Working from home

[Boss Hogg]

Is this a good idea going forward ? I am finding most companies with any kind of customer service function that is usually call centre based are very very slow. This is having a knock on effect to other areas of business and having a negative impact on productivity.

[Vegas Claret]

there was a study done a few years go that stated people that work from home work longer hours and are more productive than if they go to an office.

My Mrs does both and deffo works longer hours when she is at home

[BenWickes]

Is this a good idea going forward ? I am finding most companies with any kind of customer service function that is usually call centre based are very very slow. This is having a knock on effect to other areas of business and having a negative impact on productivity.

I'm tending to agree. I was told last week by someone working from home, to contact a specific email address in regards to an important issue. I duly did on Monday just gone. I contacted another department yesterday as no response from said email and have had no response to that either.
Getting a distinct impression they're only putting in minimal effort compared to if they were actually in an office environment.

[TheOriginalLongsider]

Work will adapt and businesses will get better at working from home.Its definitely working well for my company. We are not going back into the office until Summer 2022.

[Milltown1882]

Regularly have to discuss this with managers and directors mainly across the Public Sector. Most office based companies seem to be moving towards an employee led approach, whether that is a hybrid model, fully on site or fully remote. Think a lot of it will be left to employee choice, obviously a lot of jobs are essential to be at work but the impact of remote working on work life balance has thrown up some very interesting data over the last year. Add on to that a lot of companies have offices with huge overheads that won't need that resource there's a lot of potential for companies downsizing offices too. Will be interesting to see what happens to the unused office space especially council buildings etc.

[Goddy]

I'm much more productive at home than when I was going into the office. Spent too much time wandering round the office, chatting to people, skiving and hoovering up biscuits and cake which might be within range. Have lost half a stone, too, since working from home....Mrs Goddy in control of biscuit section - ha ha

[Burnley1989]

I’ve worked in an office but been home based for the last 4 years, I can assure you I’m never not working and probably work twice as many hours these days, I guess it depends on the job role and industry.

I think I can Speak for anybody that is based in a sales role that has targets to hit to earn commission, it doesn't matter where you are, you’ll always be working

[Quickenthetempo]

It's win win win for the companies. Less overheads, travel expenses and the employee picks up the leccy bill.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Should be a win for the employee. Zero travel time, zero travel expense, flexi-hours(unless they have a key counter on your pc). Although both my daughters are home working and say their companies are very flexible as long as the work gets done. They love it.

[Volvoclaret]

I think that working from home productivity depends which sector you are working in. If you are in the commercial sector, then you will probably work longer and more productive hours from home. If you are normally an office Council employee or Civil Servant, then probably there will be no noticeable difference as they do f-all at either.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Working from home will suit some people more than others.
If I was to return to an office type job I'd want to work from home.
I'd certainly get more done than being sat in an office with all the inane drivel that is spoken throughout the day.
At least I'd be able to listen to whatever music I want.

My last manager couldn't do it, he has to micromanage everything, inc trying to tell the warehouse staff how to do their jobs

[WadingInDeeper]

Should be a win for the employee. Zero travel time, zero travel expense, flexi-hours(unless they have a key counter on your pc). Although both my daughters are home working and say their companies are very flexible as long as the work gets done. They love it.

For a variety of reasons we have now got our company to a size where a large office doesn't make sense and, with a few modification will continue to work from home into the future.

As you say, no travel time or travel expense plus, the money I will save on rent/insurance/electric/gas/water will be significant for a small company. I start earlier and finish later (no travel time), I'm more productive and I'm managing to create space to fit extra work in which is another added bonus.

[Burnley1989]

Should be a win for the employee. Zero travel time, zero travel expense, flexi-hours(unless they have a key counter on your pc). Although both my daughters are home working and say their companies are very flexible as long as the work gets done. They love it.

My work life balance has improved massively! I can drop my daughter at school, cook the tea etc...

