Remote working preferences (in the longer term)

[yorkie]

This is question for people who do jobs that can, at least in part, be done by working from home.

Obviously this question doesn't apply to everyone as there are many jobs that cannot be done from home.

When this situation is over, what would your preferred working be?

• Working from home all the time (with meetings taking place online)
• Working from home all the time (except travelling to meetings)
• Working from home all bar one day of the week
• Working from home roughly half the time
• Working from home only one day per week
• Working from home never to be done except for emergencies, injuries, caring for dependents, etc.

I've made the poll multiple choice because some of the above might overlap and people may have equal preferences for more than one of the above options.

I personally do welcome working from home one day per week (sometimes doing swaps to give two consecutive days of working remotely followed by a week of no remote working) but I wouldn't want to work from home all the time!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've gone for "roughly half the time" as someone who does most days. In normal circumstances I tend to go to one of our offices about once a week to get out of the house, but can't justify the cost of more than that, but if someone else was paying I'd happily go in 2 or 3 days. By choice I'd probably go for Wednesday and either Monday or Friday or both at home.

 

[westv]

I went for "all the time" (as it'd save me a lot due to no train fares/London lodging) but I might also have gone for half as that would then enable me to continue seeing all the people I know in London and surroundings.

 

[island]

I can do 90% of my job effectively at home so I’ve put home all bar one day per week.

 

[Esker-pades]

I'm sceptical of a complete shift to working from home, save for those who need it (disability, other long/short-term condition, etc.). Therre have been a few articles I've seen over the years about the isolation that working from home brings. For quite a lot of people, their workplace (and socialising with people who they met there) is their main form of social contact. So, even if the technology and infrastructure existed to support everyone working from home who could, I don't think it would be socially desirable to do it more than half the time.

 

[Mag_seven]

Even in an office job that can be done at home the ability just to be able to walk over to someones desk and speak to them face to face is very important. Emailing, phoning them etc still isn't the same. Thus I have voted for the last option.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Even in an office job that can be done at home the ability just to be able to walk over to someones desk and speak to them face to face is very important. Emailing, phoning them etc still isn't the same. Thus I have voted for the last option.

Instant messaging can be an acceptable substitute for that. It's less disruptive than a phone call but more immediate than e-mail. Though it does take a bit of discipline in use, for instance it's very annoying when people start a conversation "Hello" or "How are you today?" because I can't then see the content of the message to see if it requires an urgent response or is more important than what I'm doing or not. Much better to use it more like SMS and put the content in the initial message.

 

[Bantamzen]

Instant messaging can be an acceptable substitute for that. It's less disruptive than a phone call but more immediate than e-mail. Though it does take a bit of discipline in use, for instance it's very annoying when people start a conversation "Hello" or "How are you today?" because I can't then see the content of the message to see if it requires an urgent response or is more important than what I'm doing or not. Much better to use it more like SMS and put the content in the initial message.

I've already got sick and tired of people messaging me on Skype, on a good day I can end up with two or three different groups constantly chattering, and on a bad day there can be even more people constantly on individual chats too. At least with a desk or phone you can queue the sods up one at a time, hence I've often taken to accidentally hitting the "Do not disturb" setting.....

Personally I don't mind doing two or three days a week at home, if for no other reason my wife and I can share a West Yorkshire MCard as I we can work around each other thus saving us money. But the prospect of many more weeks, maybe months of home working does not fill be with joy. It is far too easy to end up working a lot more (for no more money in my case), and ending up in a semi-permanent Groundhog Day scenario. So I'll be mixing it up when things start to relax.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've already got sick and tired of people messaging me on Skype, on a good day I can end up with two or three different groups constantly chattering, and on a bad day there can be even more people constantly on individual chats too. At least with a desk or phone you can queue the sods up one at a time, hence I've often taken to accidentally hitting the "Do not disturb" setting.....

That's again about discipline (which Teams doesn't help as it encourages group messaging). Groups should only be used where the messages are genuinely relevant to ALL users in the group. Just whacking everything out to a group is lazy and disruptive, and I don't hesitate to point this out to people if they do it.

 

[Bantamzen]

That's again about discipline (which Teams doesn't help as it encourages group messaging). Groups should only be used where the messages are genuinely relevant to ALL users in the group. Just whacking everything out to a group is lazy and disruptive, and I don't hesitate to point this out to people if they do it.

Unfortunately that is the nature of where my department is at the moment, we are supporting a whole load of covid-related processes across different areas that are constantly changing as new priorities come up. So we have our local group of devs ssupporting each other as new asks come to us, a wider command group as managers wanting to be able to get our attention quickly, and then depending on the priorities groups with other teams we are working with. And that's not to mention individual users wanting us to look at various issues (we do try to ask them to triage them through central contact points, but in a very large department comms often break down).

Its probably a miracle that I haven't yet launched my lappy out of the window, I've certainly angrily given Skype the two fingers more than once in the last few weeks.

