Thomas Barton, Senior Claims Handler

When I first volunteered to write a few words about working at home, I was thrilled. Not only because Lucy (my manager) finally agreed to let go of my arm when I said yes, but also because the topic is one so near and dear to my heart. You see, it seems some people just plain refuse to see the benefits of working from home, and as I now have some home office experience, I gladly “volunteered” to share my findings.

So, let’s get the hard part out of the way first: Yes, there are some downsides. After all, it is difficult to replace the warm camaraderie and friendly conversation of a busy office first thing in the morning, “Can you put the kettle on” from several colleagues all at once or the push of the main door and a bellowed “Good Morning!”. However, I have found that turning a war movie on in the background as loud as possible and letting off an occasional fire alarm comes close! And, sure, maybe things are not quite as reliable now that our technical support has been slightly compromised and is mostly me pleading with my laptop and Wi-Fi to work properly. But just think of the upsides…

Firstly, there’s the commute. It simply can’t be beat! Depending on your household, there still might be a traffic jam on the stairs but it’s never going to compete with the M25. And what about the dress code? To die for! (Honestly, I think substituting casual-casual for business-casual may be my finest innovation yet.) But those are just the most obvious advantages. It’s when you dig a little deeper that the real advantages of the home office become clear!

For example, there is that extra special human element when you’re on a difficult call. Such as the unsolicited sounds of your roommates and/or neighbours, as they search for their keys, say hello, say goodbye, complain about having to go to work or having been furloughed! Plus, there is the opportunity to learn and apply your technical skills as you try to remember how to use your mobile phone as a hotspot because your home broadband is suddenly cutting out as your partner uses DisneyPlus to home school the kids while you wait for a vital e-mail. And what could be more professional than the sounds of your dog suddenly deciding that after being quiet all morning, that now, during the middle of a new instruction phone call, is the time for a long, loud, bark! Only for the neighbour’s dog deciding to provide an elegant counterpoint!

The only saving grace is the hope that all our colleagues throughout the industry are having the same working from home experience!

Well, my work day is nearly over and I want to get a jump on that stairway traffic so I’ll have to stop here, but I hope I’ve been able to go at least a small way into convincing some of you of the benefits of working from home. For me, personally, I think working from home is the way of the future… A long, long, way in future – perhaps once I’ve retired!

See you in the office