Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 17:33     Subject: Re:i wfh every day and hate it
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP some of this is on you. Has management told you, you must be at your house from 9 to 5?

I work from home a lot too, but can manage my schedule. Yes, people can see when i've been inactive during the day; they can also see that I was on at 6 am this morning and when I'm on after I put the kids down too. That's how my work culture is though.

Just make sure you aren't putting more on yourself than you have to. I just say "hey, running to a dr. appointment" or running a quick errand be back, and people don't care.


Unfortunately, I have been told that yes, I need to be reachable during regular business hours. I used to have a very flexible schedule where I would work at 5am, 10pm, etc. Everyone did so, and it wasn't a problem. But things have changed and that is no longer the case. I believe it is due to many people who aren't used to working in/managing remote teams suddenly managing/working in a remote team. But that's another story for another day.

The Outlook thing is crazy. Because much of the company works remotely, there are many conference calls. Sometimes the conversation goes along the lines of "Hey can you get such and such to jump on real quick? Wait--where are they? They have been inactive for 20 minutes!" Even though, you know, such and such had no idea someone wanted them to jump onto a call. Also, my department leadership has decided that we all need to be available at all times during the workday, unlike other departments where "no one ever knows where they are or what they are doing!"

I think it's pretty normal to be asked to be reachable during normal business hours if you WFH full time. I need to be reachable, but that doesn't prevent me from getting out of the house! I have to take a lunch, so that's an opportunity to change locations or get groceries. Even 20 minutes during a calm moment can be used to move from your house to a coffee shop.

Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 17:30     Subject: Re:i wfh every day and hate it
Anonymous wrote:OP some of this is on you. Has management told you, you must be at your house from 9 to 5?

I work from home a lot too, but can manage my schedule. Yes, people can see when i've been inactive during the day; they can also see that I was on at 6 am this morning and when I'm on after I put the kids down too. That's how my work culture is though.

Just make sure you aren't putting more on yourself than you have to. I just say "hey, running to a dr. appointment" or running a quick errand be back, and people don't care.


Agreed. I WFH full time and even though, sure, it can be lonely, I wouldn't give it up. No commute, more time with my young child, the ability to prep dinner while on conference calls... I just can't complain.

It's on you to get out of the house if you can't tolerate being alone in it all day.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 17:22     Subject: i wfh every day and hate it
I find it odd with the traffic in the DC area that there are that many jobs that allow you work from home every single day.

OP - are you allowed to start earlier so you can take a full hour for lunch, or finish the day earlier?

I never knew Outlook had a messenger system. That being said, if someone gets a ton of e-mail, it would be hard to prove whether someone is really working or not. Certain tasks/e-mails take priority, and if one doesn't reply in 5 minutes, it shouldn't mean someone isn't working.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 17:15     Subject: i wfh every day and hate it
I hate wfh too, for all the reasons OP talked about. But it relieves me from my commute, so it's a mixed bag.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 17:10     Subject: Re:i wfh every day and hate it
You can definitely discipline yourself. I am guilty of lingering in bed with coffee while I catch up on emails on days I don't have an early call or meeting but then I do get up, shower and dressed. I used to go out to Starbucks for coffee in the morning and then come home and start the workday. That was helpful too.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 17:08     Subject: i wfh every day and hate it
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You know you can adjust length of time before MS Lync shows you as idle right?


Yes, I did change that (a coworker and mine both did because we were annoyed). But I am still expected to jump at a Lync message as soon as I receive it, so I can't really go anywhere regardless.


Set the chime volume really loud so you can hear it throughout your house. Then just run down and join in.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 17:06     Subject: i wfh every day and hate it
Can you request to have office days? We have two people in my office who only work from home 1-2 days a week because they don't want to be at home all day.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 16:59     Subject: i wfh every day and hate it
I love working from home. My DH is home this week and it's driving me crazy! I love my peace and quiet. Coming into the office is fun when I do it, and I do get lonely once in a while, but all in all, it's worth wfh for sure.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 16:52     Subject: Re:i wfh every day and hate it
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP some of this is on you. Has management told you, you must be at your house from 9 to 5?

I work from home a lot too, but can manage my schedule. Yes, people can see when i've been inactive during the day; they can also see that I was on at 6 am this morning and when I'm on after I put the kids down too. That's how my work culture is though.

Just make sure you aren't putting more on yourself than you have to. I just say "hey, running to a dr. appointment" or running a quick errand be back, and people don't care.


Unfortunately, I have been told that yes, I need to be reachable during regular business hours. I used to have a very flexible schedule where I would work at 5am, 10pm, etc. Everyone did so, and it wasn't a problem. But things have changed and that is no longer the case. I believe it is due to many people who aren't used to working in/managing remote teams suddenly managing/working in a remote team. But that's another story for another day.

