Informal poll - Do you work from home?

[Former Member]

Hi all,

I'm curious -

Does anyone work from home? It seems like anything like programming would be a good place to telecommute.

Is your company thinking about it? What is the response?

Did you bring this up in your company? What was the response?

If you do work from home, how often?

My company is THINKING about allowing work from home. I would love to be able to do it. I get a lot more done from home than anywhere else.

So I'm wondering has anyone done this?

The interesting thing - the consultants we have working at my company at least 50% work off-site. it's cheaper for the company than bringing them in. And we pay for the work instead of by the hour. So as long as it is completed on time, and done well, it really doesn't matter where it is done at. Ah HA! Maybe that is a good way to do things.

I - am - a lowly cog in the big wheel. So I am not the driving force, but am an interested party.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Michelle

[Former Member]

Working from home can have its advantages and disadvantages, especially when you own your own business. I have a few friends who program from the home and really excel at it. Working at home can be productive and save the company office expenses, but you would still need to record all time spent at the home.

[clinton_jones2]

Some of my East Coast colleagues have this luxurious opportunity. They are in a variety of different roles but they do complain that they are usually the last to hear about some things. I think one can underestimate the amount of communication that happens in corridors, through overhearing others' conversations and the proverbial cubic-hell discussions.

I'd love to work permanently from home but that's not really feasible, a telephone conversation or a instant meeting or chat session doesn't quite enable the same receptor responses. Face to face interactions facilitate the ability to 'smell the fear'; see the excitement and hear the sighs....

Although I can telecommute on days when I don't ave scheduled face-to-face meetings the other problem is getting everyone to align their calendars with my selected days away from the office.... it doesn't always work.....<perceptible sigh>

[Former Member]

I have done work from home for some months and I found that intially I was very productive as I wasnt travelling to office so I was utilizing (4 hours)that time and enrgy in work and was able to complete task in time or rather beforehand.

But later on it became monotonus and bore.

And as already mentioned if you are working from home then client assume that you are in front of the system for the 8 or 9 hours and they ping or call u anytime but again this one is a particular case and it might not happen with others.

Every thing has there pros and cons and if we make blend of the things then that will be the best.

By saying so I mean that in a week for 3 days work from home and 2 days work from office will be the best option and if the days are alternate then they are the best.

[former_member583013]

I live about 8 minutes from my office...so there's not really a need for me to work from home...sometimes I do it...we have flexible hours and trust each other enough to justify working from home.

For me...the best way of working from home is that I can eat some guacamole and chips while lying on my bed with my laptop...besides that...I better stick in the office...living so close I can always go to have lunch with my wife and then come back to work.

Before I came to Montreal, I was working from home...because by living in Peru...it was a little bit hard to come back and forth everyday -;)

Greetings,

Blag.

[Former Member]

Hi all!

First off thank you for taking the time to answer. I must say I was surprised at the different answers.

I'm going to try to leverage some of the answers at my company to help get a day working from home. And the others - they give me something to think about. The things I will lose if I'm not here physically.

Second-

I'd like to write an article for a new magazine that we have just started it's called the Mentor's Quarterly. I would love to put some of the quotes in the article. So if you DO NOT want you quote mentioned please let me know.

I would also LOVE to ask you a quick couple of questions. You would get your name in lights in our magazine. We have a limited readership right now but hope to grow. I could offer you a free copy. (MMMmmmm... Everyone gets a free copy.)

Anyway if you wouldn't mind answering some quick questions from me. Please see my profile for contact information. Click on my user name to get there. If you have some quick questions for me feel free to send them my way as well.

Thank you - again thank you for the responses. My original intent was totally for my job. But my friend Otto suggested a article. So I'd rather not just have information from me! Boring.

