Working From Home Megathread

AdamD

Mushy wrote: »

Oh of course, the fun of it. Still likely to be able to do work without the printer surely? I guess by extras I meant laptop risers, monitors...stuff more related to health and safety side

Oh yeah like it was all from good intentions on their side. I don't need a printer. But it did show that some still don't realise the difference between their home office in the spare room and the situations in a house share.

DeeTee100

I've definitely had enough of WFH at this stage. I'm sharing a house with three other people, two of which are also working from home. Tensions are definitely higher with everyone stuck in the house all the time. There isn't space for a proper desk setup so I'm at the kitchen table. My back is in bits, and the isolation is starting to take its toll on my mental health. I actually like the people I work with, and miss being able to have a chat over lunch or go for a coffee.

The benefits that have been mentioned here don't apply in my case; my commute was a 10 minute drive or a half hour walk if the weather was nice. We had lunch provided at work so I'm now spending much more on food, not to mention electricity and heating. Our company is not paying the €3.20 allowance and I can't claim tax relief as the bills are in the landlord's name.

We were allowed into the office part time from late summer until we went to level 5 and it was a breath of fresh air for me, just to get out of the house and have a proper workspace.

I can see how some people prefer it, especially people with kids, but some of the attitudes I've seen here; that it's the greatest thing ever and that you can't fathom how people aren't loving it, are incredibly ignorant and self-centered.

A hybrid approach is definitely the way forward, but personally I wouldn't want to work from home any more than a day or two per week.

ixoy

AdamD wrote: »

But it did show that some still don't realise the difference between their home office in the spare room and the situations in a house share.

In the case of home offices though, do many people have enough room for two home offices? Lots of couples would have both working from home and, at best, most people would have only the one spare room. So someone's working under less than ideal circumstances. It's difficult to share a space if you're taking calls.

ELM327

Yes, this is a next shift in property IMO, there will be a reduction in those needing to live in/near dublin,.

loyatemu

Mr.S wrote: »

if your employer allows it / your fine with staying in Ireland after those 6 months are up for the next year to remain an Irish tax resident, then it's a great idea.

I know lots of people doing the same within Ireland - leaving their rented accommodation in Dublin and getting a large house outside of Dublin for the same price if not cheaper.

assuming you've been in Ireland all of this year, AIUI you can spend 11 months abroad next year and still be tax resident, the requirement being 280 days over a 2 year period, with a minimum of 30 days in each year. (though you might want to also look at the tax-residency rules of the country you're moving to).

thebourke

would love to know if the number of sick days taking by employees has reduced during the crisis

ELM327

thebourke wrote: »

would love to know if the number of sick days taking by employees has reduced during the crisis

Certainly has in my team anyway.

The ability to work from home and read emails in bed or on the couch has removed the reason to be sick.


Travelling 1 hr to work when you're sick is a lot more difficult than hanging around the house!

plodder

ixoy wrote: »

In the case of home offices though, do many people have enough room for two home offices? Lots of couples would have both working from home and, at best, most people would have only the one spare room. So someone's working under less than ideal circumstances. It's difficult to share a space if you're taking calls.

When I'm taking a call, where I'll be talking a lot, I move out to the sitting room.

But, I only have a small number of those per week. Most other communication is done on Slack (instant messaging).

Fantastic idea to relocate to Spain for a few months, but you'd want to check with your company first. A colleague of mine relocated from South America to his home country in Europe recently, without telling HR. Caused major problems, and an extended vacation for him until it was sorted.

Cina

Plus generally people are a lot less sick seeing as the most common way to catch colds and flus is in an air conditioned office.

I haven't had a single cold since I started WFH and usually in that length of time I'd have two or three.

Jimson

Company is introducing flexi time and WFH max 3 days a week where applicable after Covid is over.

Absolutely delighted. They will be rekitting every desk when the time comes so we can keep our screens and Docking Stations. We do have to return the chairs though.

leahyl

DeeTee100 wrote: »

A hybrid approach is definitely the way forward, but personally I wouldn't want to work from home any more than a day or two per week.

I get where you are coming from - I wouldn't mind doing 2/3 days when we get back to normal and then two days from home. From the point of view of just getting out of the house and mixing with people, it's good for your mental health - well, for mine anyway! At the moment, it's only one day in the office but like there's nobody else in when I am in there, so it's the same as being at home really, except I have to commute :rolleyes:

I feel working in the office a few days when things are back to normal would encourage me (or I suppose "force" is the right word!) to actually get "properly" dressed and put on a bit of makeup, makes you feel a bit better. It's different for everyone though.

