Working from Home

Gael23 · 26-01-2020 2:07pm #1

I have the capability to work remotely so I am considering leaving Dublin in order to be able to buy my own house.

Financially, it’s hard to argue with the numbers but something that’s putting me off is the thought of being so isolated. I work in an office of 60 people so being in a room alone all day long would be a huge change.

Has anyone done similar got advice/tips to make it work?

26-01-2020 2:13pm

To work from home you need a computer (possibly with camera) and a phone, plus good broadband. An office would be nice, but not 100% necessary. So, that's most of us.

It's the availability of a suitable role that's the limiting factor or are you sorted for that?

A lot of working from home roles require some time in the office - e.g. monthly meeting - so not totally isolated.

For me it's the distractions that can get in the way... 'Can you collect me seeing as you're around'.

Mrs OBumble · 26-01-2020 2:23pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

To work from home you need a computer (possibly with camera) and a phone, plus good broadband. An office would be nice, but not 100% necessary. So, that's most of us.

Unless you live alone, many companies require a separate lockable office which you commit to using for work and not allowing other members of the household in to.

OP, investigate co-working spaces in your target area.

Gael23 · 26-01-2020 2:25pm

Deleted User wrote: »

To work from home you need a computer (possibly with camera) and a phone, plus good broadband. An office would be nice, but not 100% necessary. So, that's most of us.

It's the availability of a suitable role that's the limiting factor or are you sorted for that?

A lot of working from home roles require some time in the office - e.g. monthly meeting - so not totally isolated.

For me it's the distractions that can get in the way... 'Can you collect me seeing as you're around'.

Yes obviously I would need to invest in a proper set up and probably turn the smallest room into an office.

I know there are some people doing it already but I haven’t officially asked yet. Desk space is at a premium so it’s encouraged

Would aim to go to the office occasionally, maybe stay in an Airbnb for a few nights every month but would still have long periods at home

26-01-2020 2:26pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Unless you live alone, many companies require a separate lockable office which you commit to using for work and not allowing other members of the household in to.

OP, investigate co-working spaces in your target area.

Possibly multinationals, but I've never come across this restriction. I currently work partially at home.

simongurnick · 26-01-2020 2:31pm

Hi. My current role I work 90% from home, last role 100% and previous to that 50n50.
And yes the change from being in an office can be big. I spent 7 years surrounded by 200 people, lots of buzz etc. but you also have to focus on the positives. No commute, wear what i want, bring the dog for a quick walk on my morning break, cook my own lunch etc.
Video calls are good to see people's faces and honestly when in do go to the office now and throw on the suit jacket, it's kind of a novelty and I enjoy it more.
Anyway, I have plenty experience working remote so ask any questions. Good luck

wmahcm · 26-01-2020 2:32pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Unless you live alone, many companies require a separate lockable office which you commit to using for work and not allowing other members of the household in to.

This is bollocks OP. Most of the employers I've come across don't have any such requirements. Specific requirements can vary greatly. But if you don't like lone working and are not self motivating, it may not be for you. One of the main benefits of working from home is not having to waste valuable company time and money on office politics and the bollocks that goes on in a lot of offices.

tedpan · 26-01-2020 2:33pm

Most of my colleagues work from home at least 1 day a week. Everyone has a laptop in my office so it's really easy to logon to the VPN and work as normal. Basically good broadband is all that's required.

My problem is, I find it far more stressful as I don't like leaving the laptop for a minute in case I'm needed. When I'm in the office I feel I have more freedom.

Gael23 · 26-01-2020 2:40pm

My work is quite self directed so I don’t really need anyone to help me.
Everything is stored on my laptop so I wouldn’t have any confidential information in a hard copy at home

TimeToShine · 26-01-2020 2:43pm

It's a pretty big shift, unless you are a software/admin type who really likes his/her own space then it can start to feel stifling after a while. If you're one of those people who complains about meetings in the office it might suit, if you're one who sees them as a good way to pass the time/share ideas then maybe not.

simongurnick · 26-01-2020 2:51pm

Oh, another thing I remembered is the idea that you don't have to actually be in your house all the time
I know people that will schedule a couple hours to catch up on email and then head to a coffee shop with the laptop. I usually bring my wife for breakfast once every couple weeks and have the laptop on in case anything urgent comes up but I'm usually good for an hour and then catch up later in the day.
Another thing to factor is ending your days. You need a firm check off point otherwise you will find yourself working while you are having dinner. If you plan to finish at 5 the stop at 5, log off everything and maybe go for a 5 minute walk and come back home fresh for the evening, no more work. Working from home can actually result in doing more work, not less.

