Working From Home Megathread

RonaVirus

Every office type job, or job that can be done remotely should be work from home by default.

If a company wants you to travel to an office x number of days a week / month, they should be required to pay you for the commute, and the time spent commuting should count as time on the job.

People commuting from all corners to congregate in an office to do the same thing you can do remotely is just outdated now.

thelad95

Shawn Sparse Sunstroke wrote: »

No one I know is fed up working from home. Some might like to go back a day or two a week but that's about it.

I actively detest it as do most of my colleagues.

Where I work this is normally the best time of the year, plenty of team nights out and the corporate credit cards taking a good battering.

The isolation in comparison this year is just awful.

I miss the old routine of getting out of bed, walk to the train, getting my "head around the day" so to speak, coffee with colleagues at 10:30 or 11. Lunch with people where you can actually discuss things outside work.

Then the train journey home where you wind down, listen to your favourite podcast, walk home, out of work clothes and relax in your safe space.

This is all gone now and we're all essentially on house arrest. No work/life separation. The safe space of home is now also the workplace and I just hate it all.

Also, I'm not sure if its just me but there seems to be a never ending stream of dishes that have to be done at home. I maybe had to run the dishwasher once a week previously and now it's nearly every second day it's full.

I think most companies realise their place in all this and having had their entire workforce efficiently working remotely, they can't be seen to be rushing people back until there's a lot of light at the end of the tunnel. Honestly, it could well be 2022 by the time that happens.

sammyjo90

thelad95 wrote: »

Also, I'm not sure if its just me but there seems to be a never ending stream of dishes that have to be done at home. I maybe had to run the dishwasher once a week previously and now it's nearly every second day it's full.

.

Not just you. Feel like im constantly cleaning the kitchen and filling/emptying the dishwasher.

For me...i miss talking to people, as in sitting down and having a chat over a cuppa. I have started having random calls to talk about non work related topics but its not the same as physically being there

Stheno

thelad95 wrote: »

I actively detest it as do most of my colleagues.

Where I work this is normally the best time of the year, plenty of team nights out and the corporate credit cards taking a good battering.

The isolation in comparison this year is just awful.

I miss the old routine of getting out of bed, walk to the train, getting my "head around the day" so to speak, coffee with colleagues at 10:30 or 11. Lunch with people where you can actually discuss things outside work.

Then the train journey home where you wind down, listen to your favourite podcast, walk home, out of work clothes and relax in your safe space.

This is all gone now and we're all essentially on house arrest. No work/life separation. The safe space of home is now also the workplace and I just hate it all.

Also, I'm not sure if its just me but there seems to be a never ending stream of dishes that have to be done at home. I maybe had to run the dishwasher once a week previously and now it's nearly every second day it's full.

I think most companies realise their place in all this and having had their entire workforce efficiently working remotely, they can't be seen to be rushing people back until there's a lot of light at the end of the tunnel. Honestly, it could well be 2022 by the time that happens.

Are you in your 20s by any chance?

sammyjo90

Stheno wrote: »

Are you in your 20s by any chance?

A guy i work with used to have to drive 45 mins through west cork roads to get to work. So you'd think he wouldnt miss that part but he does...he also used that time to listen to podcasts and he is 40. He is also hating being at home all the time and being in "the office"

Another one is over 50 and uses the time for mindfulness.

Its not just young people that like to have coffee with colleagues and socialise either

AndrewJRenko

Cina wrote: »

I'd happily never go back to the office - maybe 2-3 days a month to catch up with people but even then I'm not too bothered.

WFH is incredible, I think once we're out of lockdown people will see the benefits of it even more. It's probably tough for some people right now because there's nothing for them to do in the evenings or weekend so they're at home most of the time. I think when we can all do stuff again the time saved on the commute and having your own space will become far more appreciated. Sadly by then a lot of companies (mine included) will probably be demanding people go back in again.

