- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Winter Olympics
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Thoughts on Remote Work/Work From Home Long Term?
Posted on 11/27/20 at 9:53 am to Saints83
Posted on 11/27/20 at 9:53 am to Saints83
I have been working remote since April 2019. I started in LA and have since moved to TN. My company is a small family company based in Salt Lake City, with a few of my "bosses" in CA. I love it.
Sometimes it can be a little odd being on all different time zones, but I have just adjusted my hours so I work from like 10-7. But its nice being able to run errands during the day. They are really flexible as long as work gets done. I don't think I could return to a regular office. Somedays I do work like 15 hours, but if its slow another day I don't feel bad taking a break and not being stuck at a desk until 5.
Sometimes it can be a little odd being on all different time zones, but I have just adjusted my hours so I work from like 10-7. But its nice being able to run errands during the day. They are really flexible as long as work gets done. I don't think I could return to a regular office. Somedays I do work like 15 hours, but if its slow another day I don't feel bad taking a break and not being stuck at a desk until 5.
1
Posted on 11/27/20 at 9:59 am to Saints83
The absolute biggest positive is being able to get small shite done like laundry, dishes, cooking, water the yard, get the mail, pet the dog etc. all in the middle of the work day. Doing all that little shite after a long day is a drag, makes it feel like you have to cram your schedule, and chews up chunks of time. Doing little things here and there helps stay on top of daily life maintenance and serves as a brief productive break from work instead of perusing yahoo, TD, or taking a walk to the water cooler.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:00 am to Saints83
I think it depends on the person. If you're an extrovert and live by yourself, it's going to be gross. For me living alone and working all day from the house and then being here all evening gets old. I'm fairly introverted, but I have definitely felt starved for interaction this year. I've also never worked full-time from home, so there was always a balance before. The mental health issue is real, too. If you have family, or are even married, it's got to be much, much easier.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:00 am to HoustonChick86
quote:
Sometimes it can be a little odd being on all different time zones, but I have just adjusted my hours so I work from like 10-7. But its nice being able to run errands during the day. They are really flexible as long as work gets done. I don't think I could return to a regular office. Somedays I do work like 15 hours, but if its slow another day I don't feel bad taking a break and not being stuck at a desk until 5.
To me this is why I think Remote Work/WFH works. You work and get your projects/tasks/e-mails done. In my old job it was the old "you have to stay until 5" mentality. While it didn't happen a ton there were definitely days where I was done with my work by 3:30 or 4:00 and literally just twiddling my thumb or playing games until 5:00, just because I had to. I don't like the idea of going back to an office and being figuratively chained to the desk.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:02 am to Tigersonfire
quote:
This “pandemic “ is changing our world in so many ways that people don’t realize. Refineries are shutting down because this is a “reason” to go green. And on and on. We are going to be in a depression by the end of next year and now we have dumb and dumber in charge. We are so fricked it’s not even funny.
Geez. That’s one negative outlook.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:02 am to shspanthers
quote:
I think it depends on the person. If you're an extrovert and live by yourself, it's going to be gross. For me living alone and working all day from the house and then being here all evening gets old. I'm fairly introverted, but I have definitely felt starved for interaction this year. I've also never worked full-time from home, so there was always a balance before. The mental health issue is real, too. If you have family, or are even married, it's got to be much, much easier.
I haven't been working (furloughed since beginning of May, laid off near the end of October) much this year but I do agree with you. Even though I consider myself a big introvert I have definitely been starved for interaction at times. Have you done anything to help with the isolation/loneliness?
This post was edited on 11/27/20 at 10:04 am
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:09 am to Saints83
quote:
I'm an extreme introvert who doesn't open up to people unless I know and trust them. Then I can talk someone's ear off, lol. I've never been the type who needed a big family or a huge friend group. I'm naturally a loner by heart. I will say I would like to get married at some point but I've also accepted that it will probably never happen. Being a loner doesn't help you meet women and I've never been much of a ladies man to begin with.
We are similar, take a sabbatical or just take the opportunity now to go travel solo and backpack, bring a laptop and try to freelance if you want. Go spend 6 months in Europe, 6 months in SE Asia, 6 months in Latin America. It is eye opening, and more work than you realize. Doesn't have to be expensive, stay in hostels, if you actually want to meet people when you travel this is the way to go. Hostel life isn't as bad as everyone says, it’ also very much an extreme version of a dorm, and takes adapting to. The rest of the world doesn't put a priority on personal space like we do, they are more used to living on top of each other without big cars, houses, and box stores. Takes getting used to as an introvert, but they are also more accepting of introverts than western culture.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:19 am to Saints83
If you are legitimately working and productive in such a manner then it is great.
