 are on the way

JDD

Glad to hear they aren't bringing you back in color girl.

There's a smattering of staff in our office - probably a bit less than two weeks ago. Nearly everyone in there is there because they choose to be - except cleaning and security staff.

If we go to Level 4 the staff that are choosing to be in our office won't be given the choice anymore and will be made to WFH.

sterz

Still working from home and haven't been told to go back in. Though I think some have gone back in recently, which doesn't make sense as technically they should still be working from home. I don't know how their circumstances have changed since March that suddenly requires them to be in the office.

SusanC10

Husband WFH since March. Needed to go in 1 day only.
Has been told Spring 2021 at very earliest for a return.

Patsy167

Most impacts are probably temporary,

People need to consider what’s going to happen in 5+ years when COVID is (hopefully) a distant memory and you’re looking for a new job and/or your employer wants you back in office. A lot of these folks are going to have a brutal time when reality sets in and their career growth and earnings are capped because they decided to live in Carlow (for example) instead of a major city.

A lot of these “never going back to an office” statements are great now, but I see tons of companies recalling people to offices over the next few years -- even if just a hybrid model.

Another scenario is eventually these companies will catch on and realize it makes no sense to pay a Dublin salary for someone living in Carlow and will make adjustments.

WhiteMemento9

Patsy167 wrote: »

Most impacts are probably temporary,

People need to consider what’s going to happen in 5+ years when COVID is (hopefully) a distant memory and you’re looking for a new job and/or your employer wants you back in office. A lot of these folks are going to have a brutal time when reality sets in and their career growth and earnings are capped because they decided to live in Carlow (for example) instead of a major city.

A lot of these “never going back to an office” statements are great now, but I see tons of companies recalling people to offices over the next few years -- even if just a hybrid model.

Another scenario is eventually these companies will catch on and realize it makes no sense to pay a Dublin salary for someone living in Carlow and will make adjustments.

5+ years from now the job market will be decimated by automation and the work market will look radically different from now.

I don't know that but see I can also make blanket crystal ball statements that are pure speculation. Am I am playing the game right.

hetuzozaho

Patsy167 wrote: »

Most impacts are probably temporary,

People need to consider what’s going to happen in 5+ years when COVID is (hopefully) a distant memory and you’re looking for a new job and/or your employer wants you back in office. A lot of these folks are going to have a brutal time when reality sets in and their career growth and earnings are capped because they decided to live in Carlow (for example) instead of a major city.

A lot of these “never going back to an office” statements are great now, but I see tons of companies recalling people to offices over the next few years -- even if just a hybrid model.

Another scenario is eventually these companies will catch on and realize it makes no sense to pay a Dublin salary for someone living in Carlow and will make adjustments.

Depends on industry you're in. In good tech roles its often been an option anyway and will only be more of an option going forward as companies are investing more in the technical infrastructure to support it now.

c68zapdsm5i1ru

Patsy167 wrote: »

Most impacts are probably temporary,

People need to consider what’s going to happen in 5+ years when COVID is (hopefully) a distant memory and you’re looking for a new job and/or your employer wants you back in office. A lot of these folks are going to have a brutal time when reality sets in and their career growth and earnings are capped because they decided to live in Carlow (for example) instead of a major city.

A lot of these “never going back to an office” statements are great now, but I see tons of companies recalling people to offices over the next few years -- even if just a hybrid model.

Another scenario is eventually these companies will catch on and realize it makes no sense to pay a Dublin salary for someone living in Carlow and will make adjustments.

I think Covid has just speeded up something that was going to happen anyway. The whole ‘9-5 travelling to the office everyday‘ working model has been outdated for some time. It’s causing massive traffic congestion, damaging the environment and draining the life out of communities, and many many of those commuters could easily do a lot of their work from home full or part time. I don’t think there’ll be a drift back to the old way anytime soon.

jmlad2020

Certain employers risk losing out if they decide to return to the office 5 days a week (who wants that) People no longer accept that this is necessary and aren't placid to what their bosses think - Millennials will rightly demand a remote hybrid model and will jump ship or decline offers based on this.

The office will never be the same again and I think that's a great thing.

ThunbergsAreGo

Anyone recommend a sit/stand desk?

As this looks long term, my interim desk just isnt going to cut it anymore!

c68zapdsm5i1ru

jmlad2020 wrote: »

Certain employers risk losing out if they decide to return to the office 5 days a week (who wants that) People no longer accept that this is necessary and aren't placid to what their bosses think - Millennials will rightly demand a remote hybrid model and will jump ship or decline offers based on this.

The office will never be the same again and I think that's a great thing.