Michelle

And if youu2019re bored come take a look at the magazine - comment after the "article". We love reviews good and bad. That way we can improve. One of the comments was lack of other input.

http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/index?rid=/library/uuid/b060f97a-4df5-2d10-f6bc-f25aa20845a9

[Former Member]

It is funny that in my working area we were talking this same topic during days in last week because we had a consultant that is an employee for HP and has being working from home the last 12 years and he told us that the trick is to have your own office at home where you won´t be disturbed by the kids (he has four). He told us that the company started this a long time ago and he knows some other neightbors that work from home too.

Personally I would love to work from home so I can Have a Life, and I know lots of people that would love this too because trafic in here is a nightmare, so heavy that some times you can spend one hour to drive less than half a kilometer. I spend every day more than 4 hours driving (with some luck) just to go to work and come back home (an 80 Kms round trip).

In Cities like this one the benefits of working at home are so high that should be promoted by goverments because you could have less trafic, less polution, less expenses for the companies including goverment offices, less people sick suffering from stress, at least in this city less crime every day and a lot more benefits. But as already mentioned before in this poll, this is a matter of cultural thinking and change resistance that is so comonly seem in management levels.

Hopefully some day this will happens because with today's technollogy it is just a waste of money to loose productive time from the people.

Regards,

[matt]

I have three clients.

One is based in another country - so perforce I work from home for them. They supplied me with a laptop, so I've full access to everything I need. They have people working all over the place, even in their HQ country, so home working is a matter of course.

One is based twenty minutes from home. I have access to the company mail and can access the SAP systems. It works, but due to the nature of the access (via my own PC, using Citrix), it's a bit slow, and the screen refresh is sometimes at flaky It's fine for support, but not for hard-core developing. It is certainly not unusual for one of my client colleagues to say they'll be working from home the next day. I tend to work for them in their office.

With my third client, there is no office. I access their SAP systems via SAPGui, or, when doing Web Dynpro, by Remote Desktop Connection.

The tool I find most useful when working at home/remotely is instant messaging.

I try now to work from home at least 2 days a week. I don't know if I get more done - I don't think it makes much difference. But it definitely improves my lifestyle. I generally start work at around 6am. My daughter brings me a cuppa tea at about 6:30/7:00 am. My children appreciate me being at home, especially on those days my wife works. I'm a fan of after lunch naps.

I do have my own office at home, with a nice powerful computer with two good sized screens. (I have two, because I haven't got the space for more). I couldn't work effectively with a laptop on the dining room table.

Generally, I would not vary my rate according to home/site working. The whole point of my work ethos is I'm paid for what I do - not for being present in the office. While I save money on commuting, the client saves money on office space. I lose money, if you want to think in those terms which actually I don't, because I've got to heat my office, I lose part of my home to work, and I have to pay for my own coffee. On the plus side, I my own coffee is better.

[pokrakam]

>

> While I save money on commuting, the client saves money on office space. I lose money, if you want to think in those terms which actually I don't, because I've got to heat my office, I lose part of my home to work, and I have to pay for my own coffee.  On the plus side, I my own coffee is better.

By that logic I should be drinking [my favourite coffee|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kona_coffee] (especially the Peaberry) all day when I'm working from home as I'd still not get anywhere near my average commuting costs. I like your thinking!

[Former Member]

Hi Michelle

I'm in two minds about this...

My current client has agreed to wfh 2 days per week which is much appreciated as it allows some home time and our 23 year old cat misses me desperately but it can be a highly misused benefit.

There is also the loss of interaction within the team - we all pick up tips and tricks from each other which is one major benefit (in my opinion) of contracting instead of going permie - always see new ways to address a problem.

Not always possible via email or webex...

Cheers

David

Edited by: David Berry on Jan 16, 2011 7:55 PM

[former_member184657]

Last month I made an arrangement with my Project Manager that I will work:

- four hours from office (1PM to 5PM) and

- four hours from home (8PM-12PM)

The reason for that is easy and seamless communication. My Client is a truly Multi National Company with operations in more than a 100 countries. Im an ABAP Developer based in Bangalore(India) who is incharge of co-ordination with two internal teams - Asia/Pacific team and the Global Team headquartered in the US. Being a ABAP developer, I need to interact with Functional Consulants across all world regions including ASIA-PAC, Europe and the Americas. The timings I suggested to my PM was the most preferable to communicate with all teams without me having to stretch beyond my limits.