 

[Meerkat]

I worry about the effect on society if large scale WFH is imposed.
Most of the incidental contact is lost - the chat at the drinks machine/printer and the gossip at someone’s desk after a work discussion. A lot of social contact will also be lost - meeting up for drinks/lunch will be a big effort and more strictly invited , no “oh we are going for lunch/a pint after why don’t you join us?”
People won’t really know their workmates and managers won’t see some of the issues - the stuff you pick up overhearing other conversations, or from catching an expression, that they won’t tell you by email/messaging.
On a big scale it will worsen the social divisions - you won’t be nearly so exposed to those you don’t choose to spend time with. The well off and comfortable will be even less aware of how others are struggling or how they think - they will go to uni with similar people, socialise with similar people from their immediate neighbourhood, and not hear the stories in the workplace.
And all those relationships that start in the workplace won’t happen......

 

[Tom B]

My job is operational, and I need to be on-site for a good proportion of the week. I can on average justify one day per week work-from-home, and schedule admin/reports/planning etc into this time. I also arrange it with others of my grade so that there's sufficient cover when I'm not on site.

 

[brad465]

In my organisation working from home is widely permitted but until now was not extensive. Those that did would either only do one day a week, although exceptions exist with some people officially classed as home workers. We have a large sustainability approach and in my local area division's Sustainable business group I lead on work related to sustainable travel and working practices, where I'm putting forward proposals to increase working from home and increasing virtual meeting levels. My aim is to encourage WFH 2-3 days a week across most teams, to balance social contact with WFH benefits, especially on days where no appointments require staff to be in a specific location. This would see considerably more than work done remotely than is currently is the case, but much less than the mandatory policy in place right now.

 

[Crossover]

I’ve gone for the one day a week at home option. The nature of my work means I can do some from home but not all and the industry I support requires an element of on-site work. That said, I do like being at the office as have a great bunch of colleagues who make each day pass significantly quicker and of course the social interaction that comes with it. In reality when we get back to some form of normality, I don’t necessarily see working remotely religiously but maybe more ad-hoc, not necessarily due to exceptional circumstances but in response to the work that’s going on at the time (we use Skype, but it’s still less mither than being in the office when there’s something that requires higher concentration)

 

[Jamesrob637]

I am a full-time home worker when not furloughed due to COVID-19, however my ideal scenario would be home 3 days, office 2, then the following week office 2 days, home 3. Repeat, retire.

 

[alxndr]

The majority of my work has to be done away from home, I can't bring the railway to my house!

I do wish there was some leeway to do some aspects of my work from home though. Checking paperwork or other admin tasks aren't particularly easy to do thoroughly in a crowded mess room. I often find myself doing bits and pieces at home, moreso now that the current situation makes me reluctant to use a communal keyboard or spend any longer than necessary in shared spaces.

I don't expect to be allowed to work from home on a regular basis, but it would be nice to have the option to perhaps be allowed to leave a little early to go through it in peace and quiet.

 

[Jamesrob637]

And all those relationships that start in the workplace won’t happen......

I wouldn't go out with a girl whom I worked with. Tried and failed spectacularly.

 

[jagardner1984]

I do wonder whether Joe public’s desire to return to public transport travelling for lengths of time in immediate proximity to Large groups of strangers again any time soon may lead to a fundamental change here. IT is well documented the government action forcing many of those Companies who’d deemed it “too difficult” before to make home working a reality in short order. A friend of mine’s experiences with his Council employers IT department and insistence on archaic hardware and VPNs on comically slow rural broadband was really something else. But add into that the inevitable recession, cuts to transport spending, tax increases and a reduction in disposable income, I do feel a lot of London commuter land (in particular) may be looking at their X thousand pound season ticket and wondering if there is another way.

Personally I do feel regular social contact is important, vital in fact. So I went for the middle option. Some home working, some office working. I wonder if we will see customisable “Days of the week” season tickets fairly soon. I think that would be great development.

I think environmentally, and in promoting smarter working (facility for even some Home working when a child is sick for example), there are real benefits for society here, before we even start to talk about heightened public awareness of the potential consequences of standing next to that person coughing and spluttering over everyone and everything for an hour

 

[Bantamzen]

I do wonder whether Joe public’s desire to return to public transport travelling for lengths of time in immediate proximity to Large groups of strangers again any time soon may lead to a fundamental change here. IT is well documented the government action forcing many of those Companies who’d deemed it “too difficult” before to make home working a reality in short order. A friend of mine’s experiences with his Council employers IT department and insistence on archaic hardware and VPNs on comically slow rural broadband was really something else. But add into that the inevitable recession, cuts to transport spending, tax increases and a reduction in disposable income, I do feel a lot of London commuter land (in particular) may be looking at their X thousand pound season ticket and wondering if there is another way.

Personally I do feel regular social contact is important, vital in fact. So I went for the middle option. Some home working, some office working. I wonder if we will see customisable “Days of the week” season tickets fairly soon. I think that would be great development.

