When should "work from home" turn into "work at work"?

[shdw01]

We are an essential business in my state. So we have the privilege to continue to work and get paid. I tell my staff that weekly. I continue to go into the office daily but my entire staff works from home about 80% of the time.

I have daily communication with them and their job is getting done but i'd be foolish if i thought the production was anywhere near it would be if they are in the office. As an essential business, i sent them home because i felt it was the humane thing to do. Especially in late march when panic was at an all time high.

As a democratic state, they just extended our stay at home order til May 31 when our local cases have been drastically declining for the last 2 weeks. In my opinion May 31 extension was insane to commit a state to. As essential I do not have to follow this but I do have to keep everyone's best interest in mind. As well as their (correct) belief that I care about their health and safety.

What do you think is the right move?

Come back with rules immediately? Gradual return...maybe stagger office presence? Wait til local cases hit a low number for x days? Wait til state lets other businesses work? Wait for schools?

 

[Albatross]

Everything gets done slower working remotely. I know this as a fact from what I am seeing. A lot of companies may continue this, and once a competitor breaks out if line and creates the office environment again it will force the others to do the same.

 

[shdw01]

It is impossible. I can see from talking to everyone that there are varying levels of concern/panic. Some want to work from home because it is easy...some want to out of fear. Some because of child care. It's all different. There are some that come into work because they realize how much more efficient everything is.

 

[bodyforlife]

Interesting perspective. I don't know the answer shdw01 but I've found the opposite to be true with my wife and one of my clients. They both think they're doing more work. My client says the social aspect of meeting is gone and they are right to business on their zoom meetings. My wife is definitely working more hours being at home and working well past her work day, sometimes doing meetings after hours.

 

[StevieRay]

We are allowing a lot of of ours to work from home , it’s not as effective , I also have a girl go in their Facebook page during the day and see how much the post during the day on it, so yea, many spend a lot of time on Facebook “working” from home

 

[Willie99]

For me, too many interruptions at home and I'm best when I have laser focus. Plus my setup and my space at work optimizes my use of time.

Wouldn't work for me, but I understand how and why it could make some more productive

 

[bodyforlife]

We are allowing a lot of of ours to work from home , it’s not as effective , I also have a girl go in their Facebook page during the day and see how much the post during the day on it, so yea, many spend a lot of time on Facebook “working” from home

I guess then it would be safe to say it depends on the quality of the worker and what the expectation is of their output? Both my wife and my client are higher level employees and they know their reviews and bonus structure are tied to their output (and of course there are deadlines on projects).

 

[Albatross]

We are allowing a lot of of ours to work from home , it’s not as effective , I also have a girl go in their Facebook page during the day and see how much the post during the day on it, so yea, many spend a lot of time on Facebook “working” from home

That's good stuff

 

[jaws2357]

Yesterday

 

[StevieRay]

I guess then it would be safe to say it depends on the quality of the worker and what the expectation is of their output? Both my wife and my client are higher level employees and they know their reviews and bonus structure are tied to their output (and of course there are deadlines on projects).

We do have some that work solid 8-10 hours , one guy has a question and took a picture of his computer screen but didn’t block the bottle of Jack out of it. I had to laugh

 

[TimmyRules]

We do have some that work solid 8-10 hours , one guy has a question and took a picture of his computer screen but didn’t block the bottle of Jack out of it. I had to laugh

How full was the bottle and how was his sbellin on teh qeston..christmas-toastgif

 

[shdw01]

I actually think a few of the workers are spending more time doing work. But because efficiency will never be the same they are producing less.

I just have to live with that.

We use slack and i see them online at crazy hours.

Amazingly one called in sick.

 

[Knightrofins]

We are allowing a lot of of ours to work from home , it’s not as effective , I also have a girl go in their Facebook page during the day and see how much the post during the day on it, so yea, many spend a lot of time on Facebook “working” from home

I use my facebook and RX time for "working from work" haha

 

[Knightrofins]

I actually think a few of the workers are spending more time doing work. But because efficiency will never be the same they are producing less.

I just have to live with that.

We use slack and i see them online at crazy hours.

Amazingly one called in sick.

Cant believe someone called in sick. My wife has been working full time from home for 5 years. I dont think she's ever called in "sick".

The best part about working from home is that if you arent feeling well, you can STILL work and SAVE your sick days!!

 

[Knightrofins]

It is impossible. I can see from talking to everyone that there are varying levels of concern/panic. Some want to work from home because it is easy...some want to out of fear. Some because of child care. It's all different. There are some that come into work because they realize how much more efficient everything is.

Give you employees the option to come back to work right now if they want. If they want to stay home until the mandate is lifted, its hard to tell them to go to work (you dont want them to blast you publicly for "making them go to work".

The ones in fear and for child care purposes, they are not going to go into the office. Cant blame them either (especially child care).

However if they are slacking, let them know what you expect done on a daily/weekly basis and if they are under performing, let them know. Make them work more hours (unpaid) if need be. If they complain, mention to them how much time they are saving by not traveling to and from work every day and that they have the "convenience" to be home.

I said in another post on here that my wife works from home. To me its the GREATEST thing ever

 

[Mobdeeper7239]

We are allowing a lot of of ours to work from home , it’s not as effective , I also have a girl go in their Facebook page during the day and see how much the post during the day on it, so yea, many spend a lot of time on Facebook “working” from home

Productivity is down everywhere. That should be expected until people adjust more. If work is still being completed, that’s all that really matters

 

[jaws2357]

If U R one of Da MobDsters its one & the same they live on the street & sell Crack so itss dontss beee bodering dem

 

[HarryCaray]

This is forcing us to get leaner. Those that are motivated and mature enough to get more done from home are still here, those who aren't are furloughed and/or let go. A high percentage of my field is wfh anyway. As for direct reports I expect the same level of productivity, with the understanding that there needs to be flexibility wrt specific working hours. Which is kind of the way I like it anyway. We all recognize that we're saving 1+ hour daily of commute time, and have some added benefit of flexible daytime scheduling, so the expectation is you man up and do some shit on Saturday or whatever to keep up. But idgaf if someone is browsing facebook more during the day or taking a siesta in the afternoon - it's all about net output.

To answer your question shdw I think you have to stay in line with what the state does lest you look like an asshole. Might need to come up with ways to promote productivity even more than usual; bonuses for high performers or other positive reinforcement.

 

[bigbet1234]

I prefer working when I want and not on someone else’s time. So it doesn’t really apply.

 

[Albatross]

Productivity is down everywhere. That should be expected until people adjust more. If work is still being completed, that’s all that really matters

For a BS job, I would agree. For a real job its unacceptable