When I conveyed it to my PM, he was all for idea and gave me the go-ahead as it was a win-win situation.

On a personal front, I like the partial work-from-home option. It allows me the peace of my home to get my work done. Im someone who needs deafening silence around me to concentrate on my work and for this the work-from-home is just what the Doctor prescribed!

And since I still go to work for 4 hours I do not loose my social network, KTs from colleagues and team lunches. Another win-win situation.

pk

[JPReyes]

@ Kishan

It allows me the peace of my home to get my work done. Im someone who needs deafening silence around me to concentrate on my work and for this the work-from-home is just what the Doctor prescribed!

You should try working from my place its like a zoo until kids go to bed! 😄

I will love to be able to work from home but theres far too many distractions. prefer the "deafening silence" of my desk (wherever it is)

Juan

[Former Member]

I work from home at about 1 day per week. No commuting, i get more things done in the same time and i don't have to see all the fools from the office (kidding). Probably it's rather the other way round

But i like to go to work the other days, i wouldn't like to work from home all the time. Also as sap basis guy i work a lot during non-office hours obviously mostly from home too.

Some bosses don't like home office too much, they think people won't work much and they cannot check it. But hey, I don't see much difference to just idling at your work place. Some colleagues also say they are not able to concentrate at home, because of their kids, dogs and such.

Home working can be greatly improved by tools like instant messaging and screen sharing tools. So even from home, collaboration is possible to some degree.

So happy working, wherever you are!

Michael

[Former Member]

Michael,

Nice tips! I guess again the thing is - life style.

Home working can be greatly improved by tools like instant messaging and screen sharing tools. So even from home, collaboration is possible to some degree.

Happy working - to you too! I'm glad to have a job.

Michelle

[Former Member]

Work from home is good. No place like home.

Your team members can always get a hold of you via email or phone.

The only thing you might miss is socializing events like having lunch or happy hour. Sometimes you should touch base with them (to show Iu2019m here).

The hard part is you have to have self discipline, donu2019t let your guard down. Donu2019t wait until the last minute to do your stuff (procrastination). Also, you should be result oriented since you have to have something to show at the end.

Other than that I donu2019t see any problem. Iu2019m not a fan of micromanagement or time-oriented (9 to 5).

Jen

[Former Member]

Jen,

I total agree. (but then I would because I want to work from home.) Great tips.

The hard part is you have to have self discipline, donu2019t let your guard down. Donu2019t wait until the last minute to do your stuff (procrastination). Also, you should be result oriented since you have to have something to show at the end. 

Thank you!

Michelle

[federico_blarasin]

I hope remote working will be more common in the future.

I'm not sure for permanent employee of an end client (no possibility for corporate mindset), but for independent constants it should be possible. And the company could save money (I'm open for a lower salary being able to work remotely).

Also, you may decide not to stay at home and share a place with your mates (they are also working remotely).

Let's say you spend 4/5 days every month for meeting in the office, then for the rest of the time you can decide:

-where to work (at home, in a office with your mates, or in a wonderful place close to the sea);

-who you are working with (alone, your family, your friends, SDN experts...);

-how to organise your day (as long you're respecting the deadlines, or you're giving prompt answers if doing a support roles).

This is my concept of progress

[former_member186746]

>

> And the company could save money (I'm open for a lower salary being able to work remotely).

Interesting you said that.

I forgot to mention that at the end of last year I was contacted by a recruiter asking me about my rate, immediately followed by the question of what my remote rate is.

This is the very first time this was asked of me. And I know it won't be the last.

If companies want to become more and more cost efficient they have no other option than to hire temporary remotely working consultants.