I don't think people really know the long term impacts of WFH. There has got to be a long term impact of cutting out all those water cooler conversations, all those lunch chats, the things that allow people to get to know each other as more than just functioning bots.

strandroad wrote: »

My company is developing a hybrid model. Looks like we'll be shedding some office space we'll no longer need.

Sure why not, when you can grab space for free from your employees.

Wilson Thousands Viewfinder wrote: »

Hi, Why would people get fed up of work from home? It’s the best thing that’s happened in the working lives of many many people since they started working.

I went to my office for 4 weeks since March and hated every bit of it, I much much prefer working from home and being honest I wouldn’t mind level 5 being extended so the topic of returning to the office doesn’t get considered.

Not everyone has space for a decent desk and chair. Not everyone has funds to run their heating all day. Not everyone has a safe environment, away from coercion or threats of danger from a partner or a parent.

It may work for you, but it doesn't work for everyone.

AndrewJRenko

Shawn Sparse Sunstroke wrote: »

No one I know is fed up working from home. Some might like to go back a day or two a week but that's about it.

I'm fed up working from home. I might like to WFH a day or two a week, but that's about it.

RonaVirus wrote: »

Every office type job, or job that can be done remotely should be work from home by default.

If a company wants you to travel to an office x number of days a week / month, they should be required to pay you for the commute, and the time spent commuting should count as time on the job.

People commuting from all corners to congregate in an office to do the same thing you can do remotely is just outdated now.

If employees are now going to be expected to provide office space, employers had better start paying rent.

tobefrank321

Jimson wrote: »

Any predictions when we will back?

Cant see it for 2021.

I think once you're vaccinated you can go back. Although you may want your close contacts to be vaccinated too just in case. At a guess it will be 2022 before normal office work returns.

Unfortunately covid has made a lot of people nervous about travel, office work and so on
And scare stories in the media don't help.

SouthWesterly

Working from home since March. Saving 2 hours a day travel. 60e a week in diesel and have one of our cars declared off the road.

I have my routine. At my desk at 8. Half an hour lunch and clock off at 4.

There's no downside to this for me. We're looking to next spring at least and management will be to the pin of their collar justifying why we have to go back to the office.

salonfire

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

I'm fed up working from home. I might like to WFH a day or two a week, but that's about it.


If employees are now going to be expected to provide office space, employers had better start paying rent.

If employers have to pay rent, then they have every right to land themselves in your home, unannounced - at any time day or night - to check up on the space they have rented.

Having your employer come by and audit your house for fire safety.

I assume you are also ok with the employer installing security type doors with key card access within your house.

Maybe the employer could insist another employee also take a work space in your office. When you comes to selling your house, what will be the legal ramification if an employer is renting part of it for office space?

Sure is an interesting perspective you got there.

salonfire

SouthWesterly wrote: »

Working from home since March. Saving 2 hours a day travel. 60e a week in diesel and have one of our cars declared off the road.

I have my routine. At my desk at 8. Half an hour lunch and clock off at 4.

There's no downside to this for me. We're looking to next spring at least and management will be to the pin of their collar justifying why we have to go back to the office.

It'll probably be in your contract where your usual place of work is. They'll refer you to that.

SouthWesterly

salonfire wrote: »

It'll probably be in your contract where your usual place of work is. They'll refer you to that.

They may try but they'll have to say why we aren't doing our jobs effectively having sent out weekly emails saying how well we're doing.

salonfire

SouthWesterly wrote: »

They may try but they'll have to say why we aren't doing our jobs effectively having sent out weekly emails saying how well we're doing.

It's not about you doing your job effectively or not, it's about what is on the contract you have signed. Contracts and terms and conditions of work cannot be changed unilaterally.

3xh

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

I'm fed up working from home. I might like to WFH a day or two a week, but that's about it.


If employees are now going to be expected to provide office space, employers had better start paying rent.

Just to say, Revenue have a way to deal with this; it’s a case of careful what you wish for.

That portion of the home used as office space means you would not be able to claim full tax benefit if you sold the house.