26-01-2020 2:55pm

Plenty of co working spaces now you can use a few days a week for a very reasonable fee. That's what I do.

biko · 26-01-2020 3:09pm

I worked from home for years when I worked with co-worker in India, Australia, US, etc

My experiences were all good except for some small things
Instead of going over to someone and look at the same screen you had to set up a screen-share call.
Speaking to people on the phone with foreign accents can be more difficult when you can't see their face.
There were a LOT of mail tennis before an issue was sorted, something that would have take 15 mins face to face.

In all, it's worth a shot

Gael23 · 26-01-2020 3:15pm

biko wrote: »

I worked from home for years when I worked with co-worker in India, Australia, US, etc

My experiences were all good except for some small things
Instead of going over to someone and look at the same screen you had to set up a screen-share call.
Speaking to people on the phone with foreign accents can be more difficult when you can't see their face.
There were a LOT of mail tennis before an issue was sorted, something that would have take 15 mins face to face.

In all, it's worth a shot

We have a video conferencing facility so that should deal with these issues. What I do is essentially remote engagement with clients so once I have the necessary facilities I can technically speaking work anywhere. We have various mediums where we can collaborate also.
It’s more the social isolation that’s concerning me but coworking space could be the answer. I’ll have to investigate if there’s one near me.

Fireball81 · 26-01-2020 3:16pm

I work from home one day a week, personally I wouldn't want to do it much more than that as we have good office banter etc and while I get more work done when at home it's not the same - if that makes sense.

tricky D · 26-01-2020 3:54pm

Be disciplined about your working hours. While you have flexibility available use it sparingly until you are on top of your hours.

Consider a false commute. Works for some.

Biggest tip from career coaches for over ~75% remote, is that your goal should be to impress your boss(es). This is not about fawning or flattery aka licking behinds, but about getting your tasks and goals done in good order and communicating that effectively. Your performance could be much more based on hard metrics like PKIs as you are not around the office.

Communicate, communicate, communicate.

Yourmama · 26-01-2020 5:05pm

tedpan wrote:

My problem is, I find it far more stressful as I don't like leaving the laptop for a minute in case I'm needed. When I'm in the office I feel I have more freedom.

This. I do one day a week from home and I feel like I need to prove I'm not on a doss. I do much more and am on constant watch if someone is trying to reach me over various channels. Also in my team there is a lot of information shared verbally every day and each day is different. Impossible to keep up when I'm at home. Every environment is different though so it might work for you.

dubrov · 26-01-2020 5:20pm

Every place I have worked have spent thousands on video conferencing facilities but I have never seen then used. I think people are a bit uncomfortable with the idea.

Just try out one day a week working from where you are living now. You'll know quick enough if it's for you

AndrewJRenko · 26-01-2020 5:21pm

Gael23 wrote: »

We have a video conferencing facility so that should deal with these issues. .

Domestic wifi may not give you bandwidth that you need for corporate video conferencing. Plan for a wired connection to your broadband router if you can.

BarryD2 · 26-01-2020 5:34pm

Gael23 wrote: »

I have the capability to work remotely so I am considering leaving Dublin in order to be able to buy my own house.

Financially, it’s hard to argue with the numbers but something that’s putting me off is the thought of being so isolated. I work in an office of 60 people so being in a room alone all day long would be a huge change.

Has anyone done similar got advice/tips to make it work?

I'd say a lot depends on your personality, where you are on the range from extrovert to introvert. For some people, they'd jump at the chance to not be be daily in an office of 60 people. For others it'd be a disaster.

Batgurl · 26-01-2020 5:51pm

It will also heavily depend on whether your colleagues are capable of working with someone remote.

