I have the ability to work at home 4 days a week. I am usually only home 1 one day a week. Often during that day, I dont get much work done. However, I make up those 8 hours over the weekend and at night during the week. Having the 1 day during the week to accomplish chores/tasks makes life so much better.

I am in a job where I dont have to be available for meetings or conferences, it just production based. So as long as I complete all my work, it doesnt matter whether I do it on Monday from 9-5 or an additional 2 hrs a night during the week or 8 hours on a Saturday.

My kids are in school full-time.

sometimes I worry that I give WAH a bad rep bc people know that on my work-at-home day, I dont get much work accomplished, even though I probably work more than my share of hours during other times.

Totally jealous. I have worked from home up to 3 days a week and love it (and I'm very good at it!) Currently in an office 100% and really miss working from home.

In my office, the loud mouths that are always going on about how they could never work from home because they would never get anything done and walk around with such self-importance are actually the employees that don't do d*ck. they are the ones in the fantasy football leagues and socializing in a co-workers office 1/2 the time. They are the most judgemental about the teleworkers and it solely to deflect their own worthlessness.

I just got approved to work from home 1 day a week (as did DH). We do it on different days, and I'm glad it worked out because I find it much harder to get work done when he's also home!

I use my work at home days to work on stuff like reviewing documents or analyzing data--it's nice because I can ignore phone/email for a few hours and have no meetings and can actually sit down and get through the time intensive projects without distractions.

It's also nice that we both save the hour+ commute on our work from home days. It means a shorter day in daycare for DD, a lunchtime walk for the dog, and the ability to throw in a load of laundry or get something delivered.

I couldn't do it every day though--I'm a major extrovert and I also work out sticky problems by discussing them with other members of my team.

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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.

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).

Ok, then I'm jealous But I would kind of miss being forced to leave the house (except in bad weather) and socialize. And I get that most people are required to have child care. But I've known of people who "work from home" part of the time while their kids are around, and aren't responsive, and do use the time to do chores, etc. Let's just say we're in different industries. The post asked for people's personal experiences/opinions, and that's mine. No need to name-call. Sheesh!

I had a direct report once who "worked from home" in locations such as the playground with her kids. She is no longer employed.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Why am I a bitch, just because I'm telling the truth?

New WAH poster here. I don't work for a shoestring organization, just one that's moved itself into the 21st century.

You do realize WAH is for the employer's benefit, right?

I WAH and absolutely realize this. I am fine with it. My employer doesn't have to invest in as much physical infrastructure as they would if we were all centrally located, and offers less benefits. They also get to hire the best candidate for the job, regardless of physical location. Works well for them when someone moves and can keep their job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Why am I a bitch, just because I'm telling the truth?

You're right. IBM is a total shoestring organization. Maybe once they grow up they will realize what a sham working at home is and bring all of their remote workers in to a central location.

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.

WTF? No one is working from home with kids in the house and no care. Most employers require proof that you have childcare before even entertaining the idea of working from home.

The company that I work for can't ask whether you have childcare or not, but it is just silly to think that anyone can get any work done with kids in the house...no one I know who works from home would even try to accomplish that. Whether you are at home or in the office, you have to get work done, period. Anyone who isnt getting work done wont stay in their job for long whether they do this from home, or a central office.

My company does require that you have a separate home office--you arent just setting up shop on the dining room table. It is also very, very frowned upon to hear kids crying, etc. in the background during meetings. People who work at home have the same standards to meet as people in the office.

I get to work from home once a week (after doing the daycare dropoff) and I love it. It frees up over an hour a day I'd spend commuting, allows me to get to the gym with less guilt, and it's just cool to be able to run the washer/dryer while I work. I would totally love to work from home more often, but I think I'd find it isolating to work from home EVERY day.

I've had to work from home a few days when my daughter was home due to illness and that SUCKS. can't imagine having to juggle kid + work all the time. not really fair to the kid either.

I have been doing it 100% for 6 years now (was in the office for 10 years prior) and I ABSOLUTELY Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF you know me--you know I am a total extrovert. I do live in a very urban walkable area and I am a very structured/organized person. I don't work with kids at home. I go to the gym at my lunch hour, walk to pick up lunch, etc. I get tons of social fixes. I also am in touch all day with co-workers via IM, phone and email. I go in about twice a month of my own choosing to meet up for lunch.

It was a bit of adjustment the first few months. I always felt guilty if I werent' glued to the computer, but it turns out I am way more productive at home----as the studies on our OFfice indicate so are all of the other teleworkers. We have less distractions and tend to be the more motivated, senior employees anyways. IF you are on any type of probation you get pulled off the program.