To avoid that predicament, the casual arrangement and zero commute costs with your company is better.

plodder

salonfire wrote: »

If employers have to pay rent, then they have every right to land themselves in your home, unannounced - at any time day or night - to check up on the space they have rented.

Having your employer come by and audit your house for fire safety.

I assume you are also ok with the employer installing security type doors with key card access within your house.

Maybe the employer could insist another employee also take a work space in your office. When you comes to selling your house, what will be the legal ramification if an employer is renting part of it for office space?

Sure is an interesting perspective you got there.

Whatever about rent, they should be contributing towards light, heat and broadband charges, especially for the period when they aren't paying for that in the office, and when we have no choice but to work from home.

As regards, what will happen long term, I can only imagine that companies insisting employees return to the office are not happy with how it's been working up to now. On the other hand, I know my employer is happy and I know of at least one Dublin company that has let their city centre lease expire, and are in no hurry to look for replacement premises.

H8GHOTI

I get those saying they miss coffee/lunch. That’s about the only thing I miss. I get the argument about not having space with a correct setup or people that find it difficult to get away from family or other distractions. Fair enough but the other reasons are interesting and not something I would have thought about.

Getting out of bed maybe 1hr earlier, to walk and get on a train. Sounds miserable. Looking forward to getting out of work clothes? I’m enjoying not getting into them! Each to their own.

WFH makes work/life balance worse? Life starts at 5.01pm now, not 5.45pm or 6pm. People miss sitting in traffic because of podcasts? No one is right or wrong but everyone is different. It’s amazing, people’s mindsets.

zf0wqv9oemuasj

Email around today form one of our bosses saying how she is so excited about soon being able to get the office reopened, and how great it will be to have everyone back together etc. I think she some how thinks staff feels the same!

Man oh man I can’t get my head around this at all, working from home full time really is a revelation, the best thing that’s ever happened work wise for me, I have always done an odd day from home but having realised what it’s like to fully work from home I’d be happy if I never saw the inside of the office again and honestly I don’t understand why some people want to go back to the day to day slog of the way things were, commutes, stress, longer days, less sleep, more expenses and so on.

salonfire

There is going to be a longer term impact on the labour pool as well if WFH stays.

15-16-17 years olds filling out their CAO forms are not going to choose an option that is likely to see them working at home after college. People that age don't see beyond 5 years out.

I can't imagine parents would be thrilled either at their college grad son or daughter sitting in a crowded house-share at 22yo stuck at home because their employer has no or limited office space. Or worse still, their grad moving back home to work in their childhood bedroom.

It could cause long term distortion away from office based careers.

RonaVirus

H8GHOTI wrote: »

I get those saying they miss coffee/lunch. That’s about the only thing I miss. I get the argument about not having space with a correct setup or people that find it difficult to get away from family or other distractions. Fair enough but the other reasons are interesting and not something I would have thought about.

Getting out of bed maybe 1hr earlier, to walk and get on a train. Sounds miserable. Looking forward to getting out of work clothes? I’m enjoying not getting into them! Each to their own.

WFH makes work/life balance worse? Life starts at 5.01pm now, not 5.45pm or 6pm. People miss sitting in traffic because of podcasts? No one is right or wrong but everyone is different. It’s amazing, people’s mindsets.

Yeah, nothing stopping people doing these things AND working from home. They'd rather see everyone back in the rat race so they can get the train to listen to podcasts? Nonsensical.

Jimson

Some people i think work means everything to them and want to fulfil their ego by been in the office hoping to get a pat on their back from.their boss and assert their dominance on other people.

Win the lotto and they'd still want to be part of the 9-5 rat race as have little else going on in their lives.

Its a godsend for me working from home not having to make chit chat or talk to people I don't even like in the office.

Work for me is just money, I get no satisfaction from it whatsoever and working from home makes it a thousand times better.

the-island-man

I have to say I love working from home. No commuting, eating more healthy food (home cooked meals as opposed to slop from the communal canteen - lost over a stone since this started), less office politics but most of all getting to see my child grow and develop

I am excited by the prospect of being able to work remotely for any company located anywhere in Ireland.

