Full remote working - Perm or contract

[Lockhouse]

I worked remotely for two years on an 18 month and then a six month contract. Specialist financial applications.

The problem I had was after all that time I suffered from lack of motivation. I started out OK but after a while I found I was getting more and more distracted and depended on deadlines to get me to focus.

It's great in the short term or for one or two days a week. In the long term I'm not convinced it's conducive to getting lots done.

Everyone is different though.

[LondonManc]

I worked remotely for two years on an 18 month and then a six month contract. Specialist financial applications.

The problem I had was after a that time I suffered from lack of motivation. I started out OK but after a while I found I was getting more and more distracted and depended on deadlines to get me to focus.

It's great in the short term or for one or two days a week. In the long term I'm not convinced it's conducive to getting lots done.

Everyone is different though.

+1

I'd rather work from home 3 days a week for the rest of my working life than get 12-month contracts that are fully from home. Cabin fever kicks in quite quickly after the initial burst of enthusiasm, novelty and productivity has worn off.

[RonBW]

Anyone any experience of remote working? Pay could be fairly low, but I'm able to take a big cut having no need for a mortgage or rent and having simple needs in life, like a beach, a nice pub nearby and such like.

Current contract is 100% WFH on a decent rate.

I've just had an agent send me details of a 100% WFH permie role, 70% technical 30% functional, salary up to £80k which I have to admit is very tempting - no more visits to client sites.

[sal]

The main problem with 100% WFH IT roles is that they are easily offshored. I get it you will go to rural area and have no mortgage, but you will never manage to drive cost down to India or even East Europe level.

Unless your skill set is niche, don't think you will find much work, making contracting a very risky. Perm is feasible, if you manage to find the right employer.

[vetran]

Its great, the only reason I'm still permy.

£50K is more than we live on, (I earn more but we are paying the mortgage off , investing etc. so I can escape work before going postal). That includes a below average but significant mortgage. You won't be paying school fees or driving a new Merc on it.

Difficult thing is stopping on time there is always something you need to do, my kids come to rescue me at 6pm.

[scooterscot]

I don't understand taking a drop in pay to work remote. If anything my rate has increased working remote. If employers are paying you to commute rather than for your skills then they misinterpret the value of your skills, in my opinion. Any time I've dropped my rate I feel I get landed with more demands from such clients. It'll only make you bitter in the end.

It is a bit like me demanding a pay increase because the rate of inflation has increased. What has the rate of inflation got to do with my employer?

[Fronttoback]

+1

I'd rather work from home 3 days a week for the rest of my working life than get 12-month contracts that are fully from home. Cabin fever kicks in quite quickly after the initial burst of enthusiasm, novelty and productivity has worn off.

Hot desking makes it work. Working from the house every day would be grim. Rent a desk in a hotdesking facility - that's what I do 4 days a week and do 1 day from home. My day at home is only done so that I can get down my local pub when my friends finish work for the week. You have to manage the downside to make it work. Brain dead wfh doesn't work long term.

[MrMarkyMark]

I don't understand taking a drop in pay to work remote. If anything my rate has increased working remote. If employers are paying you to commute rather than for your skills then they misinterpret the value of your skills, in my opinion. Any time I've dropped my rate I feel I get landed with more demands from such clients. It'll only make you bitter in the end.

It is a bit like me demanding a pay increase because the rate of inflation has increased. What has the rate of inflation got to do with my employer?

I don't either.

In fact clients get better value out of me when I WFH.

[Fronttoback]

I don't understand taking a drop in pay to work remote. If anything my rate has increased working remote. If employers are paying you to commute rather than for your skills then they misinterpret the value of your skills, in my opinion. Any time I've dropped my rate I feel I get landed with more demands from such clients. It'll only make you bitter in the end.

It is a bit like me demanding a pay increase because the rate of inflation has increased. What has the rate of inflation got to do with my employer?

It's because they get less work out of you when you are working remotely. And if that is not the case for you, then you are not working well enough when onsite. Comms overhead mainly.

Secondly, they have to discourage it or the entire team would want it. Generally for the employer, it's better to have you onsite.

Thirdly, I offer a discounted rate in order to tempt them into wfh. I've done three gigs like this now.

[scooterscot]

It's because they get less work out of you when you are working remotely. And if that is not the case for you, then you are not working well enough when onsite. Comms overhead mainly.

Secondly, they have to discourage it or the entire team would want it. Generally for the employer, it's better to have you onsite.

Thirdly, I offer a discounted rate in order to tempt them into wfh. I've done three gigs like this now.

I work no more than 30 hours at home, same as the office when I used to.

Never taken a drop in pay to tempt client. I tempt them in other way, such as fixed price. If a client wants cheaper I shown them the door. Never undervalue your skills.