Do you get more work done at home?

2015-08-24T08:46:14-04:00

For those of us that have made the transition and find ourselves working in positions that allow for this, do you find yourself able to do more for your employer while home?

I ask this because my recent job move has afforded me the chance to do this and I find it to be a good benefit. While I do spend at least 3 days in the office, those days can be filled with people coming to my desk to ask questions and all that sort of thing yet when I'm home, I'm able to focus more on the tasks that I have to complete.

Sure, there is a fair share of TV watching and whatnot but at the end of the day, I feel that the 2 days I spend at home are more productive sometimes than my days in the office.

So RallyPoint, to those that find themselves in the same position, how do you feel? What are some tips you have for those looking to work from home? What are some of the cons you see from doing it? And last, how often do you work from home?

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 24 at 2015 8:50 AM

2015-08-24T08:50:34-04:00

Definately not! Granddaughter!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 24 at 2015 8:55 AM

2015-08-24T08:55:03-04:00

Depends on the office environment I was part of.

Working from home "generally" eliminated PEOPLE distractions. I was able to accomplish things without a specific type of interruption. Having Ted from accounting come over and ask where X was or Sally from HR about the Christmas party. It shifted all the inane questions to phone or email, and allowed those to be answered in MY priority order rather than THEIR priority order.

The tradeoff was that I didn't have all the equipment that I had at the office. Little things like double-triple large screen monitors, which when doing data entry made a huge deal. Using double phone lines, plus cell phone to route specific types of phone calls was a godsend as well.

It's not that I accomplished more, it's I could prioritize "differently" which gave the illusion of accomplishing specific things better.

As an example, when I was still in the Marines, showing up an hour early sometimes I was just able to get 3 hours work done because no one was bugging me AND I had access to everything I needed. No distractions, all my equipment, and I set the priorities. Same concept applies to working at home, if you have a good home office.

Response by PFC Joseph Levi made Aug 24 at 2015 10:28 AM

2015-08-24T10:28:41-04:00

I can work from home on my own time and when I am behind in work, and need to contact constituents, I do. I feel I do get more work done productively. Maybe that's because I have a 47" T.V. in my office ....lol....though it is always on the News Channel. I feel it makes me and especially my boss, Congressman Chris Gibson, look good and shows that we do care about our constituents, by making after hours and weekend phone calls to them.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 27 at 2015 8:46 AM

2015-08-27T08:46:06-04:00

I would love to work from home and so would my wife like me to work from home, but for different reasons: "Hey John, I need you to take the trash out/empty the dishwasher/take the dog for a walk/watch our daughter while I take a nap, etc., etc., etc..."