When I was on the road I’d leave before 6 and get home as the kids were going to bed

[Burnley1989]

Working from home will suit some people more than others.
If I was to return to an office type job I'd want to work from home.
I'd certainly get more done than being sat in an office with all the inane drivel that is spoken throughout the day.
At least I'd be able to listen to whatever music I want.

My last manager couldn't do it, he has to micromanage everything, inc trying to tell the warehouse staff how to do their jobs

Micromanaging is the issue, old fashioned companies. If the manager did his job properly he’d employ people he could trust. I report directly to the MD and in all honesty can’t stand the bloke, he probably rings me once every couple of week, tops. He knows I’ll do my job, and I make sure I do because I can’t be arsed with him ringing me

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Micromanaging is the issue, old fashioned companies. If the manager did his job properly he’d employ people he could trust. I report directly to the MD and in all honesty can’t stand the bloke, he probably rings me once every couple of week, tops. He knows I’ll do my job, and I make sure I do because I can’t be arsed with him ringing me

The problem in my old place were the old long winded processes for doing stuff, which the old manager thought were great.
He used to get really hacked off when I'd shorten them without telling him

My director once said in front of the whole office - "I don't know if Sid is clever or lazy, because he's always finding ways to to make things quicker"

I told him I'm both and he wasn't quite sure what to make of that one

[Burnley1989]

The problem in my old place were the old long winded processes for doing stuff, which the old manager thought were great.
He used to get really hacked off when I'd shorten them without telling him

My director once said in front of the whole office - "I don't know if Sid is clever or lazy, because he's always finding ways to to make things quicker"

I told him I'm both and he wasn't quite sure what to make of that one

It’s true, lazy people are great for finding easier ways of doing things, it’s actually a positive sometimes

[NottsClaret]

My work life balance has improved massively! I can drop my daughter at school, cook the tea etc...

When I was on the road I’d leave before 6 and get home as the kids were going to bed

Same.. worked from home for last 4 years following years of commuting into Sheffield at stupid o'clock every day. The time I've had with the kids, seeing them every day as soon as they're home from school has made my life so much better, way beyond all the savings on fuel and crap lunches. It's time you'll never get back, best thing I've done. Don't live to work etc.

[clarethomer]

Definitely from my perspective.

More family time without working less hours necessarily
No issues or stress with commutes.
I am able to get my work done with a dedicated home office and set up so can close the door once finished and separate my home and work.
Better for the wallet.
This means I can support the local economy more than ever.
No more stressing of using holidays to cover school holidays in the same way.

Really looking forward to being able to start enjoying it more as I can get out and about and work from different locations.

[NewClaret]

I think it’s highly unlikely that we’ll return to the office in the way we did before. For me, I know I’ll never go back.

The two main reasons are that commercial property is hugely expensive when you include rents, rates, service charges, insurance, maintenance, utilities, etc. (often it’s a businesses second or third biggest cost after people/marketing) & the second is that in the main folk are more productive - are willing to work more hours less their commute, fewer distractions, less office gossip causing disruption, etc.

Plus, folk prefer it. If anyone didn’t WFH I think they’d find they become uncompetitive. I’m just hoping new businesses crop up selling me decent lunches to my door. I’m sick of the rubbish I cobble together.

[Boss Hogg]

I think real human interaction helps innovation. I think there will be more flexible working but I don’t think the office is dead yet. I think customer service and administrative functions are worse off for home working.

[DCWat]

I was happily away from the days of working in an office, day in and day out, a while before Covid hit.

There’s plenty of reasons that it will always benefit certain individuals from working at their place of work as opposed to at home.

If companies are pushing for more home working (and why the hell wouldn’t they) they’ve a big responsibility towards their employees working from home. For some, work and the people they meet, is their main escape. Without responsible leadership, an already large issue with mental health, could become a tsunami!

From an end customer perspective, aside from initial teething trouble, there should be no reason why customer facing roles (not directly of course) cannot operate just as effectively, if not more so, than being in an office.

We were investigating homeworking fifteen years ago. The technology was already there then, it certainly is now - with all the bells and whistles.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

On the downside if you can work from home for £20/hour how long before the company realise they can employ somebody in Cairo or Mumbai for £3/hour.

