nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

If Work From Home becomes a thing...

bilbot79

I'd be tempted to buy a little apartment in the Canaries and spend my winters there, in fact I'd probably

1/ Sell my Dublin gaff

2/ By a cheaper Irish gaff in the countryside

3/ Buy a place in the Canaries

4/ Buy another place somewhere in Europe, Hvar or somewhere like that

And just spend weeks and months in each place.

How would the rest of you exploit work from home if you had it permanently?

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

larva

Technocentral wrote: »

100% with you on your analysis, loving not having to listen to sports talk 5 days a week now!

Im married with no kids, by choice, so having to also listen to someone elses "choice" regarding their choice in having kids is also an unnecessary distraction for me while im trying to work! You chose to have kids, deal with it and dont bother telling me about it please, ive no interest!

Technocentral

larva wrote: »

Ive found WFH to be perfect for me. My 2 hour commute is gone freeing up extra time in both the morning and evening. I have the freedom not to be forced to be stuck at a desk for 8 hours straight and can do more things around the house when I need a break from working. I dont have the distractions of having to listen to other peoples dilemmas and their own work which is of no relevance to me. im not a sporty person so not being stuck in the middle of a group conversation about football, golf or rugby really works well for me. I can see the reasons why some people need the office but ive found myself more productive and better at my job working from home, not to mention being a happier person overall. Im an administrator and there is literally no actual requirement for me to be physically in the office in respect of doing my job! Covid has proved WFH works.

100% with you on your analysis, loving not having to listen to sports talk 5 days a week now!

larva

Ive found WFH to be perfect for me. My 2 hour commute is gone freeing up extra time in both the morning and evening. I have the freedom not to be forced to be stuck at a desk for 8 hours straight and can do more things around the house when I need a break from working. I dont have the distractions of having to listen to other peoples dilemmas and their own work which is of no relevance to me. im not a sporty person so not being stuck in the middle of a group conversation about football, golf or rugby really works well for me. I can see the reasons why some people need the office but ive found myself more productive and better at my job working from home, not to mention being a happier person overall. Im an administrator and there is literally no actual requirement for me to be physically in the office in respect of doing my job! Covid has proved WFH works.

Red Alert

I think for a lot of people they'll have to weigh up the pros and cons of a dedicated workspace at home vs a commute.

I work in higher ed, where we have fairly flexible hours outside of our timetabled schedule. For me, having a proper desk, large monitor, separate keyboard/mouse and a comfortable home office really helps. I'd go mad if I was trying to work on the table or the sofa on a longer-term basis.

On the data security issue, we are all going to come up against some difficult ethical, privacy and technical decisions. I think in the longer term some companies should look at using dedicated Thin Client devices - there are a few different types from the likes of Dell/Wyse, IGEL and others. These small boxes (about the size of a Mac Mini) connect back through home broadband over VPN directly to the office to a Citrix/RDP/other desktop, and plug into a keyboard/mouse/screen like a normal PC. No data on the device, and keeps a strict separation of work/home.

helimachoptor

seamus wrote: »

As they move to reopen, many companies will find that a significant portion of staff don't have the space to WFH but would rather not make the trip all the way to the office. And small office space rented by the week or month is what companies are going to start looking for.

Agree, have friends/colleagues working from their bed if they're house sharing and because they just don't have any other practical space.

seamus

I was talking to someone yesterday who's trying to sell some Georgian office space in Dublin city and has seen all interest dry up.

I was telling them that the future in this space is in the ability to rent office space in pods; individual serviced offices where 1-4 colleagues from a single company can share the space.

For some companies it will require certain modifications to ensure physical and digital isolation as well as security, but if someone like WeWork were to run with this, they'd be on track to become the next AirBnB.

As they move to reopen, many companies will find that a significant portion of staff don't have the space to WFH but would rather not make the trip all the way to the office. And small office space rented by the week or month is what companies are going to start looking for.

helimachoptor

Myself & Wife are getting a cabin in the garden as we'll both be wfh for the foreseeable.

