Working from home: How are you finding Zoom, virtual business meetings, etc.?

[VPS]

I know it’s not the right thread but couldn’t find a better place.

Any tips on discussion points to raise with management when we are directed back into the office? I have a feeling the Brisbane office I am in will be directed to return to the office possibly as early as 1 November. They are doing a trial with an office in another state that you can work from home 40% (2 days) a week which is just a tick and flick exercise (apparently) but anything above is up to each individual manager. I have been working for another manager for the last 12 months but am due to return to a different manager very shortly and let’s just say they are not very accommodating. I would love 100% but know this isn’t going to be realistic. I would be happy with 80% (4 days a week), not so happy with 60% and really annoyed if only given the base 40%.

I am in a client contact role via phone/email and can do the job from home as evident by the last 8mths. I am in a very senior position and don’t require assistance or hand holding. If I need help I am very good at using my network to resolve issues.

negotiation wise - should I go in at 100? Am very flexible with going in for the monthly team meeting or any onsite required training.

If I can do 80% would pick Monday as my day in the office, most public holidays fall on this (4) and when I can will take that as my day off (time off in lieu - probably 1 per month). With annual leave, xmas close ect i will only need to work 30 Monday’s.

I love working in my PJ’s, having a very clean bathroom/kitchen to use. I love the quiet and not having to wear my noise cancelling headphones at work to block the inappropriat/non work related conversations. I do not miss the gossip, backstabbing, career climbing. I love the commute (currently 15 seconds) and the extra family time we are getting.

The company I work for is 100% WFH because we don't even have an office in Australia and we are scattered all over the country. I knew a few of the people I work with before I took on this role but I do sometimes feel it would be good to meet some of them face to face. We are all very busy and don't often have time to chat. One of the new staff has instigated a once a month 30 minute chat for all staff which is working well and I enjoy that.

Having said all that, if I was your manager I would baulk at 100% and they may think you don't want to be part of the company because you will not have any interaction with new staff. I would go for 80% - be very clear about your reasons why you are working from home and also be very honest about what you will miss by not going into the office and how you can resolve that. My office in a previous job was only a few doors from the tea room so I used to get lots of dropins which drove me crazy but there was the occasional visit that solved a problem by a quick chat. Good luck

 

[PineappleSkip]

Any tips on discussion points to raise with management when we are directed back into the office?

I had a moment of disorientation, thinking I was just reading another word email instead of a thread.

I’m with HVR, build the business case. Not sure what is the point of percentages, my questions are what is the business or productivity benefit of WFH for them? Also, you would know - and can put - what events you would need to be coming into the office.

cheers skip

 

[Hvr]

Well today I broke the law. I drove 8km from home to Officeworks to collect my new chair. Click and Collect. Put a mask on before leaving the car and sanitised my hands. Then wiped the parcel down and drove home.

Fortunately I wasn't caught. Delivery would have been another $40 which I find insulting when I've spent nearly $400. And yet, if I'd spent $100 on anything else I would've got free delivery.

My new Stillford chair has been assembled and adjusted, and I love it.

With at least another month WFH it's worth it.

 

[Daver6]

They look great but...


I'm in Melbourne.

I've been WFH before it became cool. Ie, almost four years now. Bought one of these chairs and it is worth every cent. It's is in as good a condition as the day I purchased it.

I didn't buy direct. There were a couple of places in Perth that stocked them and I bought from there. Now if sleep Perth has places that stock them, I'm sure somewhere in Melbourne must.

Edit: Well I should have finished reading the thread...you've bought a chair My comments stand on the value in the Herman Miller ones.

 

[harvyk]

I know it’s not the right thread but couldn’t find a better place.

Any tips on discussion points to raise with management when we are directed back into the office? I have a feeling the Brisbane office I am in will be directed to return to the office possibly as early as 1 November. They are doing a trial with an office in another state that you can work from home 40% (2 days) a week which is just a tick and flick exercise (apparently) but anything above is up to each individual manager. I have been working for another manager for the last 12 months but am due to return to a different manager very shortly and let’s just say they are not very accommodating. I would love 100% but know this isn’t going to be realistic. I would be happy with 80% (4 days a week), not so happy with 60% and really annoyed if only given the base 40%.

I am in a client contact role via phone/email and can do the job from home as evident by the last 8mths. I am in a very senior position and don’t require assistance or hand holding. If I need help I am very good at using my network to resolve issues.

negotiation wise - should I go in at 100? Am very flexible with going in for the monthly team meeting or any onsite required training.

If I can do 80% would pick Monday as my day in the office, most public holidays fall on this (4) and when I can will take that as my day off (time off in lieu - probably 1 per month). With annual leave, xmas close ect i will only need to work 30 Monday’s.

I love working in my PJ’s, having a very clean bathroom/kitchen to use. I love the quiet and not having to wear my noise cancelling headphones at work to block the inappropriat/non work related conversations. I do not miss the gossip, backstabbing, career climbing. I love the commute (currently 15 seconds) and the extra family time we are getting.

Negotiate, build a business case for why you should stay at home, and be ready to hear their reasons for wanting everyone back in the office.

Keep an open mind when discussing the subject.

