Working From Home Megathread

20-01-2022 10:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118504275#Comment_118504275

In most jobs, there are periods of downtime between tasks, so why not. If you're stuck in the office, these downtimes are usually taken up by mindless web browsing or tea station chats.

The objective has and always will be, productivity, not presenteism!

Christy42 · 20-01-2022 10:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118504275#Comment_118504275

I can do it at lunch time even with little down time. Hard to do that from the office since I don't have anywhere to put it. A lot of the above can be done with lunches etc. but are hard if you are in town away from the car or not going home right after the event.

20-01-2022 11:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118504275#Comment_118504275

Yes. And trips to the post office and other things. It’s delivery that counts in my work, not time at your desk

Mrs OBumble · 20-01-2022 11:29AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118504353#Comment_118504353

In most jobs, you are expected to use those times for helping a colleague who is behind, training, catching up with the backlog or preparing for the next busy period.

martingriff · 20-01-2022 11:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118503438#Comment_118503438

We have been using Teams for a bit. It depends on the training. Where I work we have our own software and trying to train someone on the system and going now you press this which is under this tab in the top of the screen third from the left is a lot easier face to face IMO

20-01-2022 12:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118504871#Comment_118504871

It's exactly that type of training I'm talking about.

Probably the same as yourself, I've trained many people over the years and with the advent of the likes of Teams I've found it much easier and faster to do.

Not saying this is how you should do it, but this is how I've used it to make the process easier, quicker and more effective.

1. In a training call first thing I will do is tell them to record the call so they will always have the video to refer back to if needed.

2. I'll share my screen so they can see what I'm doing.

3. I'll share control so I can see them repeating the steps.

I've also used the likes of the screen recording functionality in PowerPoint to record instructional videos which I've saved up to a central training sharepoint site which every newbie is taken through on their first day.

At the end of each day there's a review with me and the end of the week with the direct supervisor. Newbies are specifically asked to point out gaps in the training materials, and I then work with them to create the info to close that gap and they are assigned the task to update the Sharepoint site whether that is a with a word doc, PowerPoint or video.

Over the last 2 years this kicked into high gear due to the restrictions and now its very difficult to find gaps such is the depth of information that has been collated

20-01-2022 12:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118504753#Comment_118504753

pre pandemic, did you never leave the office, during work time, to go to the post office, or to pick something up, or carry out any other chore? Or even just to go for a walk? Or were you literally chained to your desk?

PokeHerKing · 20-01-2022 01:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118503241#Comment_118503241

Comparing a personal interaction to a work meeting is a nonsense tbh. I love my friends and family, I do not love my job or colleagues.

I'm continously moving work out to india. All done remotely. If it's good enough for the company in that scenario then it's completely contradictory to claim its not good enough in the current pandemic posture. Scratch the surface even a little and its all ballix.

Solely down to personal preference of senior management and absolutely nothing to do with productivity or any other metric they'll try and tie it too.

Sarn · 20-01-2022 01:10PM

I would have left the office to do certain chores or a quick walk during my morning break or lunch. Otherwise I’d be using the time to catch up on other aspects of my job, training, etc.

WFH would definitely make carrying out chores during lunch, or just before or after work easier.

20-01-2022 01:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118505261#Comment_118505261

I like to work household chores into the day.

For example, I'll take 2 breaks for lunch and dinner during the day, on the first one, I'll put on a wash / turn on the dishwasher etc, and on the second I'll hang the wash/empty the dishwasher.

I typically don't leave the desk outside of that as I can get calls at any time but I make use of the spare time during each break so that I never have to do any housework in my downtime.

If I'm at the desk and there's nothing to do, I'll pop onto here, Facebook, twitter, reddit etc for a few minutes

limnam · 20-01-2022 01:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118505208#Comment_118505208

She's worked in what sounds pretty much every mickey mouse company going.

Cluedo Monopoly · 20-01-2022 02:59PM

My company made it very simple last year. Everyone can work from home fully until September 2022. In the meantime they will start discussing hybrid working in April 2022 with a plan to start the new model at the end of the primary school year if people want to return to the office. And they said they will be offering fulltime WFH as part of that discussion. They essentially want to hear what employees want before deciding how to operate the new model.

Absolutely no pressure, no confusion.

Bottom line - they are afraid of losing people. And we have shown WFH to be much more productive since March 2020 in every metric.

Mrs OBumble · 20-01-2022 03:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118505208#Comment_118505208

That's called lunch time or tea break. The former is usually 45 mins, the latter 10.

