does anyone work from home

happyfella

I am considering trying to work from home for a few reasons. One is because of this new government thing about sending people out to work, and i cannot go out to work due to chronic pain, 2) to give me some meaning in life, and 3) to try and fight the cost of living.

So, I am just wondering if anyone works from home either for someone else or self employed

Jimm_Alumni

I work from home, it can certainly be nice. I never really jived with the whole office social space and no commute is great. I'm even more grateful for it when my crohns is a bit iffy. No need to worry about train toilets or work toilets. I'm used to online socialising so socialising with the team online is fine.

I highly recommend it if you can find a relevant job that allows it. It's a nicer work-life balance. A lot of corporations are trying to push back against it though, they're unhappy they're paying for all this office space that no longer gets used.

You DO have to be careful though to make sure you keep a work and personal life separation though. I try to (though I cannot always) work in different places than where I sit during the evenings/days off (my PC desk).

happyfella

Jimm_Scope said:

I work from home, it can certainly be nice. I never really jived with the whole office social space and no commute is great. I'm even more grateful for it when my crohns is a bit iffy. No need to worry about train toilets or work toilets. I'm used to online socialising so socialising with the team online is fine.

I highly recommend it if you can find a relevant job that allows it. It's a nicer work-life balance. A lot of corporations are trying to push back against it though, they're unhappy they're paying for all this office space that no longer gets used.

You DO have to be careful though to make sure you keep a work and personal life separation though. I try to (though I cannot always) work in different places than where I sit during the evenings/days off (my PC desk).

Do you work for yourself or for a company and how did you find your job

Jimm_Alumni

I work for Scope and found the job searching online, I forget which site I actually used now but was probably Indeed, Reed or any of the other job aggregators. 

I was already quite experienced in Online Communities so I tailored my searches to this type of role which brought it to my attention

MW123

Hello happyfella 

When considering remote work, prioritise positions that offer a stable income. Many remote opportunities rely on variable pay structures, which may not guarantee a consistent weekly income. Income structures can differ significantly by job and industry, so conducting thorough research is essential to find the right remote work opportunity. 

During the pandemic, my job transitioned to remote work. I faced challenges in disconnecting from work and often found myself working in the evenings and on weekends, even though it wasn't required. I struggled to switch off from the office. I personally prefer office based working, as it provides a clear separation between work and personal time. 

In light of the UK government's efforts to promote remote work opportunities for individuals with disabilities or those who can't leave their homes, many large companies have been slow to fully embrace and facilitate such arrangements. Additionally, when illness interferes with one's ability to work, there may be days when fulfilling job responsibilities, even from home, becomes challenging resulting in loss of income.

Jimm_Alumni

Ah yes, there should be a warning about the jobs that are commission based. They'll often shout very loudly about how you can earn THOUSANDS in a month.

But when you actually experience it or read between the lines/small print. Earning that much is a near fantasy. Be very wary of those kinds of job offers. 

Wibbles

Jimm_Scope said:

Ah yes, there should be a warning about the jobs that are commission based. They'll often shout very loudly about how you can earn THOUSANDS in a month.

But when you actually experience it or read between the lines/small print. Earning that much is a near fantasy. Be very wary of those kinds of job offers. 

And NEVER pay anyone for an introduction into work.....

Albus_Scope

I'm the same as @MW123, I find it incredibly difficult to just switch off after work hours.  My last job had me working all the hours of the day and night, with no extra pay, I worked myself into many illnesses. So I'm very glad to have found a job where the company is very strict on working hours and keeping a work/life balance.  

I found having a dedicated workspace really helped keep my work life separate from my home life. I even have 'work shoes' to put on on work days, that helps switch my mindset a bit into work mode.   

Are there any roles you'd specifically like to do or are interested in @happyfella?

Geoark

@happyfella I work from home for an employer. They have done a complete U-Turn on insisting we work in the office, and just prior to the pandemic there had been a push to remove laptops from employees of a certain level so they could not work from home.

Personally I love working from home. Do not miss the travelling at the start and end of day, the constant distractions within the office environment. Plus the chances are I would not still be in a job I love and enjoy. The last 8 to 12 months have been difficult enough with increasing migraines, dizziness and sudden bouts of vertigo, and now waiting for an appointment as the doctor suspects I have Meniere's Disease.

I was lucky as I already had the right to work from home, as part of my contract, and so built my current set up over a number of years using my bonus money. So it is set up for my needs, and not the company's needs. 

Like @Albus_Scope I do a lot of extra hours which I don't put in overtime for, and my managers have given up moaning at me about it. But for me it is swings and roundabouts. I don't know what I'm going to be like in 30 minutes time, let alone week to week or day to day. I can lose an hour or two, or most of the day. My managers are good about it and very understanding. But at the end of the day I know I have managed to put in my hours, even if some of them are at very unusual hours when most, if not all my colleagues would be fast asleep. 

One downside is that even with home working, they expect you to go in at least once a month or for certain type of meetings. The latter does not apply to my role, and the team meetings in the office I am excused from though try to attend some, for at least part of the day. I'm not keen on them as I lose a lot of time and my productivity goes down the drain. 

Good luck in your job hunting.