If you work from home full time

[escrow]

Tell me about it. The good, the bad, things that you may not have thought about before starting.

I am interviewing with a company that is 100% remote, the entire company works from home. This idea sounds awesome and a little scary all at the same time. I can currently work from home once or twice a week, but am used to coming in for face time and getting clear explanations of what is going on and how to get things accomplished.

I can't talk to many people irl about this, just hoping for some feedback

[wambam]

wowhead

[patbutcher]

I do and have done for thr last 8 years.

Good - obviously not having to get up until 8.55am. Having freedom to run errands at lunch/dentist etc

Bad - feeling a bit out of touch with the office. I guess it would depend on communication where you work but I definitely notice that I am not always "in the loop" on stuff or don't have anyone to quickly ask 'hey, who should I go to for....".

For me the good outnumbers the bad by a lot. I love the flexibility.

[amberlyrose]

It's the best and worst thing that's happened to me. lol.
You have to be able to get out and see real people after work because you'll go mad. I also try to talk to a coworker over the phone about once a week just to talk like you would at work (kids, travel plans, weekend plans, etc).

You must be structured in your day because it is really easy to see things to do around the house and not work.

The best part is being able to get stuff done at home, like laundry, during the work day. Being able to eat at home and not having a commute time are nice too.

[underwaterrhymes]

I work from home. I used to go into the office, but when I had K, it turned entirely remote.

The good: Tons of flexibility; no commute costs; I can work outside on the porch, if I want, or in my PJs from my bed when I'm not feeling so great (although I mostly work from my desk)

The not so good: I miss the socialization; you have to work to motivate yourself; it's more challenging to separate personal and professional life; most of my interaction with my team is via email (which I actually prefer because I like having a back-up of every conversation I have), but for someone who needs face-to-face explanations, I can see how this would be challenging

[saywhatnow]

I've worked from home full time for the last 3 years. When I started working from home I was one of the first in my division. Now, our group has expanded from 2 members to 15 and all but 2 of us work from home. I really enjoy it. I have 2 small children that I take to daycare about 10 minutes from my house. My husband travels extensively for work so I pretty much plan on being a single parent during the week. Being at home all day helps A TON. I can schedule service appointments during the day, toss in a load of laundry, easily grocery shop/run quick errands on my lunch hour. There are two downsides...one is that I do find it very hard to disconnect from my job since I really COULD enter in an order at 6am when some of my crazy reps email me. Sometimes I do work off hours because of this, although, I'm aware that isn't strictly a work-from-home issue. The other downside is that I think my career growth has been slower since I'm not in front of management ever. Let me know if you have specific questions.

[toepick]

I worked remotely for almost 2 years and I hated it. It turns out that I need social interaction and people to bounce ideas off of. I think it's important to know your personality.

[isabel]

This would be my dream.

[CurlyQ284]

I've gotten to a point where I like it. I still get up and do my hair and makeup and get dressed to take DS to daycare. Come home and change into yoga pants lol

Most of my coworkers are in office, I moved and my boss went to bat to keep me. I used to miss the interaction at the office but the last time I was there it was exhausting. Soooo much drama and snarky comments and interruptions.

I also like that I can run the washer or vacuum really quick. My dogs can spend most of the day in the yard or on the porch if they want. It's flexible so I can go to daycare events and school events when DS is older.

I don't see many people. If you have a good social network in place you will probably be fine. I moved to a place where I don't know anyone and it was painful for a while.

[pegasuskat]

I have worked from home for about 20 years now and LOVE it. I would say I'm more part time now but it varies with how much I feel like working. I love the flexibility, I'm able to even leave home if I need to and forward my calls to my cell. I don't have to wear good clothes and put on make up. I do always dress though, no pjs all day for me. Some days can get lonely so plan to get out some evenings. And you have to stay on focus or you can end up cleaning, napping, cooking and all your errands.

[thebuddhagouda]

May 4, 2015 13:01:15 GMT -5 TamiTaylor said:

How does one even get a WFH position?

For me, we are moving because of my husband's job, and I love my job and didn't want to leave it. Thankfully, my manager loves me too and we were able to work out a way for me to work remotely and come in every other Friday (a 2 hr commute but worth it to keep a job I love and be able to work from home the rest of the time) 

[Deleted]

AND WHERE DO ALL YOU WFH People work and are they hiring.