On the flip side I'd be fearful that it might lead to companies deciding to outsource to cheaper countries.

Sultan of Bling

the-island-man wrote:

On the flip side I'd be fearful that it might lead to companies deciding to outsource to cheaper countries.

They could do that anyway, wfh or not.

Cina

I find it bewildering that people in here actually miss standing on a train/sitting in traffic just because it wakes them up/they can listen to their podcasts.

I mean.. why not just wake up earlier and go for a walk before/after work and listen to your podcast then?

it sounds like you lot aren't doing a good enough job to separate work and home life. Personally I always wake up a bit earlier to exercise/walk, make sure I'm not in the room for the hour for my lunch, and make sure to clock off at a normal time and then go do something, again, like a walk, or even just to another room.

Although I can understand those who might have to set up their office in the kitchen and not a spare room if you're in a small apartment or a house full of kids, that could be a struggling.

loyatemu

salonfire wrote: »

There is going to be a longer term impact on the labour pool as well if WFH stays.

15-16-17 years olds filling out their CAO forms are not going to choose an option that is likely to see them working at home after college. People that age don't see beyond 5 years out.

I can't imagine parents would be thrilled either at their college grad son or daughter sitting in a crowded house-share at 22yo stuck at home because their employer has no or limited office space. Or worse still, their grad moving back home to work in their childhood bedroom.

It could cause long term distortion away from office based careers.

it's not all or nothing, I think/hope most companies will adopt a hybrid and flexible approach. I'm 45, I've had my fill of commuting 2 hours a day; I expect when the office reopens I'll be in 1 or 2 days a week max. I see the benefit of going to the office occasionally, mainly to see the people who I don't work directly with; but most days I'm there I could just as easily have been at home.

Younger staff will probably go in more often, as they may not have a suitable working environment at home and also for the social aspect. Some companies may want to keep a closer eye on their less experienced staff as well, but that shouldn't be necessary for longer-serving trusted employees.

But there will also be some companies who choose to go all-remote. That was happening pre-covid, it's only going to get more common now.

plodder

I'd agree with the likely age difference in attitude as well. Definitely, older more settled people will prefer WFH, but there will always be exceptions. Also, given the traditional pattern of heavy commuter traffic associated with school terms, means that a lot of people having to get in their cars to bring kids to school won't see quite the same benefit from WFH, and may prefer to continue on to the workplace.

It's going to be very interesting to see how it all plays out in second half of 2021. I don't think anyone can predict it at this point.

the-island-man

Sultan of Bling wrote: »

They could do that anyway, wfh or not.

True but depending on what you work as (Software Engineer for me) there is some value in having the team co-located. It may lead higher ups to think why am I paying X amount of money for this crew in Ireland when I can ship it to Eastern Europe or at least outsource part of the team that are not seen as core to the functioning of the team.

I've seen outsourcing a number of times over my career, it rarely works out well but it doesn't stop some latte drinking w****er from giving it a go in order to meet their performance goals!

vojiwox

the-island-man wrote: »

True but depending on what you work as (Software Engineer for me) there is some value in having the team co-located. It may lead higher ups to think why am I paying X amount of money for this crew in Ireland when I can ship it to Eastern Europe or at least outsource part of the team that are not seen as core to the functioning of the team.

I've seen outsourcing a number of times over my career, it rarely works out well but it doesn't stop some latte drinking w****er from giving it a go in order to meet their performance goals!

Yeah I've seen it fail many times in my place.

"latte drinking w****er"

zf0wqv9oemuasj

plodder wrote: »

I'd agree with the likely age difference in attitude as well. Definitely, older more settled people will prefer WFH, but there will always be exceptions. Also, given the traditional pattern of heavy commuter traffic associated with school terms, means that a lot of people having to get in their cars to bring kids to school won't see quite the same benefit from WFH, and may prefer to continue on to the workplace.