Both our companies currently just wont be able to accommodate the same volume of people in the office.

jester77

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Who do you think will pay for this?

At €50+ per day per head, I cannot see many employers paying for this when they also have office space available.

And it's a PITA to necef be able to leave papers, laptop etc in your desk overnight.

It takes less than a minute to put your laptop and papers into a drawer. We even do it when we go for lunch.

Just take out the laptop, plug into the usb cable and you are good to go straight away. If you organised then papers are a non-issue.

snoopboggybog

Strumms wrote: »

What are YOU rambling on about, you’d want to mind your manners..... plenty of employers are already in fact expecting this, . My cousin who works for a security company, is already taking calls on his personal mobile and house phone... his work mobile is off when he is not working or on call, yet his house phone now has started to ring

Plenty of employers? You have one example and it just sounds like a crap company to be honest.

snoopboggybog

Strumms wrote: »

What are YOU rambling on about, you’d want to mind your manners..... plenty of employers are already in fact expecting this, . My cousin who works for a security company, is already taking calls on his personal mobile and house phone... his work mobile is off when he is not working or on call, yet his house phone now has started to ring

Your taking one scenario and then thinking its the same for everyone working from home.

A company shouldn't be contacting you on your house phone or personal phone. Tell your cousin to nip it in the bud now.

If my employer ever intended to contact me on my house phone if it was not a life or death situation for the company they would be told off immediately.

I have a work phone, i might get called once every two months on it out of hours. If I'm in the pub or something I tell them to call someone else.

storker

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah you're dead right and to be honest I've never had a boss or even a colleague that would ask where I was if I cant be contacted, home or at the office.

Likewise. I've had a couple of calls along the lines of:

Colleague: "Did you see that e-mail from x?"
Me: "Nope...I'm in the kitchen making a coffee. I'll read it in a few minutes and give you a shout back."
Colleague: "Grand"

As for my boss, it's usually me trying to contact him and wondering where the hell he is.

Strumms

Mr.S wrote: »

What are you rambling on about?

Is your issue that you think employers will expect people working form home, to work 24/7 because for some reason their home is now their office? (it isn't)

What are YOU rambling on about, you’d want to mind your manners..... plenty of employers are already in fact expecting this, . My cousin who works for a security company, is already taking calls on his personal mobile and house phone... his work mobile is off when he is not working or on call, yet his house phone now has started to ring

Mrs OBumble

Mr.S wrote: »

I can really see co-working space picking up massively here, for those people that prefer working outside of home.

Who do you think will pay for this?

At €50+ per day per head, I cannot see many employers paying for this when they also have office space available.

And it's a PITA to necef be able to leave papers, laptop etc in your desk overnight.

snoopboggybog

Strumms wrote: »

If it works for you fine, that’s good you have a positive outlook but if you read many threads here and have had in the past ‘some’ experiences I’ve had... you don’t blur the line, work and home and personal life separate. When covid is over you are going to see first hand how many employers are ripping the absolute piss now the line has been blurred.

You could have easily created a post saying that work from home doesn't suit you whatsoever instead of all the nonsense you were saying about the cost of the office etc.

If working from home doesn't suit you that's grand, it doesn't suit everyone but you were portraying all people working from home like something was wrong with it.

I know some people are against it for the mental health aspect of it not been able to socialize.

If your employer expects you to work 24/7 and be on call 24/7 its probably time you switched company. Worked in places like that before and left after a few months.

Strumms

snoopboggybog wrote: »

You must have an arsehole of a boss then or work for a crap company?

I start at 9, finish at 5. I might get a call once every two month out of hours which I don't mind. I tell them if I'm available or not. If I say I'm not available they just move onto the next member of the team.

Its not bad really.

If it works for you fine, that’s good you have a positive outlook but if you read many threads here and have had in the past ‘some’ experiences I’ve had... you don’t blur the line, work and home and personal life separate. When covid is over you are going to see first hand how many employers are ripping the absolute piss now the line has been blurred.

snoopboggybog

Strumms wrote: »

No, but pour yourself a glass of something you seem like you need it.