I used to have total flexibility with my old job. I worked some in the office some remote. I found I worked better remotely and had better work home life balance.

I am jealous of those of you that WFH

[escrow]

May 4, 2015 13:01:15 GMT -5 TamiTaylor said:

How does one even get a WFH position?

I am a software developer, it is for a software company. 

I am not concerned about social interaction. I have been with my current company for over 9 years, I have friends here but we don't really socialize at work. I don't even remember the last time I went to lunch with someone else. I currently have an hour commute each way and it sucks. 

[CurlyQ284]

Same as buddha. We already had a few people telecommute for the same reason so it wasn't ground breaking but corporate has made it difficult so there were some hoops to jump through.

[crazycakes]

I'm 100% WFH and I love it.

Love: Flexibility (this is going to be job-dependent, my job is super flexible as most of my work is project-based and not hourly based, so they don't really care when I work as long as my deadlines are being met. On lighter days I can easily run some errands, do some cleaning, etc). Sleeping in. No commute. Save a ton of money on work clothes. Don't have to deal with office politics so much.

Don't Love: I feel like there is some disconnect between coworkers since we're not face-to-face, can't just pop in to ask a question or bounce ideas off each other. It can get lonely; I make sure to see people frequently in the evenings otherwise you can start feeling very isolated (it doesn't help that my DH works crazy hours so I'm often parenting alone at night).

I wouldn't trade it for anything, though. I LOOOOVE working from home.

[thebuddhagouda]

And I'm a designer and web developer, so it's very much a job I can do with very little supervision/interaction as long as my marketing director and I are in contact on which projects are next in the pipeline and content development.

[aliciaflorrick]

I have been doing it for a year and a half but I am looking for a new job that is in an office.

The good: waking up right before I start work, no commute and yoga pants everyday.

The bad: social interaction, limited interaction with my boss, training and mentoring difficult when not face to face.

I am an introvert but have come to the conclusion that I do need some interaction and it has been easier to let myself go physically. I need more of a structured day to keep myself in check.

[crazycakes]

May 4, 2015 13:01:15 GMT -5 TamiTaylor said:

How does one even get a WFH position?

I started with my company in the office full time, and over the years they were allowing more and more work from home. Started out two days WFH, then three days. Then they closed my local office last year and everyone in my area went 100% remote. 

ETA: I'm an account manager for an advertising agency.

[underwaterrhymes]

May 4, 2015 13:01:15 GMT -5 TamiTaylor said:

How does one even get a WFH position?

When I was six months pregnant, my boss told me they were turning my position PT, but that as a lovely consolation prize, I could work from home and not have to have daycare.

(LOL for days over working from home and not having daycare. There is no way I could do what I do without having daycare.)

Although I was initially SUPER pissed, it's worked out really well for us. I really love the flexibility.

Over time I found a second client through a workplace connection and I get additional hours from her, too.

[beefcheeks]

May 4, 2015 13:01:15 GMT -5 TamiTaylor said:

How does one even get a WFH position?

I moved and wanted to keep my job, luckily telework is an option for my agency.

[CurlyQ284]

underwaterrhymes I liked your post because of the daycare comment. I agree 100%. My MIL was driving me nuts for a minute with the constant "but why is he in daycare?" crap.

She came to visit and saw him in action and I haven't heard that question for a while lol.

[beefcheeks]

I've been WFH for several years. I love it. The good is that you are in charge of your own distractions...you don't have to worry about co-workers coming over to your desk to chat when you're in the middle of something! The bad is that some people find the "at home" distractions more tempting that the "office" distractions! Another bad...I tend to get sacked with all the house-related appointments, and sometimes that gets annoying. Another bad - when you're new, it can be really hard to get the support you need remotely. But there are so, so, so many good things. I won't list them all out!

[thebuddhagouda]

May 4, 2015 13:14:56 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

underwaterrhymes I liked your post because of the daycare comment. I agree 100%. My MIL was driving me nuts for a minute with the constant "but why is he in daycare?" crap.

