Working From Home

Silkeej · ‎04-01-2010

I was just wondering what you all think of companies who let their employees work from home? How does the company know they are putting in a full day for their pay? I imagine they have a certain amount of work to do but that doesn't mean it takes them a full working day. What do you think?

VanSleepy · ‎10-05-2010

I think most people who are allowed to work from home aren't at a level where someone is concerned about and tracking how many hours they put in. They just need to get certain things accomplished.

sassenach1 · ‎03-09-2010

I work for a Fortune 100 company and I am home based. I do travel, but when it am not on the road, I office from home. My job is intense with many responsibilities. There is no time but to work at least a full day or more. As far as monitoring, like most companies, anything done on my computer can be tracked. I don't know that they do, but they certainly can. My goals and expected results are high and that is my main accountability.

circles · ‎03-10-2010

my son works from home at least once a week....and his wife works from home four days a week...I have been there....for other reasons....and they always have their nose to the grindstone....if I call they can only talk for a few minutes and have to get back to work...

both of them get calls... from their workplace...often during the day....so they better be ready to take those calls.....

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

My husband has a WFH day once a week, but sometimes can't take it if there's a meeting he has to attend. I could be wrong, but I believe this WFH option usually happens with salaried employees as opposed to hourly. I know my husband cannot shut off his phone and only be available for work related calls during so-called business hours. He deals with people in different time zones, both here in the US and Internationally. I can tell you without a doubt his company gets way more out him in any given day that a work from home day, even if he might take a longer lunch or do a little personal business that day, is no different. He usually tries to schedule personal business appointments (doctor, dentist, car upkeep etc.) on his WFH days, too, so as not to need another day away from the office to attend to them.

tansy · ‎01-02-2011

If the job involves production typing, it is easy to keep track of an at-home employee's production.

Lynnj · ‎03-21-2010

I have worked from home since 2007. I have deliverables and timelines that need to be meet. The company would know I wasn't doing my job if I didn't produce things when they are due. I spend the majority of my day on the phone, in meetings, with other co- workers from all over the country who also work from home. That said, I can multi-task while on meetings, and not always sitting at my desk in front of my laptop. For example, today i emptied the dishwasher while on a meeting, taking my phone on and off mute as I need to chime in about the topic. Some days I sit on my couch, in front of the tv, with my laptop and will work on documents or whatever stuff needed to get done. I've also been known to have tv on mute and watch a baseball game during a phone meeting. Bottom line is I get my work done and delivered on or before it is requested. I don't need to be baby sat to get my job done. The negative side to working at home is that it is always there. I may not quit at 5 because I need to leave to get home. I may work into the night or on the weekend because I need to get something done to meet a deadline. The key to working at home is to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

Marienkaefer2 · ‎03-09-2010

Of course, if you aren't producing, they're going to know.

Plenty of people goof off in the office, and go undetected for a long time.

I didn't work from home (well, I did take work home with me), but I had an office and was out on the road too.

I wasn't "clocked" from 8-5. I was just expected to accomplish certain goals.

Some days I worked 9-3. Others I worked 8-6 or later, and on weekends.

Imo, people accomplish more in these types of jobs than the typical 8-5 or 9-5. Somehow you are inspired more, because you are independent. Well, that's how it was for me, anyway.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.--Marcus Tullius Cicero

Lynnj · ‎03-21-2010

On 3/19/2014 Marienkaefer2 said:
Of course, if you aren't producing, they're going to know.

Plenty of people goof off in the office, and go undetected for a long time.

I didn't work from home (well, I did take work home with me), but I had an office and was out on the road too.

I wasn't "clocked" from 8-5. I was just expected to accomplish certain goals.

Some days I worked 9-3. Others I worked 8-6 or later, and on weekends.

Imo, people accomplish more in these types of jobs than the typical 8-5 or 9-5. Somehow you are inspired more, because you are independent. Well, that's how it was for me, anyway.

I agree with your statement about people goof off in an office and go undetected all of the time. Also the other statement about those who work from home are more productive - so true for me. I get more work done since I've been home since 2007 than I ever did when I went to the office everyday. Not sure why that is exactly? But I am much productive as a work at home associate.

bathina · ‎03-14-2010

I've also worked at home for years. No one is clocking my hours, but they would sure know if I missed deadlines. I set my own hours based on my workload and meeting schedules. Most weeks I'm putting in way more than the traditional 40 hours.