Bad habits whilst working from home

[GrizzlyBear]

I have been working from home since March:

Bad Habits are coming thick and fast:
1. Starting work a lot earlier. (I don't get paid anymore for doing this)
2. Finishing work a lot later. (I don't get paid anymore for doing this)
3. When I can't sleep, I just do some work... I don't sleep much it is OK this isn't new, so I am used to lack of sleep now
4. Getting very bored.
5. Hurling abuse at the laptop when the software crashes (they might not like the largest person in the team, shouting at inanimate objects in the office).
6. Wearing old clothes, on Friday I wore the clothes I painted the house in this year on the plus side, I might get rid of all the old clothes!
7. Drinking a lot of coffee (but only before midday, as I don't sleep much for the last few years).
8. Only shaving every other day, today I am looking a bit like my username
9. Talking to myself a lot (I think that is OK, as long as I am not arguing myself, that's right isn't it? it's OK I have been doing this for years).
10. I also work on weekends now... (I don't get paid anymore for doing this).

[loskie]

GrizzlyBear said:

I have been working from home since March:

Bad Habits are coming thick and fast:
1. Starting work a lot earlier. (I don't get paid anymore for doing this)
2. Finishing work a lot later. (I don't get paid anymore for doing this)
3. When I can't sleep, I just do some work... I don't sleep much it is OK this isn't new, so I am used to lack of sleep now
4. Getting very bored.
5. Hurling abuse at the laptop when the software crashes (they might not like the largest person in the team, shouting at inanimate objects in the office).
6. Wearing old clothes, on Friday I wore the clothes I painted the house in this year on the plus side, I might get rid of all the old clothes!
7. Drinking a lot of coffee (but only before midday, as I don't sleep much for the last few years).
8. Only shaving every other day, today I am looking a bit like my username
9. Talking to myself a lot (I think that is OK, as long as I am not arguing myself, that's right isn't it? it's OK I have been doing this for years).
10. I also work on weekends now... (I don't get paid anymore for doing this).

Jeeesus, that sounds just like me.

Edited by loskie on Sunday 25th October 06:52

[hepy]

Eating porridge for my lunch everyday from Monday to Friday!

Work related - agreeing to too many Zoom meetings. Last week, I worked out that I was losing a minimum of 2 days a week to non-critical zoom meetings. Cancelled a few, and have now promised myself not to spend more than one hour a day on zooms unless they directly benefit me.

[GrizzlyBear]

loskie said:

GrizzlyBear said:

I have been working from home since March:

Bad Habits are coming thick and fast:
1. Starting work a lot earlier. (I don't get paid anymore for doing this)
2. Finishing work a lot later. (I don't get paid anymore for doing this)
3. When I can't sleep, I just do some work... I don't sleep much it is OK this isn't new, so I am used to lack of sleep now
4. Getting very bored.
5. Hurling abuse at the laptop when the software crashes (they might not like the largest person in the team, shouting at inanimate objects in the office).
6. Wearing old clothes, on Friday I wore the clothes I painted the house in this year on the plus side, I might get rid of all the old clothes!
7. Drinking a lot of coffee (but only before midday, as I don't sleep much for the last few years).
8. Only shaving every other day, today I am looking a bit like my username
9. Talking to myself a lot (I think that is OK, as long as I am not arguing myself, that's right isn't it? it's OK I have been doing this for years).
10. I also work on weekends now... (I don't get paid anymore for doing this).

Jeeesus, that sounds just like me.

Edited by loskie on Sunday 25th October 06:52

Hi loskie, just looked at your post, and I am very sorry to hear that you are also in this situation too. I am also very jealous of your home work station and see your employers also chose to assign you with a ThinkPad too (mine has a strop every few days ), and you also choose to put a post-it note over the camera (snap).

But, you have a dog to keep you company, so are you talking to yourself? or the dog?

One final point (from home work station thread), please move the rucksack to a safer location, that is a trip hazard... Did anyone else have to do a H&S audit of their home working area?

[loskie]

yes I did I sadly work as a civil servant although I too like to swear a lot so not always civil

My thinkpad likes to switch itself off during the start up process just to pi55 me off. I had a rather "robust" discussion with our so called IT support on Friday about a replacement. I'm sure IT support see govt agencies as a licence to print money. The close issues as "resolved" even when not, I'm sure to meet targets and maybe for each issue "resolved" there is payment who knows. They probably think we won't care as it's not us paying. BUT I kick up a huge fuss for this rip off.

Edited by loskie on Sunday 25th October 10:45

[GrizzlyBear]

loskie said:

yes I did I sadly work as a civil servant although I too like to swear a lot so not always civil

My thinkpad likes to switch itself off during the start up process just to pi55 me off. I had a rather "robust" discussion with our so called IT support on Friday about a replacement. I'm sure IT support see govt agencies as a licence to print money. The close issues as "resolved" even when not, I'm sure to meet targets and maybe for each issue "resolved" there is payment who knows. They probably think we won't care as it's not us paying. BUT I kick up a huge fuss for this rip off.