The skepticism for if it is as easily transferable for me runs into the idea that no, the vast majority of Americans want to work from home because it is easy and they can do it and watch tv and sort of just shoot emails, etc. We did the whole full work from home thing for about 4 monthsish at the start of the whole shutdown thing and looking at the numbers with my boss we estimated that a few of the people were doing great, some even better than the actual office, but a large portion - especially the younger people who are sort of in the apprenticeship / learning stage - just didn't achieve the same level of productivity. Its an employee by employee / job by job decision on whether or not it works.
I don't think it will work in mass for now, that will likely change in the next decade or so. And business will have to look a reduced overhead vs. loss in productivity, etc. We will shift to that kind of strategy - where a company that currently leases 100,000 square feet may lease like 50,000 set up as sort of you show up and sit down at a station but don't have a designated office and other innovations like that. But again, it will all be companys looking at productivity and seeing if is beneficial to let office space go and approach work that way moving forward.
The skepticism for if it is as easily transferable for me runs into the idea that no, the vast majority of Americans want to work from home because it is easy and they can do it and watch tv and sort of just shoot emails, etc. We did the whole full work from home thing for about 4 monthsish at the start of the whole shutdown thing and looking at the numbers with my boss we estimated that a few of the people were doing great, some even better than the actual office, but a large portion - especially the younger people who are sort of in the apprenticeship / learning stage - just didn't achieve the same level of productivity. Its an employee by employee / job by job decision on whether or not it works.
I don't think it will work in mass for now, that will likely change in the next decade or so. And business will have to look a reduced overhead vs. loss in productivity, etc. We will shift to that kind of strategy - where a company that currently leases 100,000 square feet may lease like 50,000 set up as sort of you show up and sit down at a station but don't have a designated office and other innovations like that. But again, it will all be companys looking at productivity and seeing if is beneficial to let office space go and approach work that way moving forward.
This post was edited on 11/27/20 at 10:24 am
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:39 am to Saints83
Take this from a prior road warrior who averaged 175 flights a year the past 6 years. I have not had a work trip since 3/10/20
Pros: it is nice to be at home... I have spent more time with family... I have invested more in myself and improved my physical health and am down 30lbs... I spend significantly less on dry cleaning, gas, and other work expenses
Cons: it gets old working from the kitchen table and having limited interaction with coworkers and clients if you are a sociable person... the hardest part is stopping work- when you have an office you can go and leave but when you work from home your computer is always there... I personally find the strength of client relationships eroding and performance slipping because I am not physically present to just reinforce things.
All said, I don’t think I will go back to 100+ nights on the road and flying a couple hundred thousand miles a year. I miss the dinners and drinks with clients and coworkers but slowing down has benefitted me. I couldn’t do a 100% remote job but having a balance would be perfect for me.
Pros: it is nice to be at home... I have spent more time with family... I have invested more in myself and improved my physical health and am down 30lbs... I spend significantly less on dry cleaning, gas, and other work expenses
Cons: it gets old working from the kitchen table and having limited interaction with coworkers and clients if you are a sociable person... the hardest part is stopping work- when you have an office you can go and leave but when you work from home your computer is always there... I personally find the strength of client relationships eroding and performance slipping because I am not physically present to just reinforce things.
All said, I don’t think I will go back to 100+ nights on the road and flying a couple hundred thousand miles a year. I miss the dinners and drinks with clients and coworkers but slowing down has benefitted me. I couldn’t do a 100% remote job but having a balance would be perfect for me.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:40 am to Saints83
I personally hated pure remote.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:42 am to Saints83
I work semi-remote (even before pandemic). My clients are in other states across the US, so my job can be done from my couch as easily as it can be done at my desk in the office space that is rented for me.
I love it and hope to never have to leave it. My SO works a job that gives him a lot of off time.. and it is at non-traditional times (weekdays). So like you, my dream is to be able to work from various places. We aren't currently doing any traveling, but do plan to do a good bit when the world opens back up. At a certain point, I'll likely have to sit down with my employer and work something out. While I have a lot of freedom since I get stuff done, I wouldn't want to build resentment by not having a talk about it prior and just doing it.
That said, not everyone can work remotely.. as much as they may want to. At least, not everyone who isn't spied on. I've had to have talks at times where someone says they will work from home and then the work they're in charge of monitoring is sitting there undone all day.
I find that people who only work because they absolutely have to and have no interest in their career don't work well from home. It doesn't help that people like that are typically in roles that don't translate to WFH.. admin roles, receptionist, etc.
They also tend to want WFH roles so much more passionately than career-minded people.
I love it and hope to never have to leave it. My SO works a job that gives him a lot of off time.. and it is at non-traditional times (weekdays). So like you, my dream is to be able to work from various places. We aren't currently doing any traveling, but do plan to do a good bit when the world opens back up. At a certain point, I'll likely have to sit down with my employer and work something out. While I have a lot of freedom since I get stuff done, I wouldn't want to build resentment by not having a talk about it prior and just doing it.