She came to visit and saw him in action and I haven't heard that question for a while lol.

Yeah, I'm going to keep mine home for a few months when she's basically still a sleeping/pooping vegetable, but I've got full-time care lined up for when she's a few months old and starts actually wanting attention during the day. I would completely side eye someone working from home with kids all day. There's no way you are giving your work due attention even with the most well-behaved children in the universe, and the poor kid can't be having that much fun if you have to work the whole day. 

[beefcheeks]

May 4, 2015 13:10:27 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

May 4, 2015 13:01:15 GMT -5 TamiTaylor said:

(LOL for days over working from home and not having daycare. There is no way I could do what I do without having daycare.)

Yes, I fucking HATE when people say this to me. Of course I have daycare.  I'm getting paid to do a job, not watch my kid.  Sure, there are some days here or there that I might have one of the kids home with me (sick, school closed, etc). But I have FT daycare.

I'm probably projecting a bit here...I have some colleagues that abuse the WFH situation, so it's a sore subject for me! ha!

[underwaterrhymes]

May 4, 2015 13:14:56 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

underwaterrhymes I liked your post because of the daycare comment. I agree 100%. My MIL was driving me nuts for a minute with the constant "but why is he in daycare?" crap.

She came to visit and saw him in action and I haven't heard that question for a while lol.

I still get that from everybody.

It makes me nuts. That's probably my biggest pet peeve about working from home. Even my mom will be like, "So, are you working today?"

Yes. Yes, I work every day. Granted, it's around 30 hours a week instead of 40, but still.

And H's family is consistently baffled by the concept. "Is K in daycare? Every day? Really? Are you still working that job?"

Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes.

And some of the people H works with are flummoxed that me working from home doesn't mean I sit around all day and do nothing.

So, yeah, OP. Be prepared for that. People don't get that working from home actually does involve, you know, actual work.

[patbutcher]

May 4, 2015 13:01:15 GMT -5 TamiTaylor said:

How does one even get a WFH position?

I'm in sales. This is my 3rd sales job, all working from home with client visits a few times a month (I make the schedule).

[pantsparty]

I work from home; however, at least once a month I travel out to my territory and I go to our home office a couple of times a year.

We have weekly conference calls with the sales group and I also connect with my boss/other field reps as necessary.

I would ask questions regarding details for the on-boarding process. Even though I work from home, I went out in the field with another sales rep and also spent about a week in the home office. So even though I wasn't seeing people regularly, I was able to get questions answered.

I love the flexibility that comes with working from home - I can throw in a load of laundry, unload the dishwasher, etc. I also have accounts I see locally, so I can still get out of the house a couple of days a week if need be. It's important for me to be disciplined with my time. I make a list in the morning and try to manage distractions. Having weekly goals helps keep me focused.

I also find I need to get ready for work just the way I did when I had an office job. I mean, I wear jeans and t-shirts now, but I don't work in my pajamas all day. I need to get fully ready to feel I am starting my work day.

[CurlyQ284]

I think it lends back to the part that I live in a new city and don't know anyone here but my family sees DS climbing stuff, they get it. DHs family visited and they get it so that checks everyone off lol.

[amberlyrose]

May 4, 2015 13:19:09 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

May 4, 2015 13:14:56 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

underwaterrhymes I liked your post because of the daycare comment. I agree 100%. My MIL was driving me nuts for a minute with the constant "but why is he in daycare?" crap.

She came to visit and saw him in action and I haven't heard that question for a while lol.

I still get that from everybody.

It makes me nuts. That's probably my biggest pet peeve about working from home. Even my mom will be like, "So, are you working today?"



So, yeah, OP. Be prepared for that. People don't get that working from home actually does involve, you know, actual work.

This shit annoys me SO MUCH.

Even DH "forgets" every once in a while. He almost booked me a flight in the middle of the day last week and I had to remind him that, ya know, I have a fucking job between 8-5. 

[luvvy]

The good - flexibility, but that comes with my particular position as well. I don't spend time commuting so I can use that for other things.

The bad - I feel out of touch with the office and it is VERY easy for people to be all sorts of shitty to you when they don't risk running into you in person. It is also very easy to get distracted with home stuff when there is work to be done.