Eric Cartman

ixoy wrote: »

In the case of home offices though, do many people have enough room for two home offices? Lots of couples would have both working from home and, at best, most people would have only the one spare room. So someone's working under less than ideal circumstances. It's difficult to share a space if you're taking calls.

id imagine after this is all over you'll have a tonne of couples setting up the box room as an office and them alternating each taking 2-3 days a week working from home, working from that office and caring for the kids.

childcare places are about to get a hell of a lot more available.

thebourke

i haven't taken a sick day in 7 years(worked in a few jobs over that time).....generally most of the team i work/worked with would have taken sick days over that period in time....the more people in the office the more chance you have of getting colds and spreading colds etc...plus i hate air conditioning..i always find the air conditioning always more problems in the office....especially if you desk is right underneath where the air comes out!!!!

Jimson

thebourke wrote: »

i haven't taken a sick day in 7 years(worked in a few jobs over that time).....generally most of the team i work/worked with would have taken sick days over that period in time....the more people in the office the more chance you have of getting colds and spreading colds etc...plus i hate air conditioning..i always find the air conditioning always more problems in the office....especially if you desk is right underneath where the air comes out!!!!

Madness, you need a sick day here or there even if your not sick. Mine are generally stress days or waking up exhausted and take 3 a year on average.

BrianD3

I see the Eir CEO is putting part of the blame for the company's atrocious customer service on staff WFH. Yeah, and customer service was just great before Covid necessitated WFH :rolleyes:

High staff turnover in Eir also, never a good sign. Could it be the case that good companies who also provide good customer service wil embrace WFH and make it work while the likes of Eir and certain public sector bodies continue to drag employees lnto the office.

salonfire

Jimson wrote: »

Madness, you need a sick day here or there even if your not sick. Mine are generally stress days or waking up exhausted and take 3 a year on average.

Hope you are taking those 3 days in a row or else your Bradford factor will be through the roof and any competent HR dept rightfully launching an investigation.

Jimson

salonfire wrote: »

Hope you are taking those 3 days in a row or else your Bradford factor will be through the roof and any competent HR dept rightfully launching an investigation.

Haha, what kind of companies do some people work in.

Mine employs 8,000, there eight years and never stopped me getting a promotion.

Your living in the past. Flexi time and wfh max three days a week now after lockdown. My division employs 900. They trust us.

I work in a fun and engaging company who peoples welfare is a huge priority for them.

We have great Craic in work.

ByTheSea2019

I think it might benefit companies to allow as much wfh as people want. I think half the time when someone isn't happy in a job it's the people rather than the work. I think it could massively reduce attrition.

H8GHOTI

BrianD3 wrote: »

I see the Eir CEO is putting part of the blame for the company's atrocious customer service on staff WFH. Yeah, and customer service was just great before Covid necessitated WFH :rolleyes:

...

They’re not the first company I’ve heard that about. Not sure of the reason though.

Was on the phone to Sky last night. Automated message at the start “Due to covid bla, bla, bla. Our services have been impacted and wait times have increased. Yada, yada, yada.........”

No shît. Was waiting about 30 minutes. But again Sky probably never great either.

AndrewJRenko

ByTheSea2019 wrote: »

I think it might benefit companies to allow as much wfh as people want. I think half the time when someone isn't happy in a job it's the people rather than the work. I think it could massively reduce attrition.

I think it might be very negative for companies to eliminate all the informal communication and engagement that happens at the water cooler and the coffee station and the lunch table - getting to know your workmates, what makes the tick, what makes them explode.

This loss is definitely going to have a long term negative impact, and will be much more pronounced for new staff, who've never had the chance to get to know their colleagues.

Dyr

ByTheSea2019 wrote: »

I think it might benefit companies to allow as much wfh as people want. I think half the time when someone isn't happy in a job it's the people rather than the work. I think it could massively reduce attrition.

Swings and roundabouts, a lot of people stay in jobs they dont like much because they have a good team with comraderie etc, that's gone out the window now so they might start looking around

Mrs OBumble

Bambi wrote: »

Swings and roundabouts, a lot of people stay in jobs they dont like much because they have a good team with comraderie etc, that's gone out the window now so they might start looking around

And managers won't know their staff as well either, so will feel even less guilt about right-sizing the team.

c68zapdsm5i1ru

ELM327 wrote: »

Certainly has in my team anyway.