Just some reasons they may throw back at you:
You mention that you're in a senior role, could it be that you actually provide support for the more junior staff? Support doesn't have to be formal sit down training sessions, it could simply be the confidence they have that you're there if they need to ask a question.

Communications may be easier when everyone is in the office. Sure at home we have video, phone and text chat, but these can all be distracting from the task at hand. Rarely is a "quick message" quick in that format. There is something to be said for being able to talk to someone in their office / at their desk (there is also some negatives, I'll grant you that).

Team Building, sure you know your team now, but in 12 months, when people start to leave and new people come in, you'll lose that rapport.


Of course I am assuming in the above that you're a part of a well function team. Throw in some toxic individuals, a manager who couldn't manage a piss up in a brewery, and a general office environment that could be a circle of hell, different story.

 

[Port Power]

I didn't buy direct. There were a couple of places in Perth that stocked them and I bought from there. Now if sleepy Perth has places that stock them, I'm sure somewhere in Melbourne must.

Edit: Well I should have finished reading the thread...you've bought a chair My comments stand on the value in the Herman Miller ones.

In any case, the wording stated “currently only available in NSW”. Presumably that relates to COVID-19 in some way due to lack of manufacturing/importing/delivery.

A good chair makes so much difference. As does having a room to use as an office, although reports of children and dogs interrupting or impacting on video calls has been much less in the last couple of months. Perhaps more people than we hear about have gone back to their work offices?

 

[daft009]

Had to fire an employee, tried and tried to get them to change their behaviour since the last 6 months.

Since lockdown the attention to work dwindled.. got to the point we would ring and he'd still be sleeping. Otherwise wouldn't start work till 2pm, being up all night for whatever reasons.

Would "sign in" on our WFH system and go back to sleep...

 

[Hvr]

Would "sign in" on our WFH system and go back to sleep...

Well that's fraud. He's lucky he wasn't charged and made to pay beck the wages paid to him whilst doing this.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Well today I broke the law. I drove 8km from home to Officeworks to collect my new chair. Click and Collect. Put a mask on before leaving the car and sanitised my hands. Then wiped the parcel down and drove home.

Fortunately I wasn't caught. Delivery would have been another $40 which I find insulting when I've spent nearly $400. And yet, if I'd spent $100 on anything else I would've got free delivery.

My new Stillford chair has been assembled and adjusted, and I love it.

With at least another month WFH it's worth it.

Essential transport worker?

 

[daft009]

Well that's fraud. He's lucky he wasn't charged and made to pay beck the wages paid to him whilst doing this.

Thanks, didn't even think of that!

I'm too easy going as a boss

 

[Hvr]

Essential transport worker?

Well classed as an essential worker (not transport) but it's all moot now we can travel up to 25 km in MEL.

 

[DeKa]

My home office chair is starting to get uncomfortable after 8 months of full time work from home. It’s a ~$300 “Visionary Deluxe Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair” I bought in 2010 for occasional WFH use, but the padding has all squashed so it’s quite uncomfortable now, and I haven’t put on weight.

I’m wondering if I should take the cushion apart and see if I can insert some new foam. It seems wasteful to throw away the whole chair (which I’ve been very happy with for 8-10 hours a day most of the time until recently). Has anyone done this and have any advice?

Another relevant WFH topic - Internet.
I switched my NBN to a more “business” ISP called Future Broadband.
It’s amazing how great all my cloud-based work apps are now - super snappy and as good as being in the office. They claim to have “Fast Connections to major Cloud & Content Providers via low-contention NBN CVCs.” and I have to agree the improved performance for the major CRM and ERP apps is like night and day, so I’m glad I swapped.

 

[Hvr]

My home office chair is starting to get uncomfortable

Get a chair pad from KMart. At $4 they're quite good for a little extra comfort.

https://www.kmart.com.au/product/chair-pad---grey/2561868

 

[Hvr]

Well the figures are in:
FY 20, 59 days WFH.
FY 21, 219 days WFH.

Performance appraisal, all areas either meeting or exceeding expectations.

For FY 22, I am hoping to replicate FY 21, without the lock down.

So far the team has negotiated one day per fortnight in the office when lock down ends in Melbourne.

 

[Denali]

Important question is, what do you plan on claiming for WHF? Fixed rate or actual cost method?

Last year I set up a home office so other than a new chair and printer/scanner, nothing much to claim this year.

 

[Hvr]

Fixed rate 80c per hour.
Claimed lots in FY20.

 

[exceladdict]

Fixed rate 80c per hour.
Claimed lots in FY20.

I think this will be easiest for me as well, to save creating depreciation schedules and then splitting time etc.

 

[Simo]

How is all of our members in NSW VIC and SA coping with WFH again... Most of the systems are now all set up and quiet easy to go back to that... I have been sick the last few days and have WFH and all been easy... I am in QLD

 

[defurax]

In VIC it's the new normal! I was calculating my "Covid hours" for FY20-21 for the ATO and I realised I went to work less than 40 days this year!!!

 

[Simo]

In VIC it's the new normal! I was calculating my "Covid hours" for FY20-21 for the ATO and I realised I went to work less than 40 days this year!!!

My guess there is a few people in that situation... Also interesting if you actually did more hours when working from home