There wouldn't be ‘balance’ there would be ‘invasion’, to your space, time, personal and family life..

I’ll let you call up the twitter folks and tell them what they are doing wrong, I’m sure they’ll be delighted to hear from you and your ummm ‘expertise’.

Please explain how there would be an invasion into your space, time, personal and family life.

I can't wait for your response because this is just nonsense. It's no difference from been in the office during your normal working hours.

[Deleted User]

Strumms wrote: »

Nope, will never come a day where I’m telling an employer an excuse for not being available to them in my own home, never .:)

Yeah you're dead right and to be honest I've never had a boss or even a colleague that would ask where I was if I cant be contacted, home or at the office.

snoopboggybog

Strumms wrote: »

No, but pour yourself a glass of something you seem like you need it.

There wouldn't be ‘balance’ there would be ‘invasion’, to your space, time, personal and family life..

I’ll let you call up the twitter folks and tell them what they are doing wrong, I’m sure they’ll be delighted to hear from you and your ummm ‘expertise’.

You must have an arsehole of a boss then or work for a crap company?

I start at 9, finish at 5. I might get a call once every two month out of hours which I don't mind. I tell them if I'm available or not. If I say I'm not available they just move onto the next member of the team.

Its not bad really.

Strumms

Deleted User wrote: »

Set your status in teams/slack to out of office and switch everything off. If you're popping away for 10 minutes set it to brb (be right back). If your boss says where were you I was trying to call you you tell him you were taking a ****, having a coffee break, hanging out the washing whatever it is you were doing. Not really seeing what your problem is to be honest except that maybe you have an arsehole for a boss.

Nope, will never come a day where I’m telling an employer an excuse for not being available to them in my own home, never .:)

Strumms

snoopboggybog wrote: »

Are you drunk? Bit early on a Sunday isn't it?

Hopefully working from home becomes the new normal for people like Twitter.

You would have a better life work balance working from home.

No, but pour yourself a glass of something you seem like you need it.

There wouldn't be ‘balance’ there would be ‘invasion’, to your space, time, personal and family life..

I’ll let you call up the twitter folks and tell them what they are doing wrong, I’m sure they’ll be delighted to hear from you and your ummm ‘expertise’.

[Deleted User]

Strumms wrote: »

The ONLY thing working from home again achieves is a HUGE fûcking saving for your employer, of which you’ll see zero in your own payslip.

They’ve had to lease a 500x200 ft square foot office space, now it’s smaller, just the management it’s a 200x200 ft facility. Saving about 60,000 a year let’s say (conservative guesstimate). The energy bill, saving 10,000.. they get the cleaners in 3 days a week instead of 5, saving 6000 a year, there is no longer seen as a need to have static security at reception on the front desk, saving 12,000 a year...yes business is down but the overall saving by having people work remotely is...

88,000, in savings...

You are not offered compensation for the use of your home as a workplace, when you go to answer your front door to a neighbor or a courier and your boss is ringing your work mobile, then your house phone, wondering what you are up to... why it’s takig 10 minutes to send them a reply to an email....

ALL this going on in your own home, your HOME that’s previous been YOUR castle, you step in, it’s always been your rules, door closes it’s a buffer to outside bullshît, people you don’t want to see and have anything to do with..

Now, 19.00 in the evening..phone ringing..” sorry Gerry, the end of day report, head office are just asking....”. You’ve blurred the line...DONT EVER blur the line between work and your personal life / personal space, family life / family space, love life / intimate space... etc, fûck em.

Set your status in teams/slack to out of office and switch everything off. If you're popping away for 10 minutes set it to brb (be right back). If your boss says where were you I was trying to call you you tell him you were taking a ****, having a coffee break, hanging out the washing whatever it is you were doing. Not really seeing what your problem is to be honest except that maybe you have an arsehole for a boss.

snoopboggybog

Strumms wrote: »

The word ‘maybe’ mean anything to you, or something ?

