Working from home

[GB72]

Working from home this week for the first time ever and finding it really hard to stay focused. Have a lap top in the dining room with my files as my wife, who works from home all the time, has the office room. I have been popping in to the office to collect and drop off files as the information in them is confidential and I can only keep a certain number locked away. Again, before anyone says anything, I have my own office, there is only me and sometimes one other person there (as we prepare wills and have live court cases some are classed as key workers), I pull into the office car park, go straight to my office, stay there all day as bring my lunch and have my own coffee machine in there, walk back to my car and drive home. Barely see anyone let alone have any contact.

 

[IanM]

...the fact the course is closed helps focus! I currently have minus 50 focus level!

 

[Dando]

I am struggling working from home.

I think I am going to invest in a desktop and lock myself away in the summer house as the girls are in the house

 

[Fromtherough]

I work at home already, although usually go into the office once every week or so. I have a home office set up, which I think is important to get me into work mode. It’s been more difficult this past 7 days as my wife has also been working from home and our daughter is home schooling. So doing Joe Wicks, helping with work set by her school and basically having a bit of fun is as prevalent as any actual work. I’m kind of enjoying having them around.

 

[fundy]

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Very happy to still be out and working and interacting with people. Yes there is an inherent risk going in each day but nice to simply be working

 

[Fromtherough]

Very happy to still be out and working and interacting with people. Yes there is an inherent risk going in each day but nice to simply be working

I’ve posted this on another thread, still interested in your reply:
“Homer, all due respect to you and all of your NHS colleagues always, but especially at this time. However, you were fragrantly flouting advice about socially distancing, up until a week or so ago. Which considering where you work is frankly shocking. Similarly, I’ve read from posts you’ve made on here that you have a condition that puts you in the vulnerable category. Yet you appear to be working in the “epicentre” of what is going on at the frontline. I appreciate that what you do may be specialised and you’re probably adding value, but are you following government advice?”

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I’ve posted this on another thread, still interested in your reply:
“Homer, all due respect to you and all of your NHS colleagues always, but especially at this time. However, you were fragrantly flouting advice about socially distancing, up until a week or so ago. Which considering where you work is frankly shocking. Similarly, I’ve read from posts you’ve made on here that you have a condition that puts you in the vulnerable category. Yet you appear to be working in the “epicentre” of what is going on at the frontline. I appreciate that what you do may be specialised and you’re probably adding value, but are you following government advice?”

Of course I am following government advice. I have asked the question of my lead nurse, matron and clinical consultant responsible for our COVID response about working from home and the definitive answer is no as the work I am doing is still "important". Everyone has had to follow enhanced infection control procedures especially as we have hot (COVID) and cold (non-COVID) areas and everyone especially the senior nursing team are being vigilant and stringent on following all advice and protocols

 

[Robster59]

In my job I work from home a lot so am used to it. The hard part is stopping the Father in Law from bothering me too much.
Now my missus is working from home and she needs somewhere quiet to concentrate so she has taken over my office space and I'm consigned to working downstairs.
I do Skype and phone calls with the teams and now with customers as well. In our job site visits are still important but they're getting harder to do at the moment which makes some parts of the job pretty difficult.
My work is still busy so the daytime passes pretty fast anyway.

 

[Fromtherough]

Of course I am following government advice. I have asked the question of my lead nurse, matron and clinical consultant responsible for our COVID response about working from home and the definitive answer is no as the work I am doing is still "important". Everyone has had to follow enhanced infection control procedures especially as we have hot (COVID) and cold (non-COVID) areas and everyone especially the senior nursing team are being vigilant and stringent on following all advice and protocols

I fully agree your work is important. 100%. However, I’m not sure if being on the vulnerable list, regardless of what your employer says, justifies you being in the workplace. I’d have presumed you should be self isolating? Similarly, not sure you should be out helping your vulnerable neighbours, per the government advice.

 

[golfbluecustard]

Love the fact that I'm clearly not alone in my struggle being distracted, haven't got the guitar out though, yet! I don't actually play but with YouTube and another 4 / 6 / 8 etc... Weeks to go there still time ! GBC

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I fully agree your work is important. 100%. However, I’m not sure if being on the vulnerable list, regardless of what your employer says, justifies you being in the workplace. I’d have presumed you should be self isolating? Similarly, not sure you should be out helping your vulnerable neighbours, per the government advice.

HID has done 95% of the helping vulnerable neighbours plus her parents. I have taken advice from my occupational health and GP

 

[Bazzatron]

Usually wfh 1 day a week but fulltime now with all this going on. The wife's here and so is my 3 year old.
We split watching him and working between us, the company have been fantastic pretty much telling everyone to do what they need to make things work.
Not all energy suppliers are arses.

 

[Matty6]

I’ve worked from home for the last 8 years, so no change for me at the moment. The company I work for encourage IT staff to WFH. Gonna be interesting in the long term though....this enforced WFH situation is going to change the way a number of businesses operate in the future.

I’ve got a good setup with a dedicated room, a decent desk, chair and 2 x 27” monitors. Better equipped than when I was based in the office!

WFH is not for everyone though. You need to be dedicated and stay focused. Having a separate room where you can shut the door at the end of the day is priceless.

 

[Sully]

I’ve worked one day a week from home since 2014 then this extended to 2 days a week from home since last year , now full time . I run a few businesses so pop in when I need to but I love working from home . You don’t have the Sunday night blues ,pre corona could pop into the range when I want . Go gym in the morning , drop kids to nursery and school and then work.

 

[Diamond]

WFH not a problem but the work is starting to dry up. The evenings and weekends are starting to feel less special, which for me is the main problem. I like to have something to look forward to after a hard week at work.
Nice to see that it’s not just me thst has to work with excel!,

 

[McToot the Bandit]

A Gibson SG, and a Yamaha acoustic. In the cupboard under the stairs I have a hollow-body Squier Telecaster as well.

Nice. I love SGs. Wish I hadn't sold mine (a Classic with P90 pickups and a nice chunky neck)...

 

[IanM]

Our VPN is creaking with all non emergency folk at home.... but in the scheme of things, we are getting our stuff done!

 

[IanM]

...and today it's 8.20 and I'm still I'm bed . Whoops.

Mind you. Quick shower and a 15 second commute later at my desk by 8.40.

 

[harpo_72]

I always found that working from home was far more efficient. I found my team to be more efficient and things were proactively chased.
I did actually wonder whether there was a case for ending these open plan offices .. they are on occasion far too social. We had quiet areas but then they would put a break out table near them for telephone conferences.. all a bit daft. Hence being at home in a comfortable environment that is quiet makes you efficient.

As a manager though it was more about social interaction- face to face contact being physically in the room. But I am sure that could be overcome..
Anyway, all of you home workers good luck, nothing wrong with the chat function and a bit of music ?