So sorry for the burner account. My normal account is far to easy to track me down.
I have worked in IT the last 15+ years. Been in anything from the major corporations to smaller ones with just a few employees. Always on the vendor side of things. I work in delivery and always has. Either as 1st level support (15 years ago) or in the business process and customer executive layer (Key Account Management, Change Management, etc).
Before covid I used to work from home maybe 10-20 days a year. I loved those days as it felt like I could put in at least 3 days worth of actual work during one work of day. This because I wouldnt be disturbed as much by mo coworkers and I wouldn’t need to attend the corporate social code during the day.
Throughout Covid I’ve been working from home now almost every day for the last 2 1/2 years. I switched jobs to a new company last summer and there I have been to the office maybe 15 times the last 9 months.
During this time I started to take notes and map out what was actually expected of me and I (over)deliver on everything I know is required and wanted from me. I make sure all the customers I am assigned are happy, I cater to their needs even if they are outside of scope and I accept every challenge i get from my closed manager or my co workers. I even sometimes travel to the other side of the country for meetings for a day (1 hour flight each way) or drive to factories to check out things others arent bothered to do or “don’t have time for”.
I also struggle to fill my workday because of this insane efficiency working without physical coworkers around. Currently I try to stay online from when I wake up around 8 am and and until 3 pm. But the first hour or so I normally make coffee, check the news, walk the dog or myself, drink some coffee and make sure the house is good and tidy. Then I work for 2 hours before I take an hour lunch including a walk again before I finish the day with 2-3 hours work (less than 3 when I have personal things to care for; Insurance, bank, kids, letters, or other things).
So basically I’m ”at work” for 6 hours every day and I work 4-5 hours.
Our contractual hours are 40 hours a week. I work 25-30 hours effectively.
And the most impressive part is I have been employee of the month 2 months last 6 months because of my outstanding performance and attention to detail.
I don’t understand why we keep the 8 hour workdays and why it would be out of the question if I asked to get my 25-30 hours formalized with same pay as today.
I see my coworkers struggling with keeping up because they are always so busy doing something else than work, procrastinating or something else to keep them busy. They are in a bad circle and can’t get out. they have too much tasks to get prioritized and going.
And when I ask them if they need help to get structured they don’t want that.
I think “most people” enjoy looking busy. They make it hard on themselves so that they get busy so that they can feel good about feeling overworked and not underworked.
I love my life working just 5-6 hours a day and will continue this.
I will also pursue working for an organization that promotes less time working and thus try to help achieve better lives for all!
So, big question is; How do you feel and do you actively make sure your days are as best as possible so that you can work less – but do more? Work smarter?