[Burnley1989]

In short then, it’s here to stay! Happy workforce is a productive workforce! With companies systems these days everything’s tracked anyway so there’s no hiding from work

[Burnley1989]

On the downside if you can work from home for £20/hour how long before the company realise they can employ somebody in Cairo or Mumbai for £3/hour.

Depends on the job role, we all know that’s not going to happen

[DCWat]

On the downside if you can work from home for £20/hour how long before the company realise they can employ somebody in Cairo or Mumbai for £3/hour.

There are plenty of outsourced operations out there still. However, plenty have brought a lot of work back ‘onshore’ because of customer issues with language / accent barriers amongst other things.

[Quickenthetempo]

I presume there hasn't been any health and safety checks at the homes of these office workers?

Are they insured as normal?

What would happen if someone didn't have smoke alarms and fire extinguishers where they're working?
And there was a fire?

[DCWat]

I presume there hasn't been any health and safety checks at the homes of these office workers?

Are they insured as normal?

What would happen if someone didn't have smoke alarms and fire extinguishers where they're working?
And there was a fire?

All equipment used should be PAT tested. I’d assume, but don’t know, that a persons own home is their responsibility from a fire and safe electrics perspective.

My other half’s firm have ensured that DSE self assessments have been done (and acted upon). This isn’t any different to the process carried out when working in the office.

[Volvoclaret]

Why would there be H&S checks etc, it's their home.

[Rileybobs]

Why would there be H&S checks etc, it's their home.

I’ve been doing monthly fire-drills at my work place.

[Volvoclaret]

Having a monthly 'hot night' with other half is not called a fire drill.

[Burnley1989]

I presume there hasn't been any health and safety checks at the homes of these office workers?

Are they insured as normal?

What would happen if someone didn't have smoke alarms and fire extinguishers where they're working?
And there was a fire?

I wouldn’t class myself as an office worker, but yes I have to do training courses for working from home every year.. covers ergonomics, fire, manual handling etc etc

[Rileybobs]

Having a monthly 'hot night' with other half is not called a fire drill.

It’s been a lean year for me. The other half insists that it’s a sackable offence in the work place.

[Chobulous]

I have been working from home for the last few weeks for the HSE doing COVID 19 spot checks. Although I find that my work is much more productive, that aspect I can’t deny, I do feel that going forward we are going to see mental health issues becoming much more of a problem unless employers recognise the sense of isolation that can develop. Workplaces are more than just somewhere to earn a living, they are communities as well. You spend a third of your life with people that you work with. When that suddenly disappears it can cause all sorts of issues

[cricketfieldclarets]

I’ve been able to work from home for years. And my role now can be done completely remotely.

However personally can’t wait for the office and customer sites to reopen and have a better balance.

Working from home has great perks. And actually diet and sleep is much better. Along with quality time with kids.

But equally living working and sleeping all in the same building 24/7 can take its toll.

With things easing it will get better regardless. Cafes. And the hub at the turf.

But actually miss the commute. Some down time.
listening to books / podcasts. Meeting people. Sharing ideas.

Moving forward I will probably be in the office two days a week through choice. On the road a few days every two or three weeks through choice.

Definitely miss the social aspect of being in work.

[clarethomer]

On the downside if you can work from home for £20/hour how long before the company realise they can employ somebody in Cairo or Mumbai for £3/hour.

They have been doing this to office workers for decades now already.

The biggest fear for workers is robotics and automation - not offshoring jobs.

[clarethomer]

I have been working from home for the last few weeks for the HSE doing COVID 19 spot checks. Although I find that my work is much more productive, that aspect I can’t deny, I do feel that going forward we are going to see mental health issues becoming much more of a problem unless employers recognise the sense of isolation that can develop. Workplaces are more than just somewhere to earn a living, they are communities as well. You spend a third of your life with people that you work with. When that suddenly disappears it can cause all sorts of issues

There is also where workplaces that can cause anxiety, mental health, and wellbeing issues too. There isn't one size fits all that will work for everyone. Flexibility to work will be key.

