Going back to office environment after working from home

[mikyccity]

I have been working from home and i have been enjoying it, i can spend more time with kids , can do school run, i don't have to get up early in the morning thinking about getting ready and drive to work.

I have a new job offer and i will have to travel to work everyday. I am in the middle of making a final decision and like to know if someone has done the same in past.

Has anyone gone back to office environment after working from home for few years? and how is your experience so far.

[chonok]

I work from home for myself and have all of the befits listed above. Would be very hard going back to working for someone else now!

I assume you are currently self employed? How long have you been doing it for and how is it going?

[g7orge]

I worked at home all last year and changed contracts this year to a job which is office based. At first I found it quite pleasant being back with people in an office but then struggled being in 5 days a week so have now managed to negotiate Monday and Fridays at home - which seems to be a better balance.

[The GMan]

I worked from home for about 5 years but when I became self employed started to work from client offices usually some distance away from home so would have to stay over night.

I find I get more done at the office if I'm honest. I use to try and convince myself I was doing more at home but the reality was stuff that I could have done in an hour probably took 2 hours due to me doing other things. I had my own office at home and was never disturbed by my wife while working, it's just I had a habit of doing loads of other personal stuff like just going for a walk to the shop or looking at what was on the news and starting to watch it. It was never enough to interfere with my work or work to say anything as I hit every deadline, but I did waste a lot of time.

I also found myself going into my home office really early to check emails etc... or really late to do the same and sitting pulling together responses that in all honesty could have waited until the following day.

So in hindsight I probably wasted more of my personal time because I was checking stuff when I didn't need to but also wasted company time as I was off out when I could have been working.

I find when I'm at a client office away from home I get loads more done.

Edited by The GMan on Thursday 10th November 13:46

[mikyccity]

chonok said:

I work from home for myself and have all of the befits listed above. Would be very hard going back to working for someone else now!

I assume you are currently self employed? How long have you been doing it for and how is it going?

I am in permanent role and have been working from home for over 8 months now. I am enjoying it, no pressure, no boss looking at your shoulder.

I can start anytime from 8 to 11 and just do my hours.

New job offer is quite attractive, don’t know if it’s attractive enough to give up working from home.

[rowley birkin]

The GMan said:

I worked from home for about 5 years but when I became self employed started to work from client offices usually some distance away from home so would have to stay over night.

I find I get more done at the office if I'm honest. I use to try and convince myself I was doing more at home but the reality was stuff that I could have done in an hour probably took 2 hours due to me doing other things. I had my own office at home and was never disturbed by my wife while working, it's just I had a habit of doing loads of other personal stuff like just going for a walk to the shop or looking at what was on the news and starting to watch it. It was never to interfere with my work or work to say anything as I hit every deadline, but I did waste a lot of time.

I also found myself going into my home office really early to check emails etc... or really late to do the same and sitting pulling together responses that in all honesty could have waited until the following day.

So in hindsight I probably wasted more of my personal time because I was checking stuff when I didn't need to but also wasted company time as I was off out when I could have been working.

I find when I'm at a client office away from home I get loads more done.

Agree with the above. I am self-employed, working 3 days in my office premises and 2 days at home. I am much more productive at the office (far too many distractions at home).

[Jasandjules]

I work from home save for where I have to be elsewhere to do the job. I don't think I would want to be in an "office" job now - just things like no two hour each way commute for example every day....

[Vaud]

I work from home or am travelling overseas.

Wouldn't give it up for 5 days a week in a office. 3 days maybe.

[Bullett]

I've been primarily home based for getting on for 10 years now, I do visit client and the office on a regular basis.
It would have to be a pretty amazing job/pay to get me back in the office 5 days a week.
I have no commute so no time wasted in traffic and the associated costs.
Lunch/coffee is much cheaper.
Flexible start/end so I can pick up and drop off the kids as needed, attend sports days/assemblies, be in for deliveries, do jobs etc.

I probably faff about a bit more at home that I would in the office but as I deliver everything I need to deliver it doesn't really matter.