That said, not everyone can work remotely.. as much as they may want to. At least, not everyone who isn't spied on. I've had to have talks at times where someone says they will work from home and then the work they're in charge of monitoring is sitting there undone all day.
I find that people who only work because they absolutely have to and have no interest in their career don't work well from home. It doesn't help that people like that are typically in roles that don't translate to WFH.. admin roles, receptionist, etc.
They also tend to want WFH roles so much more passionately than career-minded people.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:43 am to Saints83
quote:
The insinuation being that then all of us will be competing with labor from other countries that are just as skilled but at 1/2 or 1/4 of the price
There's got to be a limit to this. If most jobs were outsourced, nobody would have money to purchase anything their former companies produced.
The best option for me would be a flexible work schedule where I could work from home or the office as I felt was required. When I have my daughter, it is REALLY nice to wake up early, do some work, drop her off at school, then go back to working from home. Other days I need (and want) to be at the office.
I think they'd have to come up with some way of tracking performance. Some people would take full advantage of a situation like this.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:46 am to Saints83
quote:
What is your opinion on Remote Work/Work From Home Long Term?
For certain professions it's here to stay.
It will be brought up way more in interviews.
I work at salesforce and I fully expect the company to offer that option to its employees. Microsoft already did in October.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:49 am to Saints83
Social interaction can easily be replaced by eliminating the 3-4 hours a day you used to spend commuting, getting dressed, meal prepping, dicking off at the water cooler with coworkers, scrolling through TD at work, etc. and replacing it with joining a club, gym, rec league, organization etc in the afternoons. The people who say they miss social interaction are just being lazy. The reality is 99% of us have plenty of downtime during the work day and if you're at home you can move on to other things instead of scrolling TD
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:49 am to Saints83
I keep home and work separate so I have no desire to work from home.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:52 am to Yeti_Chaser
quote:
Social interaction can easily be replaced by eliminating the 3-4 hours a day you used to spend commuting, getting dressed, meal prepping, dicking off at the water cooler with coworkers, scrolling through TD at work, etc. and replacing it with joining a club, gym, rec league, organization etc in the afternoons. The people who say they miss social interaction are just being lazy. The reality is 99% of us have plenty of downtime during the work day and if you're at home you can move on to other things instead of scrolling TD
Completely agree with this. I've always been the type to try to keep work/life separate. I see my coworkers enough at work, I don't want to go out and have drinks with them. Ironically Remote Work or Work From Home would probably make me more willing to have the occasional drink with coworkers.
But to me it shows that too many people's social life revolves around work. There are plenty of other ways to get social interaction outside of the office. You are there to work and get the job done, not to make friends.
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:53 am to Yeti_Chaser
quote:
The people who say they miss social interaction are just being lazy. The reality is 99% of us have plenty of downtime during the work day and if you're at home you can move on to other things instead of scrolling TD
Exactly
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:54 am to Saints83
The SO has been working from home for a few years pre-COVID. We both like the flexibility it affords and honestly, he probably takes less time off because even if he feels kind of shitty it's just walking down the hall to "go to work".
Socialization was never an issue though. We still saw friends and others outside of work hours. His "team" would go into an office setting once or twice a month to meet with vendors.
You do have to have the ability to set good boundaries though because some people believe working from home means you should be available 24/7. And let people know those boundaries. That's been my biggest issue in a temporary work-from-home situation. I keep my hours as regular as possible and let folks know I'm available from X to X.
Socialization was never an issue though. We still saw friends and others outside of work hours. His "team" would go into an office setting once or twice a month to meet with vendors.
You do have to have the ability to set good boundaries though because some people believe working from home means you should be available 24/7. And let people know those boundaries. That's been my biggest issue in a temporary work-from-home situation. I keep my hours as regular as possible and let folks know I'm available from X to X.
This post was edited on 11/27/20 at 10:56 am
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:54 am to Saints83
I feel like it legit hurts the idea of work/life balance by removing the physical/psychological barrier between where work is and where your home life is
Posted on 11/27/20 at 10:57 am to Saints83
Its really all about your personality. A lot of people on here are claiming they got fat from it. Thats their own lack of self discipline. I am able to take walks all throughout the day. I'm not longer eating donuts and boudin that a vendor brings by in the morning. I get in the floor and stretch every hour in my living room and my posture has improved tremendously. I don't get distracted by the Bama fans coming by to brag about Mac Jones and I'm more motivated to finish my work quickly so im probably twice as time efficient as I used to be. I will say though that the biggest challenge with remote work will be the new hire and on boarding process. Its tough to get up to speed quickly on a new job or project from home
Page 3 of 6
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News