Working from home: Graeme Dey

The Minister for Parliamentary Business describes how he works from home

What's your home office like? 

The view from my “desk” is of our garden and shed (newly painted during a spare few hours).

There are days when the table starts to look like the bridge of the Enterprise with laptop, iPad and iPhone all deployed to cater for conference calling and referring to documents. Have learned to master Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Former is great. Not so sold on the latter!

What are your tips for working from home?

Disciplining yourself to take proper breaks... something I fail to do other than by making the odd cup of tea. Also be sure and remember to get out of your PJs. Realised the other day I had taken part in Cabinet and the Bureau whilst still in my jammies!
Thankfully only the latter was video conferenced and no-one noticed.
Also, get out and take some exercise. Physically and mentally good for you although in the latter case I have yet to undertake my daily four mile walk taking my mobile with me, which kind of defeats the purpose.

How do you avoid distraction?

I have had little trouble with that. Between ministerial and constituency work it has been full on. If sport was still taking place though the TV would be a serious distraction. Normally working for home I’ve got the TV on and concentration can wander.

What do you miss most about being in the office?

The separation between work and home. Also the direct interaction with my staff and MSP colleagues. And, as the Minister for Parliamentary Business, that face to face engagement with members of all parties is important, exchanging emails can create misunderstanding. So I dread to think what my phone bill will turn out to be when all of this is over.