Even with the best equipment in the world, and the best intentions from yourself, if your colleagues refuse to engage with you as a remote worker or if they prefer face-to-face contact, you’ll find yourself phased out.

Important information will be communicated verbally to your teammates with the expectations that it’ll be passed on to you (it won’t). And you won’t be contacted to handle emergencies or time sensitive issues (but you’ll still get the blame for them). Similarly, if there are important group meetings and you or they are having technical difficulties, they will decide to have the meeting without you and you will be left out of the loop. Or worse, they’ll genuinely just forget to dial you into meetings and you’ll start to feel like you are being purposely left out. Worst of all, you get left out of important decisions which you should be involved in and they end up getting made by someone else and your career starts to get affected by it.

These are all worst case scenarios but all of which I’ve gone through. I’ve also had great companies where remote working is as normal as in-office and it’s great to have the flexibility. But the culture has to be adopted by every single person in the company for it to work.

Shefwedfan · 26-01-2020 5:54pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Unless you live alone, many companies require a separate lockable office which you commit to using for work and not allowing other members of the household in to.

OP, investigate co-working spaces in your target area.

Why would you need a lockable office?

I work from home, maybe 80% of the time. Part of WW company and I can be on a Webex with people in 5-6 different countries and everyone will be sitting at home. We have no requirement to have a lockable room. We do need proper BB etc

Shefwedfan · 26-01-2020 5:57pm

To answer the OP question it’s best to set up an area for work. Then you can leave it at the end of day and work is done. Otherwise I found I was working longer hours when I had no “office space” in the house

Now I go into it, work and then close the door at end of work. Your finished and done

Working from home makes sense as the hours wasted driving to/from work is lost time, I find I get more done at home but still go to office every so often to keep communication etc with ithers

Salary Negotiator · 26-01-2020 6:00pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Possibly multinationals, but I've never come across this restriction. I currently work partially at home.

I work in a multinational and work from home 2 days a week, and there’s no requirement for that either.

I have an office but tend to work at the kitchen table more than the office.

strandroad · 26-01-2020 6:06pm

wmahcm wrote: »

One of the main benefits of working from home is not having to waste valuable company time and money on office politics and the bollocks that goes on in a lot of offices.

I wish it was true but it's not. The medium might change but people are still people. It can be even worse remotely - in a real office you can make up an excuse and walk away, but it's much harder to drop out of an awkward call. Politics just move online.

strandroad · 26-01-2020 6:10pm

Salary Negotiator wrote: »

I work in a multinational and work from home 2 days a week, and there’s no requirement for that either.

I have an office but tend to work at the kitchen table more than the office.

I'm not familiar with the locking room requirement either, but in the several companies I know the remote policies of you were required to have proper ergonomic desk/chair/screens setup, for health and safety basically. Up to and including random inspections (although I have never seen it actually happen, just a CYA clause I suppose).

DublinWriter · 26-01-2020 6:24pm

strandroad wrote: »

Up to and including random inspections (although I have never seen it actually happen, just a CYA clause I suppose).

Lovely...where do I sign up for that please? Considering the Guards cannot enter your house without a valid warrant (although Customs can), this is a massive signing away of your civil liberties.

Del.Monte · 26-01-2020 6:32pm

Gael23 wrote: »

Yes obviously I would need to invest in a proper set up and probably turn the smallest room into an office.

I know there are some people doing it already but I haven’t officially asked yet. Desk space is at a premium so it’s encouraged

Would aim to go to the office occasionally, maybe stay in an Airbnb for a few nights every month but would still have long periods at home

Could be a tight squeeze.

https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/324150.html

strandroad · 26-01-2020 6:33pm

DublinWriter wrote: »

Lovely...where do I sign up for that please? Considering the Guards cannot enter your house without a valid warrant (although Customs can), this is a massive signing away of your civil liberties.

You can always work from the office, or you can work for a company who doesn't mind you working at a kitchen table! Only some companies will be stricter, most likely to protect themselves against any extended leave or even litigation should the employee develop a condition due to poor home workstation ergonomics.

DublinWriter · 26-01-2020 6:58pm

strandroad wrote: »

most likely to protect themselves against any extended leave or even litigation should the employee develop a condition due to poor home workstation ergonomics.

