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For Programmers, the Ultimate Office Perk is Avoiding the Office Entirely (qz.com)
From a report on Quartz: Over the past decade, designers and engineers have invented dozens of new tools to keep us connected to the office without actually going there. Unsurprisingly, those same engineers have been among the first to start using them in large numbers. More programmers are working from home than ever and, among the most experienced, some are even beginning to demand it. In 2015, an estimated 300,000 full-time employees in computer science jobs worked from home in the US. Although not the largest group of remote employees in absolute numbers, that's about 8% of all programmers, which is a significantly larger share than in any other job category, and well above the average for all jobs of just under 3%. [...] Programmers not only work from home more often than other employees, when they do they are more likely to work all day at home. From 2012 to 2015, the average full-time programmer who worked from home said they spent an average of five and a half hours doing so. That's an 92% increase in the average time spent at home from 2003 to 2005, and nearly double the average for all jobs.
In my case I've been working strictly from home as a medical EDI programmer for the last 9 years and couldn't be happier. I just set some ground rules that if I am in my office and door is closed - you do not enter. Text me if you must - but you may not enter. Only unless someone is bleeding profusely, something is leaking or is on fire? Pretend I am miles away at an office.
It's no different - I ask them "would you drive all the way to my workplace, come to my cube and ask questions?" The answer is usually "No."
I have a couple friends that actually put a "Tuff Shed" in their back yard, wired it up, put in an AC unit, etc., and that is literally their office. I didn't need to do that, but I certainly see the appeal :-)
Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage
Pros: - less commute time - good for the environment - more flexibility - potentially higher productivity Cons: - Out of sight, out of mind is not good at layoff time - less social interaction - less professional interaction (maybe) Overall, I prefer to work from home, but since I have direct reports that I manage, I'm not allowed to do it full time. I do telecommute every friday though!
Brawndo: It's what plants crave!
The office is where you network. If you're a programmer you need to realize you have a shelf life of 40 years. If you haven't moved into management by then you're toast (unless you're a math genius, but you're not a programmer at that point, you're a mathematician who happens to program).
And give up on age discrimination lawsuits. Remember kiddos: It's not a law if it's not enforce.
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A solid backhand will stop the kids from ever bothering you again.
Perhaps you should find more constructive forms of discipline. I keep several math workbooks in my home office, and every time my kids come in to ask me a question I make them do a few pages.
I am currently using this book which is the 3rd in the series. My kids still occasionally bother me, but at least they get good grades in math.