Work from Home - How's it Work?

[F250]

For 36 years as a Game Warden, I was paid a small stipend to keep an office in my home. Phone, typewriter (graduating to a secure computer system), files, evidence, equipment, etc. The landline number was published in the annual law digest available to the public. I can’t imagine working in an office shared by lots of other people.

 

[PrairieHunter]

I often wonder what would happen if you showed up at peoples houses at 8 to see if they are really "working from home".

 

[CowboyLeroy]

You can come help your brother feed cows

 

[Bob-WY]

I've been a work from home person for 3 years now, I'm actually 2500 miles from all of the software people I manage.

It's a challenge, but some good points made here:
- You NEED an office that is just your office. Actually our gun case is in mine, but that's it. It's sort of isolated in the corner of the house as well. This needs to be for work only.

- Our kids are grown and gone, but with my wife, she leaves me alone when I'm working. In the cold months I actually have a "work sweatshirt" I wear, when that's on, I"m working, when I'm done, I take it off, seems to help.

- You need to be disciplined on STOPPING. For me, I am 2 hours behind everyone I work with, they are all east coast people, so I work East coast hours. On line by 6 AM and try to be done by 2-3. It's VERY TEMPTING to think some days "I'm busy and it's only 3, I have a couple more hours to work", but don't do that. STick to work time, done time.

- taking breaks is key, when I was in the office even simple things like going to the bathroom took time, it was 75 yard walk each way and often you get stopped to have hallway conversations. Here, that doesn't happen, but I will take 5 minutes to go feed the birds, on some stressfull days, go for a short walk.

- Staying connected to people is harder. It's to easy to email everything, pick up the phone and call people. Use video software and turn on your camera etc.

 

[AvidIndoorsman]

I worked from home from 2013-2016 then 2020-Present.

Typically I do quarterly(ish) in office stints... last year I was in the office for like 8 weeks.

There are a lot of variables, type of job/personality/family situation, it's not for every person or career. For me I get far more done at home because it the office I tend to be disturbed a lot. I'm also the type to call people just to chat/check-in so I don't think that I lose any of the benefits of being in the office.

In my line of work a video meeting is way more productive than an in person meeting, because I can be on my computer and see your screen.

My 'day' is like 5:30am-7:30pm, but I take breaks/exercise in there, everything fluctuates depending on the demands of work.

Working remote is ideal for me as have some long term projects, but then a lot of quick turn around deliverables, so I can't really put things off and I'm accountable to a large number of folks in the company.

I agree with @Bob-WY I need an office where I can work quietly and shut the door, and the hardest part is turning off in the evening, I find when my wife is working 24s I'll just kinda keep going till 10pm-11pm and I have to force myself out of that pattern.

 

[AvidIndoorsman]

I often wonder what would happen if you showed up at peoples houses at 8 to see if they are really "working from home".

Lol you ever walked around an office

The only metrics that should be important are deliverables.

 

[buckbull]

Just buy one of those things that mimic a mouse moving so you are always green on lync, then go fishing.

 

[PrairieHunter]

Lol you ever walked around an office

The only metrics that should be important are deliverables.

LOL, yea. My business is across from a USDA office. I get to see the lack of productivity first hand. I see how many people show up on time, how many leave early, how many do not show up on Monday or Fridays, and now that covid restrictions are lifted they are still closed and many are hiding at home likely doing little to nothing going on 2 years.

I think working from home is great for folks like you mentioned who have deliverables that can be measured. But working from home has also been abused with some doing next to nothing while other more motivated individuals used the opportunity to take 2 full time jobs.

The Remote Trend Of Working Two Jobs At The Same Time Without Both Companies Knowing​

Are you curious about what other people have been doing while working from home during the pandemic? It's always interesting to find out about how people really spent their time—and not what they tell their bosses, family and friends.

At the early onset of the outbreak, we learned that there was a lot of alcohol consumption, eating, pot smoking and watching porn, while quarantined.
About a year later, a study showed that people working from home are having sex, taking naps, dating, shopping online and doing side hustles on company time. Around 50% of the respondents to the survey said that they’ve worked for another company, while on the clock with their employer.

 

[BlakeA]

At the early onset of the outbreak, we learned that there was a lot of alcohol consumption, eating, pot smoking and watching porn, while quarantined.
About a year later, a study showed that people working from home are having sex, taking naps, dating, shopping online and doing side hustles on company time. Around 50% of the respondents to the survey said that they’ve worked for another company, while on the clock with their employer.

Literally all of these things happen in office jobs lol

 

[AvidIndoorsman]

I think working from home is great for folks like you mentioned who have deliverables that can be measured. But working from home has also been abused with some doing next to nothing while other more motivated individuals used the opportunity to take 2 full time jobs.

I think if your not delivering you should be fired... so lol

Are you curious about what other people have been doing while working from home during the pandemic? It's always interesting to find out about how people really spent their time—and not what they tell their bosses, family and friends.

Honestly not really... I think companies mis-managed before the pandemic were mismanaged during, I'm not sure if it changed much.

On my team, as long as you respond to my emails, get me the data and work products I need, and those products are accurate I could careless what your day looks like. Honestly, my group has been phenomenal the last 2 years.

One of my past jobs was a shit show; two of my married (not to each other) coworkers were sleeping with each other, they would go on "work trips" out of state and hook up on company time with the company footing the hotel bill. Shitty employees are shitty employees.