Are you drunk? Bit early on a Sunday isn't it?

Hopefully working from home becomes the new normal for people like Twitter has implemented.

You would have a better life work balance working from home. I do see though how it could affect some people's mental health without the social
interaction.

The whole working from home thing mighn't suit everyone.

Also its great for the enviroment. I've never been as rested and relaxed for the last 12 weeks.

Strumms

snoopboggybog wrote: »

More sleep? Tell that to people commuting two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening to Dublin every day or people stuck in traffic jams for an hour each morning.

Do you think everyones work place is 30 minutes away or something?

The word ‘maybe’ mean anything to you, or something ?

snoopboggybog

Strumms wrote: »

Childcare ? Sorry you cannot work AND mind and look after children.

Savings on work clothes ? Laughable

Lunches ? You still gotta eat, now prepare and eat.

More sleep ? Maybe 30 minutes, wow.

A relaxed environment ? Sure, really relaxing, turning your home, place of rest and relaxation into a free workspace.

I’d invite you to use your brain but I can see the unwillingness already

More sleep? Tell that to people commuting two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening to Dublin every day or people stuck in traffic jams for an hour each morning.

Do you think everyones work place is 30 minutes away or something?

Strumms

snoopboggybog wrote: »

Seriously? Here's a few benefits.

Savings on work clothes.
Savings on lunches.
More productive.
No more commuting.
More Sleep.
Working in a relaxed enviroment.
Childcare.

The type of situation your talking about is companies taking the piss which can happen but you need to put your foot down.

Do you think a company acutally cares about the 100K the have to spend on office, come on like use your brain.

Childcare ? Sorry you cannot work AND mind and look after children.

Savings on work clothes ? Laughable

Lunches ? You still gotta eat, now prepare and eat.

More sleep ? Maybe 30 minutes, wow.

A relaxed environment ? Sure, really relaxing, turning your home, place of rest and relaxation into a free workspace.

I’d invite you to use your brain but I can see the unwillingness already

snoopboggybog

Strumms wrote: »

The ONLY thing working from home again achieves is a HUGE fûcking saving for your employer, of which you’ll see zero in your own payslip.

They’ve had to lease a 500x200 ft square foot office space, now it’s smaller, just the management it’s a 200x200 ft facility. Saving about 60,000 a year let’s say (conservative guesstimate). The energy bill, saving 10,000.. they get the cleaners in 3 days a week instead of 5, saving 6000 a year, there is no longer seen as a need to have static security at reception on the front desk, saving 12,000 a year...yes business is down but the overall saving by having people work remotely is...

88,000, in savings...

You are not offered compensation for the use of your home as a workplace, when you go to answer your front door to a neighbor or a courier and your boss is ringing your work mobile, then your house phone, wondering what you are up to... why it’s takig 10 minutes to send them a reply to an email....

ALL this going on in your own home, your HOME that’s previous been YOUR castle, you step in, it’s always been your rules, door closes it’s a buffer to outside bullshît, people you don’t want to see and have anything to do with..

Now, 19.00 in the evening..phone ringing..” sorry Gerry, the end of day report, head office are just asking....”. You’ve blurred the line...DONT EVER blur the line between work and your personal life / personal space, family life / family space, love life / intimate space... etc, fûck em.

Seriously? Here's a few benefits.

Savings on work clothes.
Savings on lunches.
More productive.
No more commuting.(A lot of people travel four hours or more to work in Dublin every day).
More Sleep.
Working in a relaxed enviroment.
Childcare.
Great for the enviroment.

The type of situation your talking about is companies taking the piss which can happen but you need to put your foot down.

Do you think a company acutally cares about the 100K the have to spend on office, come on like use your brain.

People commuting into Dublin could have three hours extra free every day by not having to commute to the office or more.
I know people working in Dublin that have a four hour commute to Dublin every day.

Nearly a full day free if the could work from home never mind the car, fuel costs and maintenance.