I agree. Employers who want to attract and retain good staff will find themselves having to offer flexibility with regards to WFH. That means more to people nowadays than free gym membership, subsidised canteens and all the other perks that some workplaces used to offer.

cannco253

Disappointing budget statements about working from home, no real change (broadband) and an opportunity missed.....

https://www.rte.ie/news/budget-2021/2020/1013/1171271-budget2021-working-from-home/

"Mr Donohoe reiterated that in cases where the employer makes payments towards the expenses of working from home, up to €3.20 may be paid to employees without a Benefit-In-Kind arising.

Also where the employer does not make a contribution, the worker may claim a tax deduction for utility expenses such as heat and light.

In addition the Revenue Commissioners has now confirmed that this may include the cost of broadband.

The minister said that claims may also be made for any other vouched expenses incurred "wholly, exclusively and necessarily" in the performance of the duties of their employment"

Quin_Dub

cannco253 wrote: »

Disappointing budget statements about working from home, no real change (broadband) and an opportunity missed.....

https://www.rte.ie/news/budget-2021/2020/1013/1171271-budget2021-working-from-home/

"Mr Donohoe reiterated that in cases where the employer makes payments towards the expenses of working from home, up to €3.20 may be paid to employees without a Benefit-In-Kind arising.

Also where the employer does not make a contribution, the worker may claim a tax deduction for utility expenses such as heat and light.

In addition the Revenue Commissioners has now confirmed that this may include the cost of broadband.

The minister said that claims may also be made for any other vouched expenses incurred "wholly, exclusively and necessarily" in the performance of the duties of their employment"

That's always been the case.

You can claim tax relief on the grand total of 10% of the cost of heat, electricity and Broadband.

Which amounts to nine tenths of sod all in the real world.

uli84

How people are not sick of their 4 walls all the time, i feel like I’m getting mental seeing the same stuff everyday, living, working, socialising in the same place/at home, god, I’m suffocating

antimatterx

uli84 wrote: »

How people are not sick of their 4 walls all the time, i feel like I’m getting mental seeing the same stuff everyday, living, working, socialising in the same place/at home, god, I’m suffocating

It can be tough going, which is why I make sure I exercise after work. If I don't lift weights, instead of going for a run (so I'm still in the house all day), I make sure to go for a walk after. Just to get out of the house.

NIMAN

uli84 wrote: »

How people are not sick of their 4 walls all the time, i feel like I’m getting mental seeing the same stuff everyday, living, working, socialising in the same place/at home, god, I’m suffocating

Totally agree.

I'm well and truly sick of seeing the same 4 walls and the same people. I don't mean that in a bad way about my family but I would like to see different people.

Walking during lunch or after work was grand during the bright days and evenings and in good weather, but what will it be like November to February?

I need to see something other than the local supermarkets too, that tends to be my time away from the house. Did play a bit of football once a week, that's now gone too.

By the time I get back into the office it is likely to be minimum of 12 months, could be 18 months. I will be stir crazy by that time.

SusanC10

uli84 wrote: »

How people are not sick of their 4 walls all the time, i feel like I’m getting mental seeing the same stuff everyday, living, working, socialising in the same place/at home, god, I’m suffocating

Try to get out of the house every day. Fresh air preferably somewhere rural even for 30-45 mins does the world of good.

uli84

uli84 wrote: »

How people are not sick of their 4 walls all the time, i feel like I’m getting mental seeing the same stuff everyday, living, working, socialising in the same place/at home, god, I’m suffocating

Certainly not getting sick of WFH. I had to go into work for a few days last month for the first time since early march and couldn’t wait to get back working from home. I always liked WFH and used to do it a few days here and there always but the longer I’m doing it full time the more I’m liking it and really would like to be in the office as little as possible going forward. There are times I will have to be in though so unfortunately 100% WFH won’t be possible in my current job anyway.

Sultan of Bling

Ellis Brave Upstairs wrote:

Certainly not getting sick of WFH. I had to go into work for a few days last month for the first time since early march and couldn’t wait to get back working from home. I always liked WFH and used to do it a few days here and there always but the longer I’m doing it full time the more I’m liking it and really would like to be in the office as little as possible going forward. There are times I will have to be in though so unfortunately 100% WFH won’t be possible in my current job anyway.

Yeah I think it all depends on the job.

If you're in an office with good, decent hard working people, of course you will miss that.

Unfortunately for me while there is the above in my office, they're is also a lot of selfish, lazy twats that think the whole world revolves around them and managers who are either too lazy or too cowardly to deal with them.

The thoughts of setting eyes on them again makes my stomach turn.