Well, get them to sign a disclaimer first, or provide ergonomic-training. Far better than giving a company the rights to spot-check your house!

WhiteMemento9 · 26-01-2020 7:10pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Unless you live alone, many companies require a separate lockable office which you commit to using for work and not allowing other members of the household in to.

OP, investigate co-working spaces in your target area.

I presume this is for some sort of phone support job? Most jobs that allow you to work from home certainly won't require this kind of thing.

wmahcm · 26-01-2020 7:42pm

strandroad wrote: »

I wish it was true but it's not. The medium might change but people are still people. It can be even worse remotely - in a real office you can make up an excuse and walk away, but it's much harder to drop out of an awkward call. Politics just move online.

I didn't find that at all, nor did many of my colleagues, like myself they noted a markedly better output and efficiency and avoided a large proportion of time wasting nonsense and micromanaging interference interruption and politics that goes on in many offices. Sure it's not for everyone . . but it offers huge benefits to both the self motivated individual and the companies that apply it properly and make it work as it's intended to.

El Tarangu · 26-01-2020 7:42pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Unless you live alone, many companies require a separate lockable office which you commit to using for work and not allowing other members of the household in to.

OP, investigate co-working spaces in your target area.

This doesn't make any sense - if your home (without a lockable office) doesn't meet the security requirements, how would a co-working space? Unless the distance-worker carries their laptop with them every time they go to the toilet.

jimmurt · 26-01-2020 7:46pm

Gael23 wrote: »

I have the capability to work remotely so I am considering leaving Dublin in order to be able to buy my own house.

Financially, it’s hard to argue with the numbers but something that’s putting me off is the thought of being so isolated. I work in an office of 60 people so being in a room alone all day long would be a huge change.

Has anyone done similar got advice/tips to make it work?

I worked form home 7 months last year and a little more the previous year.

It´s very tough socially to be honest. I would suggest maybe trying to meet up with someone for your morning break or even go down to your local pub for a coffee and a chat.

Also it´s a good idea to go for a walk at lunctime and maybe in the afternoon too.

I´m in a better situation now than before, a friend who lives nearby is in similar position and also I get out and about most days during lunch.

Phibsboro · 26-01-2020 7:54pm

I work from home pretty much exclusively these days, and I love it. As others have said you have to disciplined about your working hours and be proactive in demonstrating value to your boss(es). One big recommnedtion I'd make re the social side is to get a dog. Having a dog has made a huge difference to my working day - I chat to fellow dog owners at least twice a day when I bring him for a walk. It gets me out of the house and usually guarantees I'll hit my steps for the day. He is also company during the day.

Shefwedfan · 26-01-2020 9:05pm

Mr.S wrote: »

Did you make this up?

I’ve never heard of this “requirement” and have worked with fully / part remote staff from MNC’s to small Irish setups. It’s not the norm at all.

The main benefit of remote working is flexibility.....

--

@OP - best advice I can give is have a decent “main” setup - stable Internet, decent desk and chair and a high quality monitor(s). Decent webcam / microphone for calls and web conferences.

Stick to your normal hours and take proper breaks / lunches where you disconnect.

Change of scenery is nice as well, work from a coffee shop, co working space etc every now and again, it’s nice to get out of the home office :pac:

If your employer allows it, go see your colleagues in person every now and again. Organise in person meetings every so often, or visit your physical office. Helps massively with fitting in with co-workers instead of just being a name on Slack / email / Skype etc.

I think we can all agree the information from Mrs OBumble is just rubbish.

Based on the OP original post I would guess it is a couple of days from home and the rest in office which gives you the chance to communicate in person with other people.

I dont think I could handle non stop working from home.

AndrewJRenko · 26-01-2020 9:10pm

Phibsboro wrote: »

One big recommnedtion I'd make re the social side is to get a dog. Having a dog has made a huge difference to my working day - I chat to fellow dog owners at least twice a day when I bring him for a walk. It gets me out of the house and usually guarantees I'll hit my steps for the day. He is also company during the day.

It's a lovely idea, but just a note of caution that getting a dog is a long term commitment. Don't go down this road if there's a chance that you're going to switch back from working from home six months later.

