Telework confessions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I manage a team where someone (or multiple people) are teleworking every day of the week. I don't suspect anyone of not working (productivity is easy enough to monitor), but I really hate the resulting environment. Since TW has been implemented, I've seen a drastic decline in teamwork, interpersonal communication, and general team morale. It's not that people don't get along; it's just not a very dynamic work environment.

And I can't believe anyone who would tell me that having everyone on a conference call together is anywhere near as engaging as having everyone in a meeting. All of you have kind of made that point by acknowledging that while you are on calls, you are folding laundry, watching news, making dinner, driving kids, etc. Imagine an in-person meeting where someone is looking at their phone or reading a newspaper during the meeting.

- Guy who's in the office every day

You can get around some of the conference call distraction issue by setting up your meetings through videoconferencing (google chat, bluejeans, etc.) Trust me - knowing that everyone can see my face is definitely a motivation to stay focused on a call. But then I work in an office where the majority of our workforce is 'in the field', so it's not possible to hold 100% face-to-face meetings for most teams. In general, the meeting dynamics work better when everyone is on their own individual computer rather than having 3-4 people in a meeting room and 3-4 people calling in: the meeting room video systems/sound never work as well as individual desktops and the interpersonal dynamic just works best when everyone is on the same footing.

[Anonymous]

I do everything I am supposed to do. Often in PJs but who cares. I do sometimes fake not getting my skype video to work because I don’t want to be on camera. Actually, not fak8ng...I a, deliberately obtuse about the technology. I probably could get it to work if I spent time learning about it but I won’t until it is absolute requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh you cushy feds who get to telework ... some of us work on systems that we can’t access at home.

feel free to apply for a federal job

LOL

I do have a federal job. If I tried to access my work systems at home, I’d go to jail for the rest of my life, in the unlikely event I even succeeded. I can’t even access my email from home. Usually it’s nice, except on liberal leave days!

[Anonymous]

I conceived my child on a telework day! My husband was also home that day and one thing led to another.

[Anonymous]

I work as normal, but instead of a coffee break, I throw in a load of laundry. Instead of lunch break, I run the vacuum throughout the house. Instead of a 40 minute commute in the morning, I take out the trash, organize the counter, pick up the house. Instead of a 30 minute commute home, I make a nice dinner, bake some cookies, etc. Essentially, I use all the stolen moments I can to deal with my household affairs. I don't take advantage of work, but I definitely am not plastered to my desk/phone the entire day. I get my work done.

[Anonymous]

I pass the laundry machines on my way to the bathroom, so if I remembered to start laundry that day I’ll flip it from washer to dryer.

[Anonymous]

DW would take dicktation during my lunch break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I manage a team where someone (or multiple people) are teleworking every day of the week. I don't suspect anyone of not working (productivity is easy enough to monitor), but I really hate the resulting environment. Since TW has been implemented, I've seen a drastic decline in teamwork, interpersonal communication, and general team morale. It's not that people don't get along; it's just not a very dynamic work environment.

And I can't believe anyone who would tell me that having everyone on a conference call together is anywhere near as engaging as having everyone in a meeting. All of you have kind of made that point by acknowledging that while you are on calls, you are folding laundry, watching news, making dinner, driving kids, etc. Imagine an in-person meeting where someone is looking at their phone or reading a newspaper during the meeting.

- Guy who's in the office every day

I wouldn't want to work for you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I manage a team where someone (or multiple people) are teleworking every day of the week. I don't suspect anyone of not working (productivity is easy enough to monitor), but I really hate the resulting environment. Since TW has been implemented, I've seen a drastic decline in teamwork, interpersonal communication, and general team morale. It's not that people don't get along; it's just not a very dynamic work environment.

And I can't believe anyone who would tell me that having everyone on a conference call together is anywhere near as engaging as having everyone in a meeting. All of you have kind of made that point by acknowledging that while you are on calls, you are folding laundry, watching news, making dinner, driving kids, etc. Imagine an in-person meeting where someone is looking at their phone or reading a newspaper during the meeting.

- Guy who's in the office every day

I wouldn't want to work for you

Ditto. Guy who's in the office every day, maybe you need to live a little. Sounds like work is your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I manage a team where someone (or multiple people) are teleworking every day of the week. I don't suspect anyone of not working (productivity is easy enough to monitor), but I really hate the resulting environment. Since TW has been implemented, I've seen a drastic decline in teamwork, interpersonal communication, and general team morale. It's not that people don't get along; it's just not a very dynamic work environment.

And I can't believe anyone who would tell me that having everyone on a conference call together is anywhere near as engaging as having everyone in a meeting. All of you have kind of made that point by acknowledging that while you are on calls, you are folding laundry, watching news, making dinner, driving kids, etc. Imagine an in-person meeting where someone is looking at their phone or reading a newspaper during the meeting.

- Guy who's in the office every day

I wouldn't want to work for you

Ditto. Guy who's in the office every day, maybe you need to live a little. Sounds like work is your life.

Sheesh - everyone here takes everything so literally.

- Guy who's in the office every day he works

Better? I mean, when I'm working, I'm in the office. Period.

[Anonymous]

Sit at my work office slll day working with permitted breaks for lunch and reasonable bathroom visits.

[Anonymous]

My DW has an affair while working from home. The new and noticeably different undergarments she forgot to put away were the first clue.

[Anonymous]

I color in my kid's elaborate color by number and connect the dots books, and have also worked on a puzzle, while on conference calls. I have found that I'm much more attentive when I do these things instead of trying to answer emails or get other work done while on these calls. I once frosted cookies.

Occasionally I go on a mid-morning run.

All that said, I put in more than my required hours, and am often working in my home office in the early morning or late night hours, so no guilt here.e

[Anonymous]

I sneak in a mani pedi and drink my favorite Starbucks drink. Even then I still get more work done than if I were to have stayed home.

[Anonymous]

On conference calls with lots of group participation, I'll sometimes do chair dips, maybe a few pushups, etc. I did these things when I had a nice office at work with a door that closed too. In my cube, I have but feel weird doing exercises knowing my office mates may see and get a good laugh.