Teleworking

[goosey-goosey]

Calling any converts to teleworking (home-working)! How's your experience been? Any qualms or regrets about not being in the office? Any contract of employment changes that concern you?

Background... I work from home three days per week and pop into my company's offices the other two. I say "pop into". In fact, the commute by car is over an hour (if I set off at ca. 6am). The offices are beyond NW London so the train is not an option from here and new roadworks, speed restrictions, cycle superhighways, and increased traffic on the way are all making the drive a battle. In the 10 years I've done this journey, I've noticed things getting a lot worse recently and I don't see how they will scale favourably in the future. I appreciate to some extent the squeeze on drivers is inevitable and I've adjusted my timings and route accordingly. However, I can't see myself taking that approach any further. I'm therefore contemplating applying for a change of contract so I can work full-time from home with just occasional visits to the office. It's either that or find another job, which I'm reluctant to do. Internet, desk, printer, etc. are all set up at home. It's not the technicalities of teleworking I'm wondering about. It's the psychological, social, and legal adjustments. I'd welcome your thoughts.

[steveo]

For years I've been observing pissed off and swearing drivers heading north in the mornings and south in the evenings and not felt the slightest urge to get back out there and mix it with them. I'm surprised there aren't daily road rage killings in London.

A lot of my fellow workers were arseholes so I don't miss them much.

It takes me twenty five seconds to get to the office, you can pick and choose when you work, you can drink beer at your desk and whenever possible I try and give myself the day off.

Any help?

[Saffron]

If your job presumably doesn't need you on-site to work, then I guess it's up to you to decide what contributions serendipity and camaraderie make to your work.

For example, I work from home 1-2 days week, which saves money and journey time. However, when I'm in the office in person, I sometimes bump into colleagues randomly, and the conversations spark something fortuitous. That doesn't happen when I work from home. I also really enjoy my colleagues and find their support and camaraderie to be very useful. It's harder to take any benefits from that when telecommuting.

Legally my contract has a stated number of hours. Practically though, it's more of a guideline. Project deadlines and turning up to departmental functions are key, I'm not clocking in/out for pay.

I have a long commute as well, though more straight forward perhaps (Kingston by train ~1.5 hrs door to door). Hubbie and I are still mulling over whether we want to move SW. The nature of my job means I wouldn't be able to work completely from home, but also I don't think I'd want to personally. I feel like I get a lot of professional development by interacting with my colleagues.

But that might be quite different in your job, of course. If you feel deeply established in your role, and you are able to keep career development/momentum working from home, then teleworking could be very liberating.

I guess the flipside of the scenario is, what would your coworkers lose by not having you in the office every week? What needs do you fill for others in the office, and would you be able to cover that with just occasional visits? Or are you risking making yourself vulnerable to redundancy?

I guess it's a moot point anyway if your contract won't allow it. So maybe addressing the above points will help in contract negotiations? Good luck. xx

[goosey-goosey]

Thank you, steveo and Saffron. It's good to hear your experiences. I recognize a lot of them.

Steveo, I'm also surprised at the low-level stress driving around London can induce. That affects me and informs my thinking about teleworking. Yup, I really don't understand why there aren't more splattered cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers littering the roads.

Saffron, on the days I currently visit the office I actually build in time to walk around and soak up gossip and general chit-chat. It's surprisingly critical. I'll have to find a substitute for that if I work permanently at home. Also, I don't want colleagues "forgetting" me in my absence either... Hmm... On the plus side, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't put myself at risk (but good point) and anyway I spend half my time working with US-based colleagues who won't care where I am as long as I'm available.

There's a lot to this teleworking business. I guess it even affects interactions with partners and housemates. My partner has just raised an eyebrow at the suggestion I might be around all day, every day, hogging the study. We shall see................