Question for those who telecommute for Feds

[Anonymous]

How often (if ever) do you go back into the office? Additionally, how far away from the office do you live?

I've been offered the opportunity to telecommute 90% of the time. My home office is in DC; however, DH is getting transferred and, due to his hours, we would have to move. It would be at least a 2 hour commute for me during rush hour -- 1 hour if I come in off-peak. I would have to come back into the office at least once a pay period (2-3x a month) and MAYBE during an emergency situation (fill in for boss at certain meetings if he's out of office). It sounds like a great deal, but I don't know how crazy this will make our home life. Those days in the office could be very, very long (leaving the house at 5 am and not getting home until around 7 pm). DH says he can help make this work but I'm wondering if it's worth it. I'm also wondering if those "emergency" situations will start to come around more and more as the office starts to *think* it needs me present (not saying this will happen, but I can see commute-creep coming...). WWYD?

Oh yes, just to complete the picture, I currently do my 5/8.5 hour days and am home by 5 pm every night.

[Anonymous]

Do you like telecommuting? I ask because I know I do better in an environment with actual people around, and so I work from home 1 day per pay period at the most. If the answer is yes, and you like your job, then go for it! A long day every couple of weeks or so wouldn't be that bad of a trade off for this flexibility.

[Anonymous]

In the real world, lots of people have to leave the house at 5am and don't return until 7pm EVERY DAY.

Oh my god, you sound so entitled, OP. It's one day every few weeks. And feds wonder why people think they are lazy...

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP. I know you're right PP. My DH is one of them. However, my children don't HAVE to have 2 parents that hold those hours. I'm just asking those who have been lucky enough to have a similar offer how it works for them. Oh by the way, I didn't say I wouldn't be working full-time...just not full-time from the office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the real world, lots of people have to leave the house at 5am and don't return until 7pm EVERY DAY.

Oh my god, you sound so entitled, OP. It's one day every few weeks. And feds wonder why people think they are lazy...

I've done this schedule for almost 4 years and my personal life is a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the real world, lots of people have to leave the house at 5am and don't return until 7pm EVERY DAY.

Oh my god, you sound so entitled, OP. It's one day every few weeks. And feds wonder why people think they are lazy...

x10000000.

Is that you, OP? http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/273484.page

So a 90% job that allows you to work at home from Frederick is not enough? How about you ask your agency to just wire money into your bank account while you watch Dr. Phil?

[Anonymous]

BTW, I hope someone high up from your agency recognizes you, Frederick mom. You should be on top of that RIF list. How entitled and lazy! Geez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the real world, lots of people have to leave the house at 5am and don't return until 7pm EVERY DAY.

Oh my god, you sound so entitled, OP. It's one day every few weeks. And feds wonder why people think they are lazy...

I think this is a completely crazy schedule and I would sacrifice a lot to not have to do this. I value my free time and time with my family way too much. Some people just have different priorities for money vs time.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Yes, that is my prior post. I can either take the job or quit. I'm not asking for anything that my agency wasn't willing to ante up. I was simply looking for those who have had the same choices (telework or quit) tell me what their experiences have been.

I'm not at all sure how I'm going to handle this but I'll be putting 100% into the choice I make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Yes, that is my prior post. I can either take the job or quit. I'm not asking for anything that my agency wasn't willing to ante up. I was simply looking for those who have had the same choices (telework or quit) tell me what their experiences have been.

I'm not at all sure how I'm going to handle this but I'll be putting 100% into the choice I make.

Really. Does your agency allow web surfing during work hours to solicit advice on how to work less?

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Yes, that is my prior post. I can either take the job or quit.

I don't understand why you would possibly consider quitting now. It sounds like a good deal, in theory. Why not take what was offered and see whether it in fact proves to be the case that you are required to come in more frequently or the commute is too much on the few days you have to go in. What is the logic of quitting without even trying it?

[Anonymous]

I'm not a telecommunting fed- but I am a manager of telecommuting feds. I have employees who telecommute anywhere from 1-5 days a week.
I very rarely require them to come in on a telecommuting day. When they do need to come in, they often switch their day-- ie if they are used to telecommuting Mondays, and I need them in the office Monday, they will telecommute Tuesday, etc.

The exception is drug testing-- if they get called up for drug testing they have to come in-- I have no control over this.

I don't understand why you wouldn't take this offer. From looking at your other thread-- it seems like they offered you exactly what you asked for. It also appears that this level of telecommuting is not the norm in your office. So that leads me to believe that someone went to bat for you. If I had supported an employee to get him/her this type of arrangement, and done what needed to be done to get it approved through the bureaucracy, I will be more than mildly PO'd if they just turned around and said they didn't actually want it. (Tottally different situation if you try it for a while and decide it is not working).