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Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

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Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#291

Post by bonestamp2 »

ramblerman wrote: post #100
bonestamp2 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the biggest problem is getting them to only work the 37 hours they are hired to put in When I started working from home 10 years ago, this hit me hard. I used to work about 10 hour days in the office. When I started working from home I was working 13-14 hours most days. Over time that lead to burn out and that made me even less productive. Some of it was because I felt a little guilty working from home so I put in…

> When I started working from home I was working 13-14 hours most days. Was this pure development because that seems so unfeasible (at least for me).

Yes. That was before I had kids. It was not a good life no matter how you look at it.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#292

Post by piyush_soni »

isostatic wrote: post #273
GordonS wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it's possible to work from home and look after a child at the same time - that won't give your work or your child sufficient focus.

Of course it's not, sounds like the OP has a problem with discipline, both his own (actually work rather than play with child), and the child (who hasn't been told to leave alone) I'm assuming that there is someone else actually looking after the child, you can't leave a 2 year old alone for more than a couple of minutes (and even then you have to keep one eye on them)

I'm amazed to see some people here on HN could be that judgemental. You don't even know me and you somehow think that I wouldn't have asked my kid to let me work alone. My wife is there all day to take care of the child, and even though she does everything she can in her capacity, I don't know how much can you discipline a 2 year old who just can't resist being with her dad. Not sure how understanding/wise toddlers are in your part of the world.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#293

Post by piyush_soni »

Nowyouknow wrote: post #231
piyush_soni wrote: post #26

Did their sample involve men with a 2 year old at home that constantly needs their attention as long as they are at home, and thinks that when their father is sitting on the laptop, he's making pink and blue spheres in paintbrush? Honestly, I can achieve little at home these days and feel like I'm doing injustice to both, work and the kid.

Very similar situation as you. Kid will love to hop on my lap and play with the mouse. He's even participated in a few conference calls! Luckily, his grandparents are nearby so I will drop him off every single day. Huge peace of mind and doesn't get in the way of work. I'm considering day care now as I don't want to continue to burden the grandparents (they say they love it, but they have lives too!) Is day care an o…

Yes, it's an option, but my wife is a stay at home mother so she takes care of her mostly. It's just that my kid can't resist knocking my door to see me or talk to me. And I'm surprised to see all others who are chiming 'discipline', she's just 2, so not sure how much can we discipline her right now.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#294

Post by dmcgill50 »

This study was several years ago with a company that does call center work. This sort of productivity is easy to measure compared to other forms of team work. I don't think that it would be beneficial to extrapolate that finding to all kinds of work. Co-location is a huge benefit when working with small, focused teams. There have been volumes written on the benefit of being in close proximity to members with a shared goal.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#295

Post by ende »

frockington wrote: post #151
ende wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a contractor, you are under no obligation to be an ass in any seat, and if client says otherwise you can point them towards IRS reclassification.

As a contractor you can also be fired. Most states are at will employment. "Bob wasn't performing and we had difficulties reaching him when needed"

No, as an employee you can be fired. As a contractor, well, that all depends on the language of your contract... it can be broken or not-renewed, but it's closer to losing a repeat-customer than being fired.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#296

Post by loco5niner »

piyush_soni wrote: post #293
Nowyouknow wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very similar situation as you. Kid will love to hop on my lap and play with the mouse. He's even participated in a few conference calls! Luckily, his grandparents are nearby so I will drop him off every single day. Huge peace of mind and doesn't get in the way of work. I'm considering day care now as I don't want to continue to burden the grandparents (they say they love it, but they have lives too!) Is day care an o…

Yes, it's an option, but my wife is a stay at home mother so she takes care of her mostly. It's just that my kid can't resist knocking my door to see me or talk to me. And I'm surprised to see all others who are chiming 'discipline', she's just 2, so not sure how much can we discipline her right now.

I think 'discipline' is the wrong term. Rather 'training'.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#297

Post by loco5niner »

occamrazor wrote: post #123
roansh wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess it's about the freedom to have either one at the time your prefer. Quite environment doesn't exist at open offices. :)

Counterpoint: I work in a very quiet open space office and I like it. If people want to chat they go to the kitchen. Have to say however that other departments are intolerably noisy.

Counter-Counterpoint: In my almost-never quiet open space office, if people want to chat, they do it at their desks. Right next to my desk. I don't like this. However, with enough people complaining, it has slowly been getting better...

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#298

Post by robodale »

zimbatm wrote: post #175
adriand wrote: post #114

I think it depends on what you want to optimize for. If you want to optimize for individual productivity (and there are no trust issues) then sure, working from home is effective. However, you may decide that the individual productivity loss of having people work in an office is outweighed by the group productivity and morale gain from having people working together. Here are some reasons from a holistic company pers…

This logic doesn't even hold the basic scrutiny. 0. The group productivity argument is completely unsubstantiated. 1. Trust in employees is fundamental, why even go there. 2. There are remote-first companies with great culture. 3. Ad-hoc training works great over Hangouts, I do it all the time. 4. Most meetings are not urgent. For sysops consider having a team on-call. Again it works great over Hangouts. Etc...

Agree totally.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#299

Post by elieldepaula »

Very good!

I work remotely a few years (about 8 years) and it definitely changed my life. Less traffic time, more family time and all the advantages we already know about remote work. But there are a few butts in all this.

1- You definitely need a good working environment at home, no use sitting on the kitchen table with your notebook. 2- A certain level of self-discipline is required for those who will work remotely to avoid procrastination. I know a lot of people who can not work at home, it turns into Facebook and Netflix. 3. Remote work is a culture that has to be applied to the whole family. For a long time, and even nowadays, because I was at home, people thought I was at ease and / or their disposition, which caused some friction. The remote worker has to make it clear to family members that at that time it is as if he is not there.

Other than that, I think it's very valid, and I think it's good that everyone could work remotely.

Re: Study Shows a Productivity Boost of Working From Home

#300

Post by Nowyouknow »

piyush_soni wrote: post #293
Nowyouknow wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very similar situation as you. Kid will love to hop on my lap and play with the mouse. He's even participated in a few conference calls! Luckily, his grandparents are nearby so I will drop him off every single day. Huge peace of mind and doesn't get in the way of work. I'm considering day care now as I don't want to continue to burden the grandparents (they say they love it, but they have lives too!) Is day care an o…

Yes, it's an option, but my wife is a stay at home mother so she takes care of her mostly. It's just that my kid can't resist knocking my door to see me or talk to me. And I'm surprised to see all others who are chiming 'discipline', she's just 2, so not sure how much can we discipline her right now.

That's sweet. I can see how that can be tough though, how do you say no? It'd be a welcome interruption for me, but I think I'd be able to shut the door/block it out when needed. My wife is home during the summers (works at a school), so I could have her play interference as necessary.
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