Or maybe try things out with a foster dog....

Phibsboro · 26-01-2020 9:15pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

It's a lovely idea, but just a note of caution that getting a dog is a long term commitment. Don't go down this road if there's a chance that you're going to switch back from working from home six months later.

Or maybe try things out with a foster dog....

Excellent point. I actually more work for myself than work from home so my situation maybe isn't as relevant to the OP.

Mrs OBumble · 27-01-2020 2:16am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I think we can all agree the information from Mrs OBumble is just rubbish.

I'm very surprised that more of you haven't encountered it.

I've been on contract with a couple of multi-nationals which certainly have required home-based workers have facilities to keep their equipment and information secure - and they were very clear what this required. Advertisements I've seen from other remote workforce companies (eg Apple, Amazon, Shopinfy) require similar. And yes, people has to sign up to allowing random inspections from the company.

It's pretty obvious why any company that's serious about remote work would require this, viz to protect their information and assets and to protect themselves from occupational injury claims: training ain't enough, they have to be seen to be insisting that you use proper facilities, as well as just knowing about them. And you cannot contract out of heath-and-safety.

if your job can be done remotely, then there's a person in Latvia / China / India / Mexico / Costa Rica etc who's willing to do it for probably 1/4 of the price you charge, or less. S/he many not have good-enough English to get the job today, but sooner or later the inevitable will happen.

27-01-2020 2:25am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Unless you live alone, many companies require a separate lockable office which you commit to using for work and not allowing other members of the household in to.
.

Rubbish....have never heard the likes of it. I work from home, have done so in a number of jobs and most of my friends do some hours at home. It's not MI5 we're working for.

AulWan · 27-01-2020 2:50am

simongurnick wrote: »

Another thing to factor is ending your days. You need a firm check off point otherwise you will find yourself working while you are having dinner. If you plan to finish at 5 the stop at 5, log off everything and maybe go for a 5 minute walk and come back home fresh for the evening, no more work. Working from home can actually result in doing more work, not less.

THIS.

I started working from home one day a week and I found this to be very true. Once I was set up to be able to login remotely, I found myself doing so at odd hours or on my official non-working days off "just to check" and before I knew it a couple of hours could pass.. My family noticed and pulled me up on it, so I had to make myself be more disciplined about clocking off and switching off.

AulWan · 27-01-2020 3:14am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

I think we can all agree the information from Mrs OBumble is just rubbish.

In fairness, it is not rubbish. When e-working (or teleworking as it was called) was first piloted in the civil service many years ago, a separate, lockable office space was a requirement, and inspections for compliance were carried out before an application for e-working was approved. If you didn't agree to inspection, you weren't allowed to e-work. I remember one of the rules was the workspace could not be part of another room (eg. a desk in the corner of your bedroom or living room).

So while such conditions are outdated practice now, it was once that way.

PoisonIvyBelle · 27-01-2020 3:38am

It really depends on your personality. I'm self-employed and working from home the past 5 years and I love the peace I have at home, wouldn't catch me dead trying to work in a coffee shop! I find that I get more done and also have more energy for the socialising I actually want to do, with my friends. Also, with things like Slack for messenging and a project management app for collaborating, for me it's pretty much like working in the same office as the people I chat with daily.

con747 · 27-01-2020 4:04am

biko wrote: »

I worked from home for years when I worked with co-worker in India, Australia, US, etc

My experiences were all good except for some small things
Instead of going over to someone and look at the same screen you had to set up a screen-share call.
Speaking to people on the phone with foreign accents can be more difficult when you can't see their face.
There were a LOT of mail tennis before an issue was sorted, something that would have take 15 mins face to face.

In all, it's worth a shot

Would Skype or a similar way of doing a face to face not suffice, my wife works from home a few days but can go to the local hotel gym and do her work on their broadband enjoy the facilities and meet people. It does cost €50 a month for membership but you get a 4* with pool and all the bells and whistles so the Op could if able do similar a few days a week.

Not in Kansas · 27-01-2020 8:31am

I would just back up the idea of not becoming too invisible. Try to be in the office once a week, twice if you can. I only just this week had a conversation with someone who works for a huge multinational and up until working from home had been on the same trajectory as the people he started off 15 years ago. He took working from home to the extreme of 5 days a week, Skyping for meetings etc and was entirely self sufficient. He got passed over for a really exciting new project and he 100% feels it was an out-of-sight issue.

