topic Re: Work from home downside? in Community Chat

Work from home downside?

granddi — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:04:07 GMT

My son and daughter both work from home 3 days a week. At first it was kinda fun to sit at your computer in pj's. But I think they are both feeling isolated from socialization of the work environment. I see lack of physical activity like just walking to the break room, walking to lunch, walking to the parking lot............

I can understand the appeal of work from home for those who commute long distances with time and cost of gas. I'm sure its nice to be at home with infants or toddlers. There is a trade off.

I can relate to how we felt with the covid isolation. What do you think?

Re: Work from home downside?

kaydee50 — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:08:27 GMT

I had a part time job that I did from home. I hated it. Missed getting up and out, being with other people, change of scenery, etc. As mentioned, unless a long commute is involved, working from home is overrated.

Re: Work from home downside?

On It — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:10:08 GMT

I am an introvert. Being around others is a tiring distraction. Working from home would be ideal for me. I cannot grasp the concept since it is so opposite for me, but extroverts thrive in the company of others and do not enjoy isolation. It would be nice if companies could give workers options.

Re: Work from home downside?

mimomof4 — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:21:35 GMT

I have worked from home Full time since 2019 (Pre-COVID).

I do agree there is isolation working from home. The lack of movement is what bothers me the most and I have to force myself to move and walk around the house every hour.

I have learned to set my work hours so I am not working late in the evening. Its so easy for many to not stop working because the office is at home.

Working from home makes it easier to make appointments. I was able to go to the dentist today and get my mammogram yesterday without it impacting my entire work day.

I also don't work in my PJs. It may seem appealing at first but I felt that it didn't put you in the work mindset. Actually keeping a morning routine which involves getting dressed - even if your work clothes are now yoga pants and a sweatshirt helps keep you in the work mindset and routine.

I would never recommend someone work from home to be with their toddlers and infants. In fact anyone I see using that as a reason to work from home I discourage. Toddlers and infants are very demanding. You are being paid by an employer to work. Depending on your job you just can't have the noise of kids in the background.

What I don't miss about the office is the 3 hours of driving every day. Its too exhausting and now I don't have to worry about not being home in time to get a kid somewhere or pick them up ontime. Don't miss freezing in an office during the summer. Don't miss driving in snow or pouring down rain.

Re: Work from home downside?

scatcat — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:21:45 GMT

DD works from home 2 days a week. For her it's a nice balance. Getting showered, dressed, makeup on and getting out is good for her. She likes the social aspect (going to lunch etc) of being in the office.

She interviewed for a 100% work from home job and was not interested in that option

Re: Work from home downside?

ThinkingOutLoud — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:22:51 GMT

Many years ago, it occurred to me that more people working from home would be a good thing for traffic congestion, stress, family time, gas expenses, etc. I also saw the downside of how local lunch places (one example) would be impacted but a happy medium seemed doable. Some face to face interaction is healthy and positive so each person should be afforded the chance to figure out what is a good balance for them.

Re: Work from home downside?

Sooner — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:24:59 GMT

I would hate working from home. Putting on my clothes, getting ready for the day, going in and getting to work on what needs to be done, I would miss that terribly and frankly having a hard time getting things done not dressed and "armed" for the day.

I don't see how anyone could get much work done at home with kids.

Re: Work from home downside?

DrKelli — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:25:23 GMT

I've worked from home since the beginning of the pandemic, when they sent us all home. The positives for me are--I can sleep an hour longer and be at work at the same time because I'm not sitting in traffic for almost an hour both ways. I don't have to wear 'hard' clothes--in the winter, it's leggings and in the summer--shorts.

THe cons: I used to have a gym membership at a place 6 blocks from my office and I used it daily. I have a PF membership, but don't use it all that often. I sit too long and then am stiff when I decide to get up. I've lost a lot of my fitness level because I actually work more when remote. Starting this week, that will change--I am using the Just fit app, plus making sure I make use of my streaming workout through LaBlast. This is probablly the biggest negative--that I sit a lot more than I do when I'm in the office. Also--I don't have easy access to a copy machine.

Re: Work from home downside?

CelticCrafter — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:30:17 GMT

I never would have been able to do it. Too many distactions in the house that would be calling my name.

Re: Work from home downside?

lkat — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:33:49 GMT

As somone who worked 5 days a week in an office for decades and then went to 1 and then 2 days from home and then to 5 days at home since Covid, I think there are positives and negatives about each situation.

I think if you're starting out in your career or at a new job, it's very important to be in the office at least half of the week. It also depends a lot on how much interaction your job requires you to have with your coworkers.

In my situation, I don't think I could ever go back to having to be in the office on a regular basis. I used to commute about 4 hours a day and I hated it. I got used to it but now that I'm used to being home, there's no way I'd give up that many hours of my personal time again. I already have great relationships with my coworkers and while I miss some of them, I don't have a need to see them in person.