Hi, I think people of all ages would be happy with the option of working from home, how often they do it may vary but I think its an option that suits everyone at times. Personally I would like to do it all the time but in the long run that would not suit my role something like 2 days in/3 at home per week will be ideal. I have home office in my current home and we are building a house now which I have included a large home office that even 3 people could comfortably work from and I would hope that it will be used heavily in future.

As for dropping kids to school, my toddler is a few years away from starting school yet but when he does the school is 5 mins drive away (we live rurally so no traffic) and my office is 40 mins drive away. I could not see any logic in continuing to the work place just because I did a school run, I think it would be similar for many both rurally or in urban areas. Schools tend to be close to where you live so in most cases dropping and coming back would be far quicker than continuing to work.

The other major major advantage of working from home though is on the other end of the day, the pick ups. You can do the pick-up and save lots of your euros that would be spent on after school care. Once a child gets to 6 or 7 they will happily play themselves or watch television while you go back to work and you can pop out to them if needed.

The same situation would hold for summer holidays and other school term breaks where you could mind kids while working (once they are old enough to potter away themselves), drop and pick form summer camps and so on.

Those who much prefer working from home or a hybrid model are in the majority by a distance but I am still very surprised that there is as big a minority as I am seeing of people who don't like it or aren't seeing the massive advantages.

AdamD

Wilson Thousands Viewfinder wrote: »

Hi, I think people of all ages would be happy with the option of working from home, how often they do it may vary but I think its an option that suits everyone at times. Personally I would like to do it all the time but in the long run that would not suit my role something like 2 days in/3 at home per week will be ideal. I have home office in my current home and we are building a house now which I have included a large home office that even 3 people could comfortably work from and I would hope that it will be used heavily in future.

As for dropping kids to school, my toddler is a few years away from starting school yet but when he does the school is 5 mins drive away (we live rurally so no traffic) and my office is 40 mins drive away. I could not see any logic in continuing to the work place just because I did a school run, I think it would be similar for many both rurally or in urban areas. Schools tend to be close to where you live so in most cases dropping and coming back would be far quicker than continuing to work.

The other major major advantage of working from home though is on the other end of the day, the pick ups. You can do the pick-up and save lots of your euros that would be spent on after school care. Once a child gets to 6 or 7 they will happily play themselves or watch television while you go back to work and you can pop out to them if needed.

The same situation would hold for summer holidays and other school term breaks where you could mind kids while working (once they are old enough to potter away themselves), drop and pick form summer camps and so on.

Those who much prefer working from home or a hybrid model are in the majority by a distance but I am still very surprised that there is as big a minority as I am seeing of people who don't like it or aren't seeing the massive advantages.

Because every benefit you mentioned there is completely irrelevant for somebody in their mid-twenties.

I don't have kids, I don't live somewhere with space for a home office. I didn't have much of a commute before (live near the city center). Our office was good craic socially, for some reason this annoys people on boards, I'm sure somebody will accuse me of relying on work for socialising, I don't. But not socialising from 9-5, 5 days a week is a bit grim in my opinion.

However, I agree a hybrid approach would suit most people, I'd probably choose 2 days at home and 3 in the office in the future.

AndrewJRenko

plodder wrote: »

I'd agree with the likely age difference in attitude as well. Definitely, older more settled people will prefer WFH, but there will always be exceptions. Also, given the traditional pattern of heavy commuter traffic associated with school terms, means that a lot of people having to get in their cars to bring kids to school won't see quite the same benefit from WFH, and may prefer to continue on to the workplace.

It's going to be very interesting to see how it all plays out in second half of 2021. I don't think anyone can predict it at this point.

If only there was some other way to get kids to school other than loading them into the back of an SUV?

Maybe if people picked local schools within walking or cycling distance perhaps?

I know a couple of people who chose city centre schools (Belvedere, Loreto Stephens Green) on the basis of their work commute who are pretty screwed commute wise now, doing twice the journey, twice a day.