Wildly Boaring · 27-01-2020 8:49am

Not in Kansas wrote: »

I would just back up the idea of not becoming too invisible. Try to be in the office once a week, twice if you can. I only just this week had a conversation with someone who works for a huge multinational and up until working from home had been on the same trajectory as the people he started off 15 years ago. He took working from home to the extreme of 5 days a week, Skyping for meetings etc and was entirely self sufficient. He got passed over for a really exciting new project and he 100% feels it was an out-of-sight issue.

That is if you are all about the career and exciting new projects. Lot of us aren't.

Personally, I'm on the road 2 days a week, office 1 or 2 days, home 1 or 2.

Have to have a designated space or office for my head. I'd end up cleaning the kitchen or something if sat there. I'd not be as clean on cit off times. My view is no commute so I often start a bit early or work on a bit. Still a shorter day.

Zero requirement for locked office or ****e like that.
I see shopify mentioned as requiring it. Know 2 with them. 1 works from hotel/hostels all over. See him on facebook. Does say a month in Thailand or Portugal. No wife or kids obviously. Very blatantly not in a locked office as he sticks up a photo of the bloody hammock he's using this week!

Not in Kansas · 27-01-2020 9:06am

Yes absolutely I meant if a person is in a competitive work environment and chasing a certain role becoming invisible is not advisable.

I am freelance, working in various locations from Monday to Thursday but Friday is my admin/planning day and I have to say I favour a café. I get far more done in a shorter space of time there than at home and if you choose one that has plenty of people doing the same it keeps you motivated.

loyatemu · 27-01-2020 10:51am

there's a difference between working 100% from home and working a day or two a week. If you're at home all or most of the time then that is your "workplace" and the company is supposed to ensure that you are meeting the same regulations as if you were in the office regarding light, space, ergonomics, security etc.

Some areas have co-working spaces where you can rent a desk in an office environment for remote working - that might be worth looking into as it would help avoid social isolation as well as providing a more focussed environment. I know when I'm WFH it's very easy to get distracted and spend all your time on Boards :pac:

This is a recently opened co-working space near me: https://hub13.ie/

Gael23 · 27-01-2020 11:36am

Co working a few days seems to be the answer. However my job involves time spent on phone calls. Would that be an issue in a co work environment?

CheerLouth · 27-01-2020 11:46am

I work from home 90% of the time and find it is great. Like any change to your work circumstances, there is a period of adjustment but honestly, I would not now work for a company that would not allow me to WFH at least some of the time. I have a full office set up in our spare room (no requirements to lock the door etc). The company provided me with docking station, screen etc, I provided the desk and chair.

For me the benefits of working from home greatly outweigh going to the office. Firstly, I no longer spend 4 hours of my day in my car. I can get up with my children at a reasonable hour, do the school run and still be back at my desk for 9am. I can get out for a walk during my lunch break or run to the post office etc. I'm finished at 5pm and can have my children collected and back home by 5.20pm. I'm not worrying if one of them is sick, who will collect them, stay with them etc.

In terms of work, I get a lot of work done with no distractions. I'm permanently signed into Skype (during working hours) and I speak to my boss and colleagues quite regularly during the working day. I do think if you are going to work from home on a regular basis, you need an area in the house to go to - I'd be very distracted if I was sitting at the kitchen table. But once I go into the office, I'm in work mode & on the rare occasions that the rest of the family are home, they know that if I'm in the office, I'm at work.

skallywag · 27-01-2020 12:00pm

Home Office is great in my opinion, but needs one very important element, and that is an isolated working space, meaning a room etc. which is your 'office', so that you are 'at work' when you are in there, and 'not at work' otherwise.

What definitely would not work for me is sitting down with my notebook in the living room, bedroom desk, etc.

Disturbances are not the main concern, more the psychological aspect of knowing when I am 'at work' and when I am not. Otherwise it can be very easy to fall into an 'always at work' mentality where you find it difficult to switch off.

Working from Home

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