Among Friends

[jeanlake]

Went back to campus this week - one day. Felt like I got caught up on tasks. Status will be 1 day a week through July and perhaps 2 days a week in August through holidays. I think I found my comfort zone - partial home and partial office.

What's your experiences now that it's June?   

[mimomof4]

I've been working at home full time since last August.  The working at home part is fine especially since most of the people I interact with are outside of my assigned office location.  Makes it much easier to work with multiple time zones (EMEA, APAC, West Coast of US, South Africa).

What makes it difficult is having the kids home while working.  The first few weeks were OK but now we are at the end of week 12.  The next few months won't get any easier with them and the added noise and movement in the house.  

[GCR18]

We don't have a return date yet.  It will happen in stages.  My guess is Sept.  I love working from home and always have.  I work 4 days in the office, 1 day from home.  I plan to propose 2 days in the office, 3 days at home.  I'd like all 5 at home, but know that won't fly.  

[DrKelli]

Still at home, mostly because our temp office space is much smaller than our regular office and most of us are just as productive at home. And we don't have up to 2 hours of commute time.  I anticipate that we won't be back in the office until after Labor Day and even then, it will be a hybrid of remote/in office.

[Travone]

We are deemed essential and have never shut down operations.  I have been going into the office every day.  Even when the city was closed for a few days for curfew due to rioting.  We were able to cross the police blockaid.

[jeanlake]

mimom - I can relate with kids. It's hard and a little maddening some days. Grandson's daycare is closed until school starts again. Ages 21 months and 11 years. No choice. We stepped in. My heart goes out to parents who home schooled, became daycares and worked from home. Stressful. Good luck.

GCR18 - Your proposal sounds perfect. I hope I can 2 days office and 2 days from home until I retire at the end of the year. Hope that happens for you.

Dr. Kelli -- hope you can make that hybrid schedule work for as long as you want that. 2 hour commutes. Kudos to anyone who puts in long days like this. 

Travone -- Stay safe and refreshed. Doesn't sound like you've had much time off.        

[Calgal2too]

WFH has never been my jam, still isn't, but I feel fortunate to work for a company that allows/encourages this.  We've been told that it's likely to be 2021 before we're back in the office, and that's only if things go well.  If there's a 2nd wave of this, then who knows.

If I were told right now that I could go back to office and practice social distancing, but not have to wear a mask all day, I'd be there in a heartbeat.

My commute is short, I live in a 2nd floor apartment with no A/C, and the kids downstairs scream/shriek (and I'm not kidding) a lot.   Not ideal.

My heart goes out to people who have to manage kids, as well as their workload, while at home.

[jeanlake]

@Calgal2too Hubs retired in January and helps with grandkids. If he was back at work or working from home -- I just don't know how sane I'd be. Also, zoom meetings are getting old to me. Takes up too much time for the few facts shared, but I'm not leading the meetings. Can't just hop off before meeting ends.

Screaming kids in your apartment has to be a distraction. It's more annoying when kids don't belong to you. Can't be fun. I do wear a mask in and out of office and in hallways. When alone in office, I remove. Campus is a ghost town. I like it. That will change soon. Good luck to you - hope you find your ideal work situation soon. We'll certainly all have stories to tell about 2020.    

[VaBelle35]

I've found over the last 14 years of working from home on a flexible basis that 1 day a week in the office is perfect for me, preferably Mondays.

Occasionally I would have to go in for something on another day but I wouldnt' stay the whole day.

One day is just enough interaction to remind me why I enjoy working from home the other 4 days ;o)

[lynnie61]

Before Covid, I worked at home one day a week.  We have been home since March 16.  I’m ready to go back.  We may go to 2-3 days at home.  We will go back staggered possibly.  No firm date yet.  Our county goes to open / green phase tomorrow.  We are productive at home, but it seems like I am working my commute time.  So I should at least sign off at my normal office quitting time, but I haven’t.