I think environmentally, and in promoting smarter working (facility for even some Home working when a child is sick for example), there are real benefits for society here, before we even start to talk about heightened public awareness of the potential consequences of standing next to that person coughing and spluttering over everyone and everything for an hour

A "Days of the week" season ticket would be a great idea, especially if you could see which days were the busiest based on sales so you could adapt as needed.

 

[Meerkat]

Considering the small size of our housing stock how are couples both going to work from home, particularly young couples sharing one bed flats or studios!
And the kids in shared houses in Clapham etc are going to be sleeping and working in the same room- that can’t be mentally healthy.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Considering the small size of our housing stock how are couples both going to work from home, particularly young couples sharing one bed flats or studios!

Plenty of options, e.g. one sits on the sofa in the lounge and another at the kitchen table (I have a spare room, and me and my former housemate did both work from home for a while). Though I agree it's easier for people with kids. Of course, one person working from home and one not is still an improvement, so there is no need to seek perfection.

And the kids in shared houses in Clapham etc are going to be sleeping and working in the same room- that can’t be mentally healthy.

You mean how literally every single student does? They cope.

 

[alxndr]

Considering the small size of our housing stock how are couples both going to work from home, particularly young couples sharing one bed flats or studios!
And the kids in shared houses in Clapham etc are going to be sleeping and working in the same room- that can’t be mentally healthy.

Different people and different jobs will require different things.

Slightly different scenario, but both myself and a friend found it easier to get on and focus with our uni work when I was staying at their one bed flat. They would work in the living room, I would work in the bedroom. Having someone else their kept us accountable and focused. Would perhaps be different if one or both were making regular phonecall though. When I study alone at home I find myself tempted to wander off and clean the bathroom!

 

[Bletchleyite]

In any case, it might well be worth having two desks in one room (though that for some jobs will pose confidentiality risks and may require some companies to consider the idea of having contracts signed for confidentiality with "co-workers" of that kind) - people say they'd miss the social aspect of office working, surely that's just another way of having that sort of contact?

 

[Meerkat]

Plenty of options, e.g. one sits on the sofa in the lounge

No one should be working from a sofa! If WFH became big the H&S bods will be asking for photos to prove you have a safe desk set up.

You mean how literally every single student does? They cope.

They generally don’t work all day.

With small homes the phone calls will be an issue - it’s bad enough in an office with people on multiple conference calls!
As a long term solution security/confidentiality will become more of an issue - Presumably they will have to go completely non-paper (we weren’t allowed to print at home, in fact the laptops couldn’t connect to non network printers)

 

[CaptainHaddock]

I worry about the effect on society if large scale WFH is imposed.
Most of the incidental contact is lost - the chat at the drinks machine/printer and the gossip at someone’s desk after a work discussion. A lot of social contact will also be lost - meeting up for drinks/lunch will be a big effort and more strictly invited , no “oh we are going for lunch/a pint after why don’t you join us?”
People won’t really know their workmates and managers won’t see some of the issues - the stuff you pick up overhearing other conversations, or from catching an expression, that they won’t tell you by email/messaging.
On a big scale it will worsen the social divisions - you won’t be nearly so exposed to those you don’t choose to spend time with. The well off and comfortable will be even less aware of how others are struggling or how they think - they will go to uni with similar people, socialise with similar people from their immediate neighbourhood, and not hear the stories in the workplace.
And all those relationships that start in the workplace won’t happen......

I was going to post something similar but you've pretty much summed up my view.

My office colleagues may not be the people I'd choose to spend my free time with but, when you live alone and in the current situation can't see your partner, friends or family, I really appreciate the human interaction. It may be no more than asking your colleague what he got up to last night or making the tea for everyone, but these little interactions make life that bit more pleasant. Even the commute to work is pretty pleasureable at the moment!

I've never worked from home and would never want to. It sounds like it's pretty much just you, on your own, staring at a screen for 8 hours, day after monotonous day. What kind of a life is that?

 

[Bletchleyite]

No one should be working from a sofa! If WFH became big the H&S bods will be asking for photos to prove you have a safe desk set up.

Prove they aren't sitting on the sofa, though...I am today for a change of scene!

 

[DarloRich]

I like to keep work and home separate. Home is my time and my space.

 

[6862]

No one should be working from a sofa! If WFH became big the H&S bods will be asking for photos to prove you have a safe desk set up.

I am already finding that having gone from a situation where I worked in a lab, standing up for at least half the day, to sitting down for >90% of the day and doing what limited work I can on my laptop, I am experiencing significant discomfort in my back. Another reason for wanting to be able to go back to work...

 

[Bletchleyite]

I am already finding that having gone from a situation where I worked in a lab, standing up for at least half the day, to sitting down for >90% of the day and doing what limited work I can on my laptop, I am experiencing significant discomfort in my back. Another reason for wanting to be able to go back to work...

You could consider a standing desk if you prefer standing.

 

[6862]

You could consider a standing desk if you prefer standing.

Could be worth looking into, but if this continues long enough (say more than 2 months) for me to need such arrangements I'll be needing another job anyway - I am a PhD student and if we can't go back to the lab soonish I suspect I won't be a student for much longer because no lab = no research = no point in carrying on!