The ability to work from home and read emails in bed or on the couch has removed the reason to be sick.


Travelling 1 hr to work when you're sick is a lot more difficult than hanging around the house!

I imagine there's also a lot fewer people picking up bugs etc given so many are no longer sharing badly ventilated offices and travelling on packed busses twice a day. Not to mention wearing masks.

Niallof9

salonfire wrote: »

Hope you are taking those 3 days in a row or else your Bradford factor will be through the roof and any competent HR dept rightfully launching an investigation.

please tell me this is a tongue in cheek comment...

6ix

Eric Cartman wrote: »

id imagine after this is all over you'll have a tonne of couples setting up the box room as an office and them alternating each taking 2-3 days a week working from home, working from that office and caring for the kids.

childcare places are about to get a hell of a lot more available.

Agree with the alternating plan completely, my wife & I were doing that a bit before Covid and it will certainly be the way forward now.

I disagree with the childcare bit though. I don't know if you've tried WFH while balancing kids, but it's impossible. You're either working or looking after the kids - can't do both. Maybe if they were older and able to look after themselves it could work, but then that wouldn't affect childcare places. Can't see demand for creches slowing down much IMO.

FlubberJones

Go the point where I call it "living in work", there are two of us WFH and one has the desk set up in the bedroom and I have the front room dining table. It does work but it is also where we socialise in the evening and with the kitchen and dining area behind me, it is where we eat. So my circle of movement is VERY small ( I do exercise.. in the same area lol)

I'm well aware people have it worse and people have lost their jobs and I do feel for them but i am fatigued by this now, the lockdown made it much worse.
I look forward to the office being available again but as many have said, it will be a hybrid approach for me also, I think I've forgotten how to iron a shirt FFS!

average_runner

FlubberJones wrote: »

Go the point where I call it "living in work", there are two of us WFH and one has the desk set up in the bedroom and I have the front room dining table. It does work but it is also where we socialise in the evening and with the kitchen and dining area behind me, it is where we eat. So my circle of movement is VERY small ( I do exercise.. in the same area lol)

I'm well aware people have it worse and people have lost their jobs and I do feel for them but i am fatigued by this now, the lockdown made it much worse.
I look forward to the office being available again but as many have said, it will be a hybrid approach for me also, I think I've forgotten how to iron a shirt FFS!

Jaysus what's a shirt. I am in a tracksuit all the time these days:)

JDD

With working in the kitchen, and constant access to snacks, I doubt I even fit in my work clothes anymore.

And I'm seriously thinking about never wearing a high heel shoe again. I just couldn't face it.

As for childcare, I can certainly see things changing post-pandemic. We no longer use a breakfast club, because we can do the drop off and be at our kitchen/desk by 9am. That's €240 a month for two children saved.

We had the older two in an after school four days a week, with grandparents doing the looking after on a Friday. When things settle back down, I expect both my husband and I will be at home 2-3 days a week. Certainly we could have the 9 and 6 year olds at home for one of our WFH afternoons each. Take a late lunch, do pick up, make a snack for them at home, and pop a movie on. It's 5pm before you know it.

And, that's another €500 saved a month in afterschool fees.

The 3 year old will stay in creche full time. There's just no possible way to WFH with a toddler/preschooler.

SusanC10

Having my Husband WFH 3 days a week post-Pandemic would be great which is what his firm are talking about.
I had been planning to return to work (part-time) in 2020 but the Virus got in the way. But the plan included childcare for our Primary School child. That would no longer be necessary if one of us was at home every day.
But agree completely dependent on age of children in question.

Also, we are lucky in that we have both a Home Office and a Spare Room with a desk in our house which would accommodate both of us if necessary.

2lazytogetup

how many hours are people actually working from home since the pandemic?

id say the kind of people that did nothing in the office pre-covid are probably still doing less. A few friends i talked to from other different companies are saying they are flat out, working 10hours and checking emails late into the night.

im probably doing the same as what i did in the office. i do about 4-5 hours of solid hard work a day. if i did 7.5 hours of solid hard work id kill myself. i could go slower and work 7.5hours and get the same as what id do in a good 4 or 5 hours.