No way could I both eat and do a weekly supermarket shop in 45 mins.

Other than that, working hours belong to your employer, not you.

AlmightyCushion · 20-01-2022 03:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118506090#Comment_118506090

For most people lunch is an hour. Maybe you can't do a shop and eat in that time but a lot can. I certainly can. Although I usually do a few smaller shops instead of one big shop and the supermarket is close enough to my house.

AlmightyCushion · 20-01-2022 03:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118504221#Comment_118504221

Multiple reasons for me. No commute, means I can stay in bed a little later or start earlier and finish a bit earlier. No waiting at a bus stop on a cold windy day either. Plus once I finish I can close down my laptop and I am done. No commute home means I can go for a run straight away (which is really nice when it starts to get dark earlier, it could still be bright at 5.30 but dark an hour later) or meet friends in town. It seems like I have way more time in the evening now compared to when I was in the office. I'm usually less tired in the evening as well with no commute.

I can get some odd jobs around the house done on my lunch or when I'm making tea. You can squeeze in small jobs whilst waiting for the kettle to boil e.g. wash a few dishes, load the washing machine, small bit of tidying up. Also, when I am going back home for weekends or other things I can go for a few extra days without taking holidays and just work from my parents house. You don't really get much of a weekend when you are travelling back west after work on Friday and going the other way on Sunday.

Cyrus · 20-01-2022 03:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118503310#Comment_118503310

What i am really saying, and i have been clear on this, is that human interactions are better in person.

Cyrus · 20-01-2022 03:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118505250#Comment_118505250

see my post above.

20-01-2022 04:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118506090#Comment_118506090

that really is some old fashioned thinking

20-01-2022 04:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118506090#Comment_118506090

I always had an hour for lunch in any job I've been in and a 10 minute coffee break in the morning and 10 minute coffee break in the evening. Its even encouraged to take these coffee breaks to socialize with other teams.

Working hours indeed belong to your employer but it's not prison. If you are been overworked completely people will move job. You should be busy throughout the day but no so busy that your expected to work past 5PM unless a project deadline is hitting. Also taking calls out of hours should be roster only or heavily compensated and not forced on anyone.

People look at office work now that your doing the place you work a favour by them having you on their team as there so many jobs out there especially in IT that you can pick and choose where you want to work.

Your attitude is 1990's work culture. Once you get your work done what does it matter to employer?

Anyway my company employs 15,000 and people are expected on site two days a week, except IT staff.

The 3000 IT staff can work from home for good😁

Quin_Dub · 20-01-2022 04:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118506090#Comment_118506090

Other than that, working hours belong to your employer, not you.

Eh.. No.

My employer pays me to complete tasks/projects within a certain timeframe , they don't "own" any of my time.

As with most people capable of WFH , my role is task based and not time based.

As long as the task is completed by the given deadline , then no one cares if I was chained to my desk during specific hours of the day.

Cyrus · 20-01-2022 05:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118506508#Comment_118506508

in a being human capacity. it applies to work as it applies to situations outside work.

martingriff · 20-01-2022 05:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118506359#Comment_118506359

No it is the nature of who I was training at the time. One was brilliant and a few minutes was needed to be sure they know the system after which they would ring or e-mail me. The 2nd person had no idea what was happening (I blame the boss as she had him doing a specific job for the time he was there) It turns out once he got the basics (took longer with him) but I may have to change my opinion on training due to showing stuff today human interactions are not always easier for a lot of it, it is just a person trying to show there importance getting people in. Unless you are showing something physical or a new system what is the difference doing it over a video call, In a way this song puts its brilliantly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuP3VLFj70

martingriff · 20-01-2022 06:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118507089#Comment_118507089

This is really been done to distract people from Boris and to try and get some backbenchers to back him. In reality while I will agree with you that this is coming to an end I say if he was not under so much pressure it be ending around the same as our March/April time. I say Martin are hoping they can do it about the 2 year mark of when it started in time for the 2 day holiday

20-01-2022 06:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118507107#Comment_118507107

As distractions go, it's the worst I've ever seen, the media is full of Borris bashing articles, little talk of the dropping of restrictions.

Frank Bullitt · 20-01-2022 08:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118504753#Comment_118504753

Frank Bullitt · 20-01-2022 08:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118506090#Comment_118506090

Working hours don't belong to anyone, unless you work in the 1920's.

Just because you can't do something in 45 minutes, doesn't mean other people can't. Same as everyone has different tasks and jobs to do, so generalising that because you can't do X means that surely no one else can or should, is a bit silly.