You don't loose office space and you can hire them for less money.

And as technology continues to improve, teleconferencing becomes a viable option when you need to see people face to face.

Cheers, Rob

[federico_blarasin]

>Rob Dielemans wrote:
I forgot to mention that at the end of last year I was contacted by a recruiter asking me about my rate, immediately followed by the question of what my remote rate is.

Happy to hear that

I think it could be a good way for the companies to save money.

You're paying a lower rate to the consultants and you don't need a big office in the city centre. So you're saving on rent and also on utility bills.

It would be a good thing for the environment as well, less people moving everyday, less carbon impact.

Maybe someone is not happy to hear 'lower rate' (I can hardly write it :-P) but think about it: if you're working remotely you don't need to pay an expensive rent in an expensive (polluted, chaotic, and son on...) metropolis, but you can cheaply live on the countryside.

Maybe a lower rate can become a higher 'real' income.

[pokrakam]

> Interesting you said that.
> I forgot to mention that at the end of last year I was contacted by a recruiter asking me about my rate, immediately followed by the question of what my remote rate is.

LOL, usually the other way round for me as I quote that without asking. If the rate is inclusive I quote three rates:

Remote (up to 10% onsite for meetings, workshops etc),

Part-remote (average 50% onsite)

Full time onsite

Been doing that for years and it still confuses some recuiters. I usually find clients are less concerned by rate and keener on having me fit in with the rest of their working practices. i.e. if they don't do remote then rate is irrelevant as long as I'm there all day every day.

Cheers,

Mike

[former_member186746]

Hey Mike,

How does that work out then?

Percentage wise (but you may tell me the exact rate if you want, I guess you still have my address somewhere 😛 ).

I myself was thinking of going for 20 percent cheaper for working remotely, maybe even 25.

I think it makes more sense to start from a fair remote rate as a basis and then use some surcharge based system to confuse the recruiters, maybe even use extras if the job is located in expensive cities like London or Paris (coincidently I'm working in Paris at the moment).

Cheers, Rob.

[pokrakam]

>

> How does that work out then?
> Percentage wise (but you may tell me the exact rate if you want, I guess you still have my address somewhere 😛 ).
> 
> I myself was thinking of going for 20 percent cheaper for working remotely, maybe even 25.

No percentages, I simply pass on my average travel costs, rounded up to compensate for my added time spent travelling (which can be 15-20 hours/week, so it's only fair).

[Former Member]

All the best.

Jen

PS: I like "work from ......... home alone "

Edited by: Jen Yakimoto on Jan 16, 2011 5:49 PM

[Former Member]

Federico,

or in a wonderful place close to the sea

You should take a vacation to a beautiful beach before a contract.

how to organise your day

I just carried out my duty as usual, let it unfold naturally. I donu2019t see much difference. Anytime you can talk directly to anyone , just a phone call away.

Jen

Edited by: Jen Yakimoto on Jan 17, 2011 5:15 AM

[federico_blarasin]

 >Jen Yakimoto:
You should take a vacation to a beautiful beach before a contract. 	

Oh I always try that! (I'm on the permie side now, btw).

And I feel very good, the problem is the shock I have when I come back to traffic, concrete and bad weather 😛

That's why, in the future, I would like to spend my time closer to a beach and have a 'holiday' every now and then in a big city

[former_member186746]

Hi,

Yes I do work remotely from time to time.

Usually one day a week, although I have worked at a client where they allowed me to work Mondays and Fridays at home.

Travelling 5 days a week and staying in hotels 4 days a week becomes too boring for me anyways.

The last couple of 5 years I see it has become more and more acceptable by clients.

As has been said previously in this thread this does all depend on the situation at home.

But on average most studies show that people who work at home are more productive. And more and more people become aware of it. It also makes sense you don't have to meet people every day in any kind of position in SAP, be it technical, functional, or managerial.

And you're more productive because you don't work 8 hours straight when you're at home (at least I dont).

