I’ve had a lot of questions recently about our “work from home” (WFH) policy. I wanted to take a few minutes to update everyone regarding company policy; my view on working from home; and the practices I’d like us to adhere to.
The company allows an associate to work from home “in limited cases”. Senior management recognizes the flexibility this option offers for both parties and is willing to experiment with it in some regard. A great deal of discretion is left to each manager.
So working from home is an option. The thing to remember is: it is my option–not yours.
I will only approve these instances on a case by case basis, within the following set of guidelines.
- Work from home will not be considered a substitute for sick days. If you are sick, then use your sick time. If you are sick of work, then use your sick time to find a better job.
- All instances must be approved by me at least one week in advance. I will make the decision based on several factors, including the nature of the work (deadlines, challenges, etc), your reason, and the technology you have available at home. In addition, I will consider your attendance record as a factor. For example: if a person uses all of his or her sick days by June (that would be you Kevin), and then starts asking me to work from home, I’ll probably say no.
- You must be connected via email and reachable by phone. I will expect the same level of responsiveness from you as I get when you are here. This ranges from dull apathy to constant whining (that would again, be you Kevin).
- You should send an email detailing your progress to your supervisor. Don’t be surprised if I ask you to demonstrate your progress to me, so if you cannot come up with something impressive, then at least be imaginative enough to entertain.
You can accurately infer from the above that my opinion on this topic is somewhat tainted. Perhaps it’s that Dilbert series in which the lead character lounges around in his bathrobe; fooling the pointy-haired one by holding well dressed puppet up to the camera during teleconferences.
But most likely it comes from the fact that I have worked in several cultures over the last few years where “working from home” became a euphemism for compensation time or simply a chance to play golf or take in the kid’s soccer game (both worthy activities, but we have another category for them–it’s called vacation).
In addition, I’m not at all convinced the productivity rates for those who work from home are any higher than those who work in the office. I think it’s often true that the distractions from the office are quickly replaced by our household responsibilities (childcare, laundry, an urgent urge to watch Montel). I’m not saying we are incapable of multi-tasking.
No, come to think of it, I am saying we are incapable of multitasking. I believe we are all essentially single threaded. We may be able to switch context very quickly, but conscious attention is always divided to some degree. No matter what you believe, you cannot really do two conscious, cognitive task simultaneously–or at least do them well. If you don’t believe me, then have a look at Pam in accounting–the jokeresque lady who applies her make up on the way to work (likely with a minivan full of terrified children).
As developers you are primarily paid to perform knowledge based, cognitive actions (as opposed to say, digesting food). It seems to me that I can better provide a rich environment for those actions here at work. Studies have proven that programmers are much more productive in stale, somewhat colorless, relatively uncomfortable, surroundings which are accented with high levels of caffeine and random, free feeding opportunities.
Actually I just made that up, but it makes sense, doesn’t it?
Part of a rich environment comes from interacting with your peers. We are a creative team, with great talent in many areas. I believe we benefit from collaboration. If too many people are frequently working from home it can rob us of our responsiveness and reduce our ability to learn from each other (or at least from amusing ourselves at each other’s expense). Plus, it can lead to higher levels of duties for the bitter few who remain here; thus increasing the chance that one of them will bring in his AK-47 and let loose on his boss (Kevin).
But I do recognize that working from home can have value; particularity for developers who are subject to frequent interruptions and are up against a rapidly encroaching deadline. It can also be useful in situations where you are required to be at home for a given period of time but would not be unduly distracted. So the above is an attempt to state my case and to offer limited access to this option. If it works out, then you guys will begin to modify my opinion and perhaps this will become a more common place option. But be warned, I will not fall for that puppet trick again.
© 2008 by Rodney Gleghorn. All rights reserved.