I think remote work can actually be great for companies as it makes them refocus, the "butts in chairs" model has always been a poor way of judging productivity. It was broken 20 years ago hence the movie Office Space. Successful companies have figured out how to evaluate people on their work product.

Also... do other people not have non-competes lol?

So I agree all of that was true... I just don't know if it's a marked change. Short term (March 2020 to maybe June 2020 for companies who didn't have their act together, but in 2022... I'm not so sure)

 

[Ben Lamb]

Lots of good advice in here, but you amateurs missed some of the big ones. After 10 years of working from home, I'm ruined for office life, that's for sure. Productivity is higher at home than at an office, yes you have to have boundaries, take breaks, leave stuff in your office, etc but none of those compare to these:

1.) Take a shower at least twice a week. Especially when you feel yourself peel off of your home office chair. Also, Febreze is redneck dry-cleaning and it's your office's friend.

2.) Have several pairs of sweatpants. You stink because you're only showering twice a week, so change your drawers more regularly. And for the love of god, wear them, even if you don't have a zoom call. Professionalism matters.

3.) Always have a clean shirt close by for important zooms. Don't wear it, you'll just get crap all of it, because you're a filthy pig-boy now that you've started working from home.

4.) The Desk Nap is mission critical. Get to where you can do it in 20 minutes, including falling asleep and waking up.

5.) No booze before noon. This is not negotiable.

 

[PrairieHunter]

Literally all of these things happen in office jobs lol

But not nearly at the rate of "home office jobs". LOL

I mean lets be real.

The likelihood that someone is sleeping at home at 8AM versus sleeping at the office at 8AM is not even close. Having sex, watching porn, getting drunk at home vs at the office is the same story. Much more likely to happen at home than at the office.

So yea there are some people who sleep, have sex, and work second jobs at the office but it's not nearly at the rate of people who are working from home.

 

[BlakeA]

But not nearly at the rate of "home office jobs". LOL

I mean lets be real.

The likelihood that someone is sleeping at home at 8AM versus sleeping at the office at 8AM is not even close. Having sex, watching porn, getting drunk at home vs at the office is the same story. Much more likely to happen at home than at the office.

So yea there are some people who sleep, have sex, and work second jobs at the office but it's not nearly at the rate of people who are working from home.

I don't know man...it may be higher then you think

 

[mtmuley]

I can't work from home. I build them. mtmuley

 

[AvidIndoorsman]

But not nearly at the rate of "home office jobs". LOL

I mean lets be real.

The likelihood that someone is sleeping at home at 8AM versus sleeping at the office at 8AM is not even close. Having sex, watching porn, getting drunk at home vs at the office is the same story. Much more likely to happen at home than at the office.

So yea there are some people who sleep, have sex, and work second jobs at the office but it's not nearly at the rate of people who are working from home.

Totally.

I think that’s where deliverables come into play.

I’ve worked remotely as a W-2 and 1099. As a 1099 I billed hourly and itemized based on the task (15min intervals). So in that sense who cares what I did when in my day.

As a W-2 I need to work 50 hours a week contractually and if I’m being honest go way over that as in practice its more about getting all the work done in a timely manner.

My expectations for subordinates is, show up to meetings on time and prepared, adhere to deadlines, and produce quality work.

If your spouse works nights and you keep that schedule and it doesn’t impact the team I don’t care. We have lots of folks that work nights from home anyway .

Point being I think it works if it’s thoughtful, but it’s not a solution for every business.

I can't work from home. I build them. mtmuley

Do you/ can you pick your own hours? Like could you work 11am- 10pm?

 

[mtmuley]

Totally.

I think that’s where deliverables come into play.

I’ve worked remotely as a W-2 and 1099. As a 1099 I billed hourly and itemized based on the task (15min intervals). So in that sense who cares what I did when in my day.

As a W-2 I need to work 50 hours a week contractually and if I’m being honest go way over that as in practice its more about getting all the work done in a timely manner.

My expectations for subordinates is, show up to meetings on time and prepared, adhere to deadlines, and produce quality work.

If your spouse works nights and you keep that schedule and it doesn’t impact the team I don’t care. We have lots of folks that work nights from home anyway .

Point being I think it works if it’s thoughtful, but it’s not a solution for every business.


Do you/ can you pick your own hours? Like could you work 11am- 10pm?

I have 5 hours or more in by 11 am most days. mtmuley

 

[AvidIndoorsman]

I have 5 hours or more in by 11 am most days. mtmuley

Yeah me too plus east coast time so often 7 hours in by mountain time 11am, but who determines your schedule?
Like I imagine to some extent your paid for completion of the project right? So like if you went full manic and worked 36 hours straight and then didn’t work the next two days it wouldn’t really matter? You get paid the same right?

 

[mtmuley]

Yeah me too, but who determines your schedule?
Like I imagine to some extent your paid for completion of the project right? So like if you went full manic and worked 36 hours straight and then didn’t work the next two days it wouldn’t really matter? You get paid the same right?

How is that working from home? mtmuley

 

[AvidIndoorsman]

How is that working from home? mtmuley

My point is schedule control for the sake of schedule control is a dumb artifact of previous generations, and that seems to be what people get hung up on.

You like to get up early someone else likes to work at 3am… who gives a shit as long as the work gets done.

If you have to be available from 9-5 then you need to be available.

Lots of folks… @VikingsGuy… my sister, etc run multi-national teams business hours just become an irrelevant construct.

 

[mtmuley]

Thanks wllm. I don't have a schedule. I do what I want. I don't run multi-national teams. mtmuley