s/o Are you jealous of those that work from home ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just think they are full of it. how much work can they really get done with kids in the house? If they have full time care, and close themselves off in their own corner of the house, I'll believe it. But no, not jealous.

You are ignorant.

I'm working from home right now, both of my children are at daycare around the corner, as they are each and every day unless sick.

I know NOBODY that works from home with kids aroudn and I work in an industry heavily weighted to teleworkers (IT).

[Anonymous]

Another WAH person here who has full-time child care. The notion that WAH people are also watching their kids is CRAZY!!!

I like to WAH, but I do miss having co-workers sometimes. For what it's worth, DH WAH sometimes too, so I have some company.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who admitted that I am jealous of those who work from home -- I just want to add that I am NOT jealous of those who work from home if their kids are there!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just think they are full of it. how much work can they really get done with kids in the house? If they have full time care, and close themselves off in their own corner of the house, I'll believe it. But no, not jealous.

How many years have you been out of the work force? Obviously a long time, you are clueless....go get back to watching re-runs of Days of Our Lives.

[Anonymous]

I'd like to work from home one day a week but any more than that, no. I need to be out and in the office and seeing people, and I really need the casual conversations with people where you can bounce off ideas, etc. I'm a homebody so I tend to like to hang around the house and not go out in the evenings and too much on the weekends, so I'd probably be really isolated.

My husband worked from home for 3 years and he got really depressed and didn't even realize it at the time. It's definitely not for everyone, but I do wish I could do it a bit more than my current company allows.

Also, we paid a lot of money for a small house so I could have a good commute no matter where I worked in DC so that would be a waste if I all of a sudden wasn't commuting (DH has a ten minute commute).

[Anonymous]

Would love the ability to WFH 1 or 2 days a week. But if I had to choose, I'd rather work part-time than WFH FT. Getting off work at 3PM would be fantastic.

[Anonymous]

I'm not. I work by choice, and I work to have adult human interaction, dress up, go out to lunch with friends. Working in the office facilitates that. When someone works from home, I think they might be working for a shoestring organization, or they might not be very social.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to work from home one day a week but any more than that, no. I need to be out and in the office and seeing people, and I really need the casual conversations with people where you can bounce off ideas, etc. I'm a homebody so I tend to like to hang around the house and not go out in the evenings and too much on the weekends, so I'd probably be really isolated.

My husband worked from home for 3 years and he got really depressed and didn't even realize it at the time. It's definitely not for everyone, but I do wish I could do it a bit more than my current company allows.
Also, we paid a lot of money for a small house so I could have a good commute no matter where I worked in DC so that would be a waste if I all of a sudden wasn't commuting (DH has a ten minute commute).

This is so true. I'm a PP who has the option to WFH 5xs a week, but I choose to WFH maybe once a week at most. I really do like the interactiona and social outlet that work provides. I also have a minimal commute, so it really is no hassle, other than getting dressed and showered.

WFH is definitly not perfect, I think as in anything, it is nice to have a balance and diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not me, I hate working from home. Usually not very productive plus my nanny hates it. I also like being in the office where I can bounce ideas off people. My job has ad hoc teleworking and I rarely make use of it.

Ditto.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I am jealous. Working from home would allow me to get more work done, prep/cook dinner, do laundry, and walk my dog, during work hours. These are all things that tend to be a struggle to manage with a daily commute and being out of the house all day.

I used to have an AWS schedule, but had to switch my schedule after having a baby. Unfortunately, our director doesn't want to institute a telework policy to provide flexibility for workers who can't take advantage of the AWS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not. I work by choice, and I work to have adult human interaction, dress up, go out to lunch with friends. Working in the office facilitates that. When someone works from home, I think they might be working for a shoestring organization, or they might not be very social.

Nah...they just want to avoid bitches like you.

[Anonymous]

Presuming the financial elements were equal, this would be my preferred choice of lifestyle
1. SAH
2. PT work
3. FT work with 2-3 days of that being telework
4. Full time in the office

very jealous of #1-3! I get the occasional 1-off day of telework and love it. My work day is so much shorter when I don't have to account for commute and lunch, not to mention the productivity aspect that others mention.

DD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just think they are full of it. how much work can they really get done with kids in the house? If they have full time care, and close themselves off in their own corner of the house, I'll believe it. But no, not jealous.

No one I know who works from home is permitted to do so with children in the house. My kids go to school and then have after care.

I think it is interesting that there is a stigma to working from home where people (like you PP) who for whatever reason feel that remote workers aren't as productive when I feel the opposite is true - I am more productive on the days I work remotely. I don't WAH on a regular schedule; however, my job is very flexible and I am permitted to WAH whenever I request it (for contractors to come in, etc.). I am more productive when I work from home because I don't visit with my co-workers. I am at my desk by myself just plugging away at the computer. Nothing to do but work. I can start earlier and work later as I don't have to commute to and from the office. I am interested for those who feel that remote workers are less productive is it because you yourself are less productive when you work from home? If that is the case you shouldn't project your own inability to manage your time on others.

Totally agree with this. I get WAY more done at home. If I have a particularly heavy conference call day, I work from home so I can gain 2+ hours in the day and get more done. My husband sometimes refers to my days at home as "days off." I have corrected him so many times it's ridiculous, so the stigma is still there no question. The last time he referred to my work day at home as a day off, I said "I'm sorry that you can't be trusted to work from home, but I manage my schedule at home just fine."

[Anonymous]

I WAH and work for myself and it definitely has pros and cons. I love saving the commute time - amazing difference to quality of life. I do travel and go downtown for meetings/lunches (when it takes me 20 minutes to get in rather than an hour) so have plenty of human contact. The downside for me is that I can't always get away from work. The upside is plenty of flexibility to attend kids sports events, drive carpool, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I am jealous. Working from home would allow me to get more work done, prep/cook dinner, do laundry, and walk my dog, during work hours. These are all things that tend to be a struggle to manage with a daily commute and being out of the house all day.

I used to have an AWS schedule, but had to switch my schedule after having a baby. Unfortunately, our director doesn't want to institute a telework policy to provide flexibility for workers who can't take advantage of the AWS.

If you would take time away from work to do all those house things, you'd be chiseling your employer and shouldn't be allowed to work from home. During your former commute time, sure, but not during actual work hours.