I tend to have a fractured working day where I only do things when I'm at least 100 percent focused. So usually I start working straight away for half an hour or one hour, then have breakfast, then work 2 or 3 hours straight. Then go for a walk, some shopping and maybe a bath.Then a couple of hours more. Maybe its time for diner already or I watch a film and then I finish of with one or two hours. I'm at least 20 percent more productive an hour this way.

This is impossible to do in an office where you have to start at a predesignated time every day.

I see a great future in the acceptance of working remotely as this is beneficial to all parties involved.

Cheers, Rob.

[Former Member]

Hey Rob,

YES! At least there is one person who thinks it's possible. (Don't get me wrong guys, I love the negative responses too. It's interesting to see the other side of things. Keep them coming.)

The last couple of 5 years I see it has become more and more acceptable by clients.
As has been said previously in this thread this does all depend on the situation at home.

Well... at my work the consultants have an easier time working off site. We would rather not pay the cost of travel unless it makes sense to have them here. I think I'm more productive when I work from home. You're right, when I did work from home, I always took a long luch and then worked later. (I went and rode my horse or spent time with my son in the summers.)

Thank you for the response!

Michelle

[Lakshmipathi]

One major constraint is there when you work from home, though I never experienced. Clients expects you to be always in front of your laptop / SAP and feel that they have every right to trouble you anytime since you are in home.

If off-site issues are coming continuously, then you will neither be able to concentrate on your support issues nor personal work

thanks

G. Lakshmipathi

[Former Member]

G. Lakshmipathi ,

I'll start with a quote:

One major constraint is there when you work from home, though I never experienced. Clients expects you to be always in front of your laptop / SAP and feel that they have every right to trouble you anytime since you are in home.
If off-site issues are coming continuously, then you will neither be able to concentrate on your support issues nor personal work 

I found your whole response interesting. We tend to have consultants that are working on large projects with deadlines. So, I e-mail with questions. Yes, during regular work hours I would expect a quick response. But off-hours, no I would expect the response the next day. UNLESS we were close to going live, and trying to get the project done in time.

And the issues don't come to you when you are on-site? It's easier for me to ask someone who is here. Actually, I get interupted a lot in the office, and not as much from home. (Again it's been a while since work at home was allowed here.)

Thank you!

Michelle

[Lakshmipathi]

I quoted based on what I am seeing my younger brother working from home. Though on records he has to work from 6.00 pm to 3.00 am daily, off the records, he is working more than 12 hours daily :-). This goes obviously having no proper breakfast, lunch and dinner :-((

thanks

G. Lakshmipathi

[Former Member]

My 2 cents worth.

I worked remotely for 4 years in a global role so even had I been in the office the majority of people I worked with were not located in the same office so working from home was not a big deal.

Advantages:

- fewer interuptions = longer periods of uninterupted time = opportunity to get more work done

- I could take a nap at lunch you might laugh but it was a great way to start the afternoon all refreshed

- I could start dinner (afternoon break)

- no commute time = more time for work or family or both

- less money spent on wardrobe

Disadvantages (more for employees than consultants)

- visibility - if you are not a consultant visibility may be more important for career progression and out of sight truly does mean out of mind so absolutely imperative you find a way to stay visible

- if the work can be done remotely that may lead to the thinking that it can be outsourced and moved to a lower cost country.

- it can take longer to get things done remotely sometimes there is no replacement for face to face conversations no matter how good of a communicator you are.

- left out of those inpromptu side meetings that could really help resolve an issue or keep you from going down the wrong path to resolve a problem.

- sometimes it's hard to get away from work.

- sometimes you get left out of team meetings/organizational meetings because the organizer did not take into consideration people working remotely

In the end it accomodated my specific need at the time. In retrospect not sure if I would do it again. I believe the best solution is to have a few days in the office and a few days at home.