[Chobulous]

There is also where workplaces that can cause anxiety, mental health, and wellbeing issues too. There isn't one size fits all that will work for everyone. Flexibility to work will be key.

You’re right but that is down to bad managers and a poor culture. I’m not against home working, I think it is areal step forward, but it can’t replace the social interaction in a workplace, there has to be a balance

[Volvoclaret]

Pete, you've always been mental.

[Chobulous]

Pete, you've always been mental.

Do you know me

[Volvoclaret]

Only for about 50 years

[Chobulous]

Only for about 50 years

OK give me a clue

[clarethomer]

You’re right but that is down to bad managers and a poor culture. I’m not against home working, I think it is areal step forward, but it can’t replace the social interaction in a workplace, there has to be a balance

Or it could be down to the individual who doesn't want the interaction necessarily.

I am looking forward to seeing colleagues when I can but there has to be a purpose to it. It's not about just going in and doing the same thing I could do sitting at my desk at home. However, if my team could benefit from doing something more collaborative where it's not a run-of-the-mill meeting, then I am up for doing that in person.

I guess I am lucky in that I work at home and so does Mrs. CH and we both have independent working spaces in the house where we 'meet for lunch' and deliver each other brews. I'd rather have that than having to listen to people I don't particularly like in the office moaning or boring on about whatever drama is going on in their lives. God, I don't miss that.

Thankfully I work in a business that has great culture on the whole and my managers are trusting, open and trust us to do what is required. We are treated like adults which I know isn't always the case for many people.

[DCWat]

You’re right but that is down to bad managers and a poor culture. I’m not against home working, I think it is areal step forward, but it can’t replace the social interaction in a workplace, there has to be a balance

Bad managers don’t help but there’s far more to mental health issues in work places than poor management and culture.

[CombatClaret]

Could solve the housing problem at a stroke by converting some of that obsolete commercial space into homes.
Trouble is there are too many vested interest in keeping property prices artificially high and wouldn't want to see supply increase to meet demand.

[clarethomer]

Could solve the housing problem at a stroke by converting some of that obsolete commercial space into homes.
Trouble is there are too many vested interest in keeping property prices artificially high and wouldn't want to see supply increase to meet demand.

They are making this easier to convert these to be fair. Not going to get into the economics of it all as it's not a post that is likely to stay around long on here with the rules in place as politics will come into it.

I am interested in seeing how cities cope over the next few years with many firms looking at reducing their office space. Leases coming up and knowing what space is needed will likely mean downsizing or finding other office space which meets the needs of today rather than pre-pandemic needs. When firms do this, it will be more difficult to reverse the trend in the short term. This will mean landlords may look at conversions to get a return on the spaces that have been left behind.

[Chobulous]

Who would have thought, a world wide pandemic solves the housing crisis

[Volvoclaret]

OK give me a clue

Still got your leather jacket?

[CombatClaret]

I am interested in seeing how cities cope over the next few years with many firms looking at reducing their office space. Leases coming up and knowing what space is needed will likely mean downsizing or finding other office space which meets the needs of today rather than pre-pandemic needs. When firms do this, it will be more difficult to reverse the trend in the short term. This will mean landlords may look at conversions to get a return on the spaces that have been left behind.

And then the knock on to the huge City & Town center service economy exclusively serving those working in said offices. As some liked to suggest young people were being told they could afford a home if they stopped buying coffee and avocado on toast (obvious clap-trap when you look at wages vs house prices over time) and then the pandemic hit and they were told they must keep buying coffee and avocado on toast or the economy will grind to a halt.

It's going to be interesting.

[Chobulous]

Still got your leather jacket?

I wish that gave me light bulb moment, but there was a point in my life when I was between wives that I seemed to lose items of clothing every week. Usually after a lost weekend

[Chobulous]

Still got your leather jacket?

By the way, can I have it back?