Homeworking

[scooter]

I'm a software developer like about 30% of RB, and I don't anticipate I'll ever work a full in-office job again. I was already working at a place where 2 days a week WFH was a thing, and they've since shifted to allowing full remote. Once our office fully reopens I may go in a couple times a month for big meetings and/or to stay connected to people, but in general I prefer working from home. My commute wasn't even that bad (30 mins each way), but freeing up a full hour a day when I have a little kid at home has been incredibly valuable to me, and I don't forsee ever giving up that kind of time again. It just adds up fast - hour a day, 5 hours a week, 20-some hours a month, hundreds of hours a year. Not to mention that basically every job around here for software dev is offering remote options just to stay competitive, and I think 100% office-only jobs are basically dead in my field indefinitely. It was already heading that way, but the events of the last 18 months have greatly accelerated the transition.


It helps that I now have a dedicated home office space. I might feel differently if I didn't have that. I also do make an effort to get up and get ready in the morning so I feel like I'm "going to work" even though I'm walking down the hallway.

[Old Harry]

Do your managers see your home-work as somehow inferior Krill? Can you explain to them why it isn't?

I started working from home about 7 years ago. The big difference for me was the lack of a 40-minute-a-day cycle commute, which meant that my knees gradually fell apart. I need that exercise but without the motivation of having to get to work it's hard to make myself do it...

[Krill]

I have changed employers twice in Covid, started this job in late March and this employer has never had my job role before. Other CCGs have less advanced roles but I don't know of many people who do what I do, and my employers don't even know everything I do because of their ignorance of my...work area. Not exactly "their fault", except there are still consequences of the ignorance.

I'm not sure that they do see my work as inferior. There just isn't anyone that has any level of knowledge or skill who can make that judgement within the entire organisation. My diary is probably the best evidence though. Can't move from one meeting to another in 30 seconds when the meetings are all miles apart unless it's using Teams...

I am surprised at do few people screaming from the rooftops that they will need to be dragged back kicking and screaming. OH, I take it there is essentially no change for you then, as you were working from home pre-covid? And did you have a home office before this then? Scooter, did you always have a home office?

[scooter]

Scooter, did you always have a home office?

Sort of, yeah. At the time we were living in a house with a spare room that wasn't yet needed, so that was a combination guest room + home office. So it definitely worked great for me, but it was going to be become an issue if/when it was time for a second child.

[Old Harry]

Sounds like part of your job might be reducing the level of ignorance then...

Actually all my work dried up with the pandemic so I got a part time job back in November and now do have an office that I can go to if I want. It's a pretty touchy-feely company though, so I'll be able to work from home as much as I want. Probably just when it's raining.