Good luck,

Sandra

[Former Member]

>

> - less money spent on wardrobe

>

So true ...if working from home then no need to spend on wardrobe every 2nd month.......unless you have a hobby of buying clothes often

[Former Member]

Hi Michelle,

My vote is against your concept.....Just close to Andrew's points.

I also love the concept "Work from home" only some times but not regularly.

Regards,

Nick Loy

[Former Member]

Nick,

Another one!!!? I am beginning to despair.

I  also love the concept "Work from home" only some times but not regularly.

Can I ask why? Just the distractions?

Thank you!

Michelle

[Former Member]

I have a contract which states that I must have an office at home.

It cruises at around 20% on average that I do that for research, proof-of-concepts, the inevitable bits & pieces of documentation required, etc.

Important is to have a trust basis for it and not misuse it via too much "flexibility" with shopping, surfing, etc...

If you habe kids at home or mongeese in your roof, then you must think twice about it and whether work fits into your family life and psychological health.

Cheers,

Julius

[Former Member]

Julius,

Wow that is progress!

I have a contract which states that I must have an office at home. 

Trust plays a big facter in this. Although - I'm at work and on the web now! I think that's true with 90% of the people at work. They do take the time to surf the web. (I will be making this up over work which I tend to eat at my desk.)

Again it depends on the lifestyle - interesting. And another consultant instead of a full-time employee. I'm starting to see a trend.

Thanks!

Michelle

[Former Member]

What I can highly recommend you to do, no matter what type and model you are or chose with working from home... you must be able to do some work such as a telephone conference or a presentation via webex for up to an hour or so without yourself worrying about what the kids are up to or them disturbing you / needing your attention.

If either of these happen, then it will not be good for your family life and you must avoid working from home.

If you are a single parent then you might already have that behind you, or not need to worry about it as much (yet).

Cheers,

Julius

[former_member186746]

Oh yeah the whole trust issue.

It is a non-issue really.

Once upon a time.

There was this not so good project manager once and a very good consultant (not me... though I am really really good btw 😛 )

And he told the very good consultant that he didn't like the idea of him working at home because he couldn't be sure that he was doing anything.

The very good consultant replied with, how come you're so sure that I'm doing anything at the moment? I could be on the internet all day long and you would never know.

This left the not so good project manager flabbergasted.

It doesn't matter where you are, if you are **** working at the office you're **** working from home.

However, if you're good working at the office, you're usually better working from home.

Cheers, Rob.

[Former Member]

Hi Michelle,

On one more criteria i it depends upon is your family status and life style.

If you are single and love to take your own time to concentrate on your work, well and good.

But in my case having a two and half year old daughter who already own a laptop at home, my concentration always hover around safe guarding mine @home.

Work From Home is always a good thought/concept which i vote

when i am a

Fresher @work till my child knows how to play with laptops

or

When i am

Above 55 years old

Now i am inbetween these 2 categories

Cheers

~Andrew

[Former Member]

Andrew,

Wow another interesting thought. And one I wasn't expecting.

Work From Home is always a good thought/concept which i vote 
when i am a
Fresher @work till my child knows how to play with laptops
or
When i am
Above 55 years old

I am 41 years old. Not a Fresher. And have one child. He's 13. When I get to work at home, I have a space for that. I go into the room and shut the door. Honestly I get less interuption at home than I do in the office. One Nate is on vacation, I have a very nice lunch with hime. It's been awhile since I was able to do that. Years since I was able to work from home.

Nice flip side to working at home,

Michelle

[henrique_pinto]

I guess it has a bit of cultural aspect on that decision (and by a bit I mean a lot).

For instance, several colleagues in SAP US from several departments (ranging from product management to marketing) work from home, while in SAP Brasil it's not so common. Some areas, like Support are allowed to work from home some days per week, but not the whole time. I guess we're not so trustworthy in Brazil.

BR,

Henrique.

[Former Member]

Henrique,

Now that is interesting. I had no idea it mattered what country you are from.

BR,

Michelle