The Outlook thing is crazy. Because much of the company works remotely, there are many conference calls. Sometimes the conversation goes along the lines of "Hey can you get such and such to jump on real quick? Wait--where are they? They have been inactive for 20 minutes!" Even though, you know, such and such had no idea someone wanted them to jump onto a call. Also, my department leadership has decided that we all need to be available at all times during the workday, unlike other departments where "no one ever knows where they are or what they are doing!"



Okay, that's fine, but if your work is sticking to the policy you should too. You should take lunch then. Or bring it up that you are expected to work from 9 to 5, but also from early morning and late in the evening. What about if the cleaning crew is there, are you allowed to drive to a coffee shop or library?

They need to give you some concessions to work from home. You say most of the company works remotely, which leads me to believe that some people don't have a choice and aren't given in an office. If that is the case, you need to have some concessions. I'm not saying be a difficult asshole and start making unreasonable demands, but too often people aren't willing to stick up for themselves. If you burn out on your job and you are a good worker, they are going to be upset when you leave. So do them and yourself a favor and put up some boundaries. If you did come into the office, you wouldn't be able to type up a memo for example while driving home. So block out some hours for yourself. You do have some rights here. If you aren't trying to slack off and take advantage, but are genuinely feeling like you can't run to the bathroom, have time in your day to take a shower, eat, etc., then something has got to change.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 16:49     Subject: i wfh every day and hate it
Anonymous wrote:You know you can adjust length of time before MS Lync shows you as idle right?


Yes, I did change that (a coworker and mine both did because we were annoyed). But I am still expected to jump at a Lync message as soon as I receive it, so I can't really go anywhere regardless.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 16:44     Subject: i wfh every day and hate it
You know you can adjust length of time before MS Lync shows you as idle right?
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 16:42     Subject: Re:i wfh every day and hate it
Anonymous wrote:OP some of this is on you. Has management told you, you must be at your house from 9 to 5?

I work from home a lot too, but can manage my schedule. Yes, people can see when i've been inactive during the day; they can also see that I was on at 6 am this morning and when I'm on after I put the kids down too. That's how my work culture is though.

Just make sure you aren't putting more on yourself than you have to. I just say "hey, running to a dr. appointment" or running a quick errand be back, and people don't care.


Unfortunately, I have been told that yes, I need to be reachable during regular business hours. I used to have a very flexible schedule where I would work at 5am, 10pm, etc. Everyone did so, and it wasn't a problem. But things have changed and that is no longer the case. I believe it is due to many people who aren't used to working in/managing remote teams suddenly managing/working in a remote team. But that's another story for another day.

The Outlook thing is crazy. Because much of the company works remotely, there are many conference calls. Sometimes the conversation goes along the lines of "Hey can you get such and such to jump on real quick? Wait--where are they? They have been inactive for 20 minutes!" Even though, you know, such and such had no idea someone wanted them to jump onto a call. Also, my department leadership has decided that we all need to be available at all times during the workday, unlike other departments where "no one ever knows where they are or what they are doing!"

Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 16:25     Subject: i wfh every day and hate it
I work from home 4 days a week and I love it but it does get lonely sometimes. Going into the office doesn't help because so many people work from home it's usually a ghost town. I do agree that it's important to shower and dress yourself everyday. I notice on days where I don't shower or take off my pjs I feel terrible.

You need to have a morning routine the same as if you were going to the office. Also make sure you go outside for fresh air a few times a day. I also play soft music in my house to keep me company when I'm not on a meeting call.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 16:09     Subject: i wfh every day and hate it
Ditto the schedule and beginning your day as you would a day in the office, though I hope with a more relaxed/casual wardrobe.
Also, I echo other suggestions to sometimes go somewhere else to work, like a coffee shop. Starbucks isn't ideal as it tends to be noisy (at least the ones around me.) I have found a small local coffee shop that is much quieter.
Re: using Messenger: my colleagues and I sometimes have very legitimate reasons for being away from Outlook -- i.e. reading huge federal regulations. We sometimes put a status of "Reading Reg X: Will be checking email intermittently" or something similar to let folks know you aren't going to be around. Depending on your situation, this might help you breath a bit easier.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2016 16:07     Subject: Re:i wfh every day and hate it
OP some of this is on you. Has management told you, you must be at your house from 9 to 5?

I work from home a lot too, but can manage my schedule. Yes, people can see when i've been inactive during the day; they can also see that I was on at 6 am this morning and when I'm on after I put the kids down too. That's how my work culture is though.

Just make sure you aren't putting more on yourself than you have to. I just say "hey, running to a dr. appointment" or running a quick errand be back, and people don't care.