I agree with @mimomof4 that that the lack of movement can be an issue. I used to have to do a lot of walking and going up and down stairs during the day and now if I'm not careful, I'm sitting for hours straight without moving anything except my fingers on the keyboard. I'm also lucky that I don't have any distractions during the day except my dog. I could never do it with young kids at home. I also wouldn't have wanted to do it when I was young and trying to get established in my career.

Re: Work from home downside?

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:35:27 GMT

DH has been WFH since March 2020 and we love it! Before that, he had a commute that would make you shake your head in disbelief. Now we get spend more time with each other than ever. I still get out of the house alone sometimes, but I like us doing our errands together. Our lifestyle is casual. We can decide to go somewhere some evening during the week with little, if any, planning. We can get a head start on the weekend since he's done working by 3:00. Scheduling appointments is a lot easier. It's all positives from my POV. He is part of an international team for his employer so going to the office makes no sense now, His meetings would be over the computer whether he goes downtown or sits in his home office. Him not having office interactions is no big deal, IMO. He may miss it once in awhile but his whole office works from home the majority of the time. Plus, what about the years I was a SAHM or the days I was home when only working part time? I didn't have any adult interactions then and I survived. 🤷‍♀️

Re: Work from home downside?

mimomof4 — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:38:41 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
I never would have been able to do it. Too many distactions in the house that would be calling my name.

@CelticCrafter My husband use to get mad at me because things were not done in the house during the day while I was working. My response was becasue I was working - I'm not spending my day cleaning the house. Then he was home for 2 weekd due to COVID exposure in 2020 and realized that yep during working hours we need to work. I can put a load of laundry in but I can't fold and put it away during my work hours.

Re: Work from home downside?

QVCkitty1 — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:45:22 GMT

@On It wrote:
I am an introvert. Being around others is a tiring distraction. Working from home would be ideal for me. I cannot grasp the concept since it is so opposite for me, but extroverts thrive in the company of others and do not enjoy isolation. It would be nice if companies could give workers options.

@On It , As an introvert, I can say other people can be overrated. I worked in healthcare so working at home was never an option, but some days ...

Re: Work from home downside?

Kachina624 — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:50:33 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
I never would have been able to do it. Too many distactions in the house that would be calling my name.
@CelticCrafter I tried it once briefly and it didn't work for that reason. As soon as I sat down at my desk, I thought of some little household task I needed to do. I also missed the social contact.

There's no way a person could give her full attention to a job and also attend to children, especially a toddler.

Re: Work from home downside?

Carmie — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 17:07:34 GMT

I've worked from home before and I loved it. No negatives for me.

I also worked in an isolated office away from my employer for two years....just me and my pc in a small room by myself.

I hate the usual office drama. I never missed the asking for money and gifts for birthdays, baby showers, holidays, people leaving grandma showers and sprinkles.

No one bothered me asking to borrow a few dollars, selling me junk from kid's fundraisers, etc. No sick employees coughing on me either.

My daughter-in-law works from home at a job that pays her more than double than her old office job did. She loves it too. She does have to travel occasionally to attend meetings. Her employer pays for her flight, hotels and food.

She is also happy that she is home when my grandson comes home from school and he does not have to spend time alone.

I have never minded the isolation. I welcome it.

Re: Work from home downside?

nascarfan — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 17:12:57 GMT

I believe the success in working from home rests on the individual. First of all, I get up, get dressed in clean clothes, put on make up, style my hair, and begin my workday. I have between 3 - 5 virtual meetings with colleagues every day. I don't feel isolated because I "see" my colleagues regularly.

I don't miss the commute. As a matter of fact I am no longer "dragging" into the office on Friday, after a long work week. I have more energy because those 10 hours dedicated to just commuting to and from the office are gone.

At the start of teleworking I wasn't a fan, but once I got used to the technology and realized the benefits, I am so appreciative of this opportunity my company provides to their employees.

Re: Work from home downside?

Redsoxmom1 — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 17:19:04 GMT

I've been working at home since 2017. I get plenty of exercise by putting things that I use away from where I sit. I put the printer upstairs. I also walk the dogs and do yoga before work. We have a Peloton as well. I love working at home. Highly recommend it. I don't miss working in person at all.

Re: Work from home downside?

ECBG — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 17:52:59 GMT

I have never worked from home, only had extended times off during the summers when I taught, had a hysterectomy, and of course the covid lock down; that was enough for me.

I love going out. I miss the interaction.

Re: Work from home downside?

We rescue cats — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:06:04 GMT

I've worked from home since 2010 and have to say I really love it. At first it was a struggle with friends popping in but we soon worked that out. I had a busy office but most of my business was on the phone so I had plenty of contact with folks, the only thing I miss is walking out to lunch with friends or business meetings. Now my meetings are done after 5pm. I have 4 or 5 folks that work for us, we are all spread across the country, most have never met one another. Heck, I didn't even meet my boss until I went to his wedding....5+ years after I started working for him! LOL!!

Re: Work from home downside?

Goldengate8361 — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:07:59 GMT

I love it! I only go into the office when I really need to....or must....for some reason.