WFH - advantages and disadvantages?

[psychocandy]

I got a gig where I can work from home at the moment however with a 7 day old baby I choose not to.

Yeh I can see your rationale. 2 year old at my house. In childcare some days but I just wonder if it'll work.

To be honest, this role is looking like 2-3 days on customer site (50 miles away) then rest of time WFH/local office. Local office it 10 mins drive away. Might be preferable option lol.

[WordIsBond]

Pro: Lots of flexibility as to time off. If you have to do something, you can just go do it.

Con: Lots of flexibility as to time off. If you want to do something, or the Mrs wants you to, you can just go do it, and work suffers.

Huge savings on time and cost of commute. Saving the cost of commute actually means you can either work less and have even more time or you can put more in the war chest.

One drawback -- it can be easy to become workaholic when work is always right there. Depends on what you do, of course.

You are probably under greater scrutiny as to productivity. Someone will always wonder if you are really working.

The biggest thing is probably to train your family and friends and neighbours to recognise that even though you are at home, you are at work. Your mates wouldn't drop in to your office for a cup of coffee and to blether for an hour, but they might if you are "just at home."

For me, the savings on time and commuting costs make it well worth it. Additionally, it is by no means the whole story, but it really helps to be able to argue that there is no control, thus no SDC, and so it can really help with IR35.

Finally, it makes it a lot easier to shift things around in your schedule and run two or more contracts at once -- again, this could be a real help with IR35.

[WTFH]

Office, door and rules.
...and when the rules get queried by the house boss, explain how much you are invoicing per day to the work boss.


I find I do more hours - starting earlier/finishing later and am more productive working from home due to fewer work interruptions.

[WordIsBond]

Yeh I can see your rationale. 2 year old at my house. In childcare some days but I just wonder if it'll work.

To be honest, this role is looking like 2-3 days on customer site (50 miles away) then rest of time WFH/local office. Local office it 10 mins drive away. Might be preferable option lol.

You can try WFH and then opt to shift to the local office if it isn't working well. Might be hard to shift the other direction.

Mrs can handle the adjustment better if it is only 2 days a week, probably.

[psychocandy]

Pro: Lots of flexibility as to time off. If you have to do something, you can just go do it.

Con: Lots of flexibility as to time off. If you want to do something, or the Mrs wants you to, you can just go do it, and work suffers.

Huge savings on time and cost of commute. Saving the cost of commute actually means you can either work less and have even more time or you can put more in the war chest.

One drawback -- it can be easy to become workaholic when work is always right there. Depends on what you do, of course.

You are probably under greater scrutiny as to productivity. Someone will always wonder if you are really working.

The biggest thing is probably to train your family and friends and neighbours to recognise that even though you are at home, you are at work. Your mates wouldn't drop in to your office for a cup of coffee and to blether for an hour, but they might if you are "just at home."

For me, the savings on time and commuting costs make it well worth it. Additionally, it is by no means the whole story, but it really helps to be able to argue that there is no control, thus no SDC, and so it can really help with IR35.

Finally, it makes it a lot easier to shift things around in your schedule and run two or more contracts at once -- again, this could be a real help with IR35.

Yes I can imagine that. If you're in the office then potentially no-one bothers you, but, by working from home, and being an expensive contractor, someone is going to make it their mission to ensure they're getting moneys worth.

To be honest, after over a year with 3 hr + of my day commuting, it sounds nice. Commuting is not the issue (I kip on the train) I've got used to it. Its just so much of your life is wasted. And its almost impossible to schedule things in the week due to time of getting home. Doctors appt, dentist, kids parents evening, kids xmas play.

BUT then again, its a bit of peace and quiet until I get home to the madhouse.

[DaveB]

Tempted, but no.

I work from home regularly and have done for years (first time on a 14K modem...). My wife (who is in paid employment) understands that I'm not available for domestic stuff. It is an absolute necessity, however, to have an office to work in. You cannot possible work effectively off the dining room table, for example. If you haven't got a spare room, then turn one other room into your part-time office - and when you're using it, it is off-limits to the rest of the family.

WNATS +1

You have to make sure that everyone else in the house undertstands, from day one, that you are working.

You also need space to work that wont be used by the rest of the family at the same time. I do a lot of WFH and have my own office. No kids at home now, but MrsB understands that if I'm there I'm working. If I suggest we go out for lunch or take a break and do something else then fair enough, but it's always my call.

I do end up working longer, mainly because I get up at the same time but the commute takes 2 minutes not 2 hours.

I've not had a problem with permies / clients worrying about what I'm actually doing. Provided you deliver whats asked and make sure you email / IM regularly to update them to start with they soon get used to it. If I have a question for the permies I make sure I use email / IM to talk to them then and there, rather than waiting till I am next in the office, even if it isnt urgent.

You will, at some point, find yourself working in your pants.

[ChimpMaster]

Normally I have a 3 hour round trip to the client but WFH now and again.

I'm WFH today, started early and did an hour's morning catch-up on work, then went to drop off my eldest kid at school, and then the youngest at nursery. Came back, had brekkie whilst watching the 800th re-run of a Friends episode, and did a couple of hours more work. Then helped the Mrs with some of the housework. Now sitting in front the TV watching the news and working again (well typing this TBH).

Surprising though it might sound, I get a lot more "work" work done at home because when I have to get my head down I shut my office door and go into "don't disturb" mode.

To me, flexibility and choice are the most important thing now. I enjoy being one of the very few fathers who can do school drop-offs and pick-ups, whilst still holding down a reasonably decent paying contract.

[psychocandy]

WNATS +1

You have to make sure that everyone else in the house undertstands, from day one, that you are working.

You also need space to work that wont be used by the rest of the family at the same time. I do a lot of WFH and have my own office. No kids at home now, but MrsB understands that if I'm there I'm working. If I suggest we go out for lunch or take a break and do something else then fair enough, but it's always my call.

I do end up working longer, mainly because I get up at the same time but the commute takes 2 minutes not 2 hours.

I've not had a problem with permies / clients worrying about what I'm actually doing. Provided you deliver whats asked and make sure you email / IM regularly to update them to start with they soon get used to it. If I have a question for the permies I make sure I use email / IM to talk to them then and there, rather than waiting till I am next in the office, even if it isnt urgent.

You will, at some point, find yourself working in your pants.

I reckon playing pocket billiards at the same time would greatly increase my productivity....

[MrMarkyMark]

WNATS +1

Agree with nearly all the points on here.
Can find the constant IMing a pain.
Often work longer
Boredom.

FTFY

You will, at some point, find yourself working in your pants, hung over, barely conscious, breath like the dragon, due to not having to get up so early.

[FatLazyContractor]

Thanks for the input NAT.

Luckily, I do have an office of sorts - garage conversion. Still think its going to be a bit of a culture change - if it happens that is.

Not quite sure what my Mrs is thinking - thats the worrying thing. Shes harping on that I'd "get in her way and get on her nerves on her day off" but I don't think she understands that No I wont I will actually be working.

I can also foresee a bit of - its 530 why can't you do this now? Tell them (client) to do one your not working for free. Doesn't understand sometimes.

In a way I can see missing office a bit. Current client is pretty nice etc. Although saying that there are past clients that had a really bad office environment.

This to me sounds a bit like managing your Mrs at home than the actual concept of WFH.

General material, IMHO