I try my best not to swear now, one of my siblings now has kids, so I don't want them picking up bad habits from me (to make matters worse one of the kids even likes me; haven't a clue why? I don't even like me! so I need to be a positive role model when did I sign up for this?), but try my best to teach them all how to fix things (so I will teach them good habits and Maths, lots of Maths!).

I work for a faceless global company, where I have to make sure things work perfectly, when I have no experience of them or the problem! this is definitely not the job I applied for!

My ThinkPad likes to make me believe it is really fancy with all its SSD, and 16GB ram, but seems slower than the i5 I bought in the sales years ago! unless it is shut down every night it is like dragging a dead horse through a swamp.

I think everyone views UK government contacts as a licence to print money (except the government, that thinks that printing money is some kind of "get out of jail free card"... ), one day a supplier turned up and I knew her from years before, she was chatting away and said we charge the council and NHS twice as much as anyone, as they just pay! so I think you are probably in the minority, but I really hope I am wrong.

Edited by GrizzlyBear on Sunday 25th October 11:38

Edited by GrizzlyBear on Sunday 25th October 11:58

[loskie]

we have to buy 12v rehcargeable batteries (good quality RS ones) from our preferred supplier £34 each when I can buy them myself from RS delivered next day for £16 something

The thing that annoys me is I'm good at my job, love the work and am dedicated as it's worthwhile BUT hate the organisation and poor management. For the last 15 years my pay has progressed only around 1% per year on average as "they have no money", That's cos they feckin waste so much, and the govt found plenty for the furlough scheme with no problem.

It's not as if I'm on a big salary 15 years ago was marginally above the national average now lags about £3k behind. It's not an easy job either.

Edited by loskie on Sunday 25th October 12:26

[Chris Type R]

Working too many hours, skipping showering, being socially isolated etc I've been WFH too many years and feel I'm beyond redemption.

There's a few cartoons on https://theoatmeal.com/comics/working_home that capture the downsides/degradation.

[anonymous-user]

Working from home is really not the utopia people think it is.

There have been loads of discussions about WFH on here recently, and I think many people will be glad to get back to an office, and even glad to be back to their commute, dare I say it.

[Countdown]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Have you tried wireless headsets? You can literally wander around the house in your underpants whilst listening for your name.

[paralla]

[JakeT]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I do like a wireless headset, I'm just happy with my wired one. Plus the cord is about 8 feet long, so enough to wander around the room.

[crofty1984]

Presenteeism is my worst one. I know I'm not naturally disciplined so make sure I always start at 9 or earlier and finish no earlier than 5. In my office unless on a teabreak or lunch. Problem is I seem to have days where I don't actually achieve much. I'd be better off if I could say to myself - do these tasks for the day, then knock off early, rather than stretching them out all day. I'd probably actually achieve more.

[loskie]

is anyone's employer paying them expenses for providing their employer with free office space, electricity etc?

[Zarco]

loskie said:

is anyone's employer paying them expenses for providing their employer with free office space, electricity etc?

Have you invited your boss to work from your home or something?

[anonymous-user]

loskie said:

is anyone's employer paying them expenses for providing their employer with free office space, electricity etc?

Any employee who seriously asks that question should be put right on their employers ‘st list’ in my opinion.

[loskie]

why?

[anonymous-user]

loskie said:

why?

a) Because at present, we are in the middle of a global crisis and we all have to make sacrifices. Be grateful you actually have a job instead of moaning.

b) Working from home is a privilege, and can potentially save you a fortune in both time and money. The costs of commuting, buying clothes for work, etc are far more expensive than the tiny amount you will spend running your work laptop, monitor, and leaving one light on in your home office.

It is estimated that working from home will cost around £6 extra per month in electricity to use a computer for 5 days a week and have a lightbulb on.

So basically, unless you are some sort of Scrooge who walks to work and never buys any new work clothes, then you are saving money working from home.

c) You can claim tax relief of £6 per week for working from home. There is no excuse for you not to do this if the costs of working from home concern you.

After weighing up all the above, do you really want to start asking your employer for extra money at a time like this? Because to me, that would come across as massively ungrateful.

Most people would over the moon that they can work from home.

If your employer makes a decision that they are disposing of their office premises and you have to work from home permanently going forwards, then I imagine they will look to provide you with some additional equipment at their expense, but at the moment we all have to make sacrifices as I said.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 25th October 18:59

[loskie]

you are wrong on many counts there old bean.

[fat80b]

Our place has gone the extra mile for the home setup.

$1500 to spend on equipment - desk, chair, monitors, headsets etc.

Expense your home internet.

Loads of support and regular care parcels / extra stuff sent through

Regular feedback surveys to see what extra they should do

Resulting in additional support for childcare costs and a cash bonus to spend on anything you like.

Plus the best of all - no meeting Fridays