Seen WFH in a job advert and not sure what it means?
It’s a simple one; WFH is an abbreviation for “work from home” or “working from home”. You’ll often see it used in job adverts, emails and workplace conversations.
Now, working from home isn’t new, but it’s certainly become a much bigger part of professional life in recent years – particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic shook up working patterns.
That’s not to say it’s ubiquitous or entirely popular. For some people, losing the commute is a dream, while others would rather have colleagues around them and a clear reason to leave the house in the morning.
So what does WFH involve, and what might one consider to be the pros and cons of working from home?
As we’ve established, the WFH meaning is pretty straightforward. It simply means doing your job from home rather than travelling to your employer’s usual workplace.
You might hear a colleague say, “I’m WFH tomorrow”, for example. Recruiters and employers also use the abbreviation when describing jobs that allow people to work from home.
The day-to-day role itself doesn’t necessarily change. Many tasks are equally doable from home as in the office, so long as there’s a decent internet connection and tech setup.
The main difference is where you do it.
It’s true, working from home existed long before the coronavirus pandemic, but 2020 changed how many of us thought about it.
Millions of people suddenly found themselves doing jobs from bedrooms, spare rooms and kitchen tables. WFH quickly became part of everyday workplace language.
Working from home remains common, with 14% only WFH’ing by the end of July 2026 according to Statista, although fewer people do it than at the height of the pandemic. Many people also split their working week between home and a workplace, 27% according to Statista.
Of course, whether WFH is even possible depends heavily on what you do.
An accountant may only need a laptop and the right systems to work from home, while a chef can’t exactly cook restaurant meals over Zoom.
If you ask people what they like about WFH, avoiding the commute will probably come up fairly quickly.
There are smaller benefits too. Your own kitchen is nearby; you can dress comfortably and you don’t have to spend five minutes looking for a free meeting room.
You might even be able to simultaneously complete some “life admin” tasks. You would be surprised how many people we speak to have managed to get some laundry done while WFH!
Of course, the same things that make WFH attractive can cause problems.
Then there’s the problem of switching off…
When you leave a workplace, there’s a fairly obvious point when work ends and home begins. That’s harder when both happen in the same place and your laptop remains within reach.
None of that means working from home is a bad idea. It just isn’t automatically the better option for everyone.
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If a job advert mentions WFH, don’t assume those three letters tell you everything. Employers can have their own rules about when and where employees work.
It’s important to pay close attention; read the job description and look for specifics. If the details aren’t there, it should be one of the questions to ask at interview.
For example, you might want to know whether you’ll need to attend a particular workplace and whether the employer has any requirements for your home-working setup.
You may also want to ask whether the company will provide you with any equipment to better facilitate WFH e.g. an office chair or a monitor. If they aren’t providing office space, you are within your rights to enquire about this.
It’s always better to ask before accepting the job than discover afterwards that your idea of WFH and your employer’s idea are rather different.
You can ask, but that doesn’t mean your employer has to say yes.
Employees in England, Scotland and Wales have the legal right to request flexible working from their first day in a job. That request can include asking to change where they work.
Employers can refuse a request for certain business reasons, so the right to ask isn’t the same as an automatic right to WFH.
If working from home is particularly important to you, find out what a prospective employer offers before you accept a role.
Not necessarily. An employer might allow you to work from home regularly, occasionally or only in certain circumstances. Check the vacancy or ask the employer what WFH means for that particular role.
Don’t assume you can. Your employer may have requirements about where you work, particularly if your job involves sensitive information, equipment or occasional workplace attendance.
That depends on you. Some people love the peace, extra time and lack of a commute. Others miss seeing colleagues and prefer keeping work and home separate.
WFH means “work from home” or “working from home”.
The abbreviation is easy enough to understand. Deciding whether you’d actually enjoy working that way takes a little more thought.
No commute and a quieter working environment can have obvious appeal, but WFH comes with drawbacks too. If you see it in a job advert, check the details and think about whether the arrangement suits how you like to work.
For more help with your job search, take a look at our blog for a wealth of career tips. If you’ve found this article useful, why not check out:
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