Strumms

The ONLY thing working from home again achieves is a HUGE fûcking saving for your employer, of which you’ll see zero in your own payslip.

They’ve had to lease a 500x200 ft square foot office space, now it’s smaller, just the management it’s a 200x200 ft facility. Saving about 60,000 a year let’s say (conservative guesstimate). The energy bill, saving 10,000.. they get the cleaners in 3 days a week instead of 5, saving 6000 a year, there is no longer seen as a need to have static security at reception on the front desk, saving 12,000 a year...yes business is down but the overall saving by having people work remotely is...

88,000, in savings...

You are not offered compensation for the use of your home as a workplace, when you go to answer your front door to a neighbor or a courier and your boss is ringing your work mobile, then your house phone, wondering what you are up to... why it’s takig 10 minutes to send them a reply to an email....

ALL this going on in your own home, your HOME that’s previous been YOUR castle, you step in, it’s always been your rules, door closes it’s a buffer to outside bullshît, people you don’t want to see and have anything to do with..

Now, 19.00 in the evening..phone ringing..” sorry Gerry, the end of day report, head office are just asking....”. You’ve blurred the line...DONT EVER blur the line between work and your personal life / personal space, family life / family space, love life / intimate space... etc, fûck em.

snotboogie

Mr.S wrote: »

This is nothing new for people who work with colleagues based in different locations though, which obviously happened pre-covid19. I work with people I've never met in person in 2-3 years, it's never been an issue.

Likewise for onboarding / new starters - sometimes people on my team are in different locations or hired as fully remote - you quickly get over the lack of face-to-face and realise the likes of VC fill this quite easily.

I do agree that a lot more focus will be given to team building / off (virtual?) sites etc over the next year.

The obvious thing missing with remote work is lack of socialising and 'watercooler' chat or office banter - it's a little harder to do this virtually but not impossible! But as the other poster said, that's why people will find a happy medium of WFH / going into the office, if they wish.

Long term there will be an increase in business travel if work from home is implemented. There will be a focus on teams meeting up once a quarter or so. This will necessitate a lot of travel for multinationals, previously it was the same minority doing 90% of the travel but in the future it will be more evenly spread across the company as teams meet up.

TimeToShine

WFH is flourishing at the moment due to relationships that had been established before the pandemic hit - teams that were working together before this pandemic could easily be just as productive, consultants in the middle of projects and software types arguably more-so. So we're seeing the fruits of months/years of heavy lifting from face to face interaction coming to fruition as you take the excess out and let people get on with their jobs.

I don't know if this output will carry over when it comes to on-boarding new recruits and fitting them into the modern working team model. One new person is fine but what happens two years from now when your team of 8 has churned and each individual has strict WFH requirements making face-to-face interaction rare at best? I suspect productivity, collaborative ability and output will drop accordingly, frustration with the role due to lack of support will rise, and running a team this heavily disjointed is very difficult even for very talented managers.

WFH is great but it doesn't suit people early in their career, and since these are the people doing most of the grunt work you can expect a bit of backlash down the line if this persists. We may see private companies invest heavily in team-building and offsites, except they may last weeks instead of days to make up for lost ground. All I know is that the hours have to be made up somewhere, if not for productivity then for sanity and health.

Cal4567

Just my two cents worth.

I am a business consultant. It has been a recurring comment through clients and work colleagues these last 3 months how their businesses have been able to continue working remotely and in some instances, staff have performed in excess of previous, 100% office based activity.

The only negatives which has been mirrored above is the total separation, hence companies hoping to meet this challenge by having staff in offices for a day or two each week. It's about forming a balance. What I've found is that senior staff in their 30-40s get it totally, less so with the older ones, but not totally negative either. I think having electronic communications now for the last 2 decades and how that has developed, has been a great help in helping a changing mindset. Those existing 30-40s will as each year goes take on more senior roles.

The financial and social values are strongly in favour of WFH. It may sound very dramatic but this really is a game changer.