Dude, Do You Even Go to Work Anymore? When Was the Last Time You Were At your Normal Place of Business?
Mates,
Curious, when was the last time you went to your normal place of business? I know some of you/us have been going in regularly, but for others they have been either WFH (true name: Work In Pajamas and I claim the patented acronym: WIP) or have unfortunately been furloughed altogether for some period of time.
So the questions are these: When was the last time you were at your regular place of work? Is it going to be weird getting back into a routine that has been disrupted for going on 2+ months? Do you think you might wear your PJ's to work by accident?
Hope you and your families are all well,
XM
Late February. I already worked from home a few times a week, so the transition was fairly seamless. Already in conversations with my boss about making WFH a 3/5 day event when everything is back to normal. Not having to commute 2 hours a day has made me infinitely more productive.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:25 AM ^
... infinitely more productive.
Assuming you're human and incapable of infinite amounts of work, you had a pretty good gig set up of being able to do 0 work at the office...!
Once in the last 6 weeks
Every day is work when you’re an OCD. There is never nothing to clean.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:12 AM ^
I went to work this morning. First time since last Thursday. I’ve been going in 1-2 days per week for lab stuff. Anyway, this morning I noticed my monitors were askew and my mouse was clear over on the other side of my desk. My mini-trash can was lined up perfectly with my Kleenex and pen holder, something I would never do. I hope this means someone cleaned my work space.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:14 AM ^
I’m like the old lady in Misery. I can tell when anything has been moved by someone other than me.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:14 AM ^
one of your endearing qualities, WD. incidentally, do you rent yourself out? our barn could use a good once-over....
April 28th, 2020 at 10:58 AM ^
Hmm... I wish there was a way to monetize my quirks. Anyone looking for a guy that is guaranteed to have an awkward, uncomfortable interpersonal interaction at least once a day?
April 28th, 2020 at 12:27 PM ^
Larry David figured how to turn that particular quirk into riches a long time ago: create a hit sitcom in which one of the characters is based on you, then sit back and watch the millions roll in, then when that's over create another hit sitcom but make yourself the star instead of using a proxy, then watch more millions roll in.
What are you waiting for?
My balls are available.
I live and work in Long Island (metro NYC), which is the epicenter of the disease. Last work day was March 20. Fortunately, my law firm is able to do the WIP (using the OP’s acronym) thing pretty well so I am still working. I really like being home with the family, but my productivity is really down. Honestly, when things go back to “normal,” I can see myself doing this twice a week, especially in the summer.
That said, almost everyone I talk to in NY is getting really frustrated by the lockdown and is clamoring for a return to something approaching normalcy. Biggest gripes that most people have is restaurants, personal care (barbers, nails, etc) and summer camp starting in late June.
Yeah, I don't think this NYC quarantine will hold much longer. We already see that any time the weather goes above 65 degrees, the parks are slammed with people.
It's tough when most of the city lives in apartments and don't have patios/rooftops/backyards.
This is one of the few times I envy my suburban family members who are quarantined on their acres of land and can work from their backyards when then weather is nice.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:55 AM ^
Yeah, going from city living to slightly-farther-out-with-a-yard city living has been incredible. I couldn't imagine being in our apartment with 2 small kids.
100% in agreement. I feel lucky to have a yard and live in a quiet neighborhood where the kids can ride their bikes out when the weather is nice. My parents live in the city, and not only are they trapped in their apartment, the visual impact of this virus is much greater. i.e. the city looks, feels and sounds abandoned with no hustle and bustle.
April 28th, 2020 at 11:08 AM ^
Don’t worry. The lock down is just about over. Not by official decree, but by people saying enough is enough. This is not a long term solution. Better to put a mask on everyone and send them back out there.
now we all know how zoo and factory farm animals feel.
Live in Westchester and work in NYC. Last day in office was Monday, March 16. My company announced they were closing the office and have everyone work from home beginning Wed, March 18th but I had to be in NYC for something else that Monday, so went in. I was literally the other person on my floor (out of about 100-150 people). My work can involve a lot of travel or working at client sites, so not being in the office was not that big of an impact. Being at home with wife and kids.. bigger impact.
It wouldn't surprise me if more of a WFH approach is the new normal. IMO everyone is realizing how unnecessary "face time" is from a day to day perspective. Going to meetings, meeting clients, fine but do I really need to commute in to sit in my office with the door shut and working or being on a conference call.
Hope my kids can get back to school in June. Not necessarily for learning but just to get them out of the house and socializing more. Same with camp. Hopefully sending 9 yr. old to his first year of sleepaway camp and praying he can still go
Nice try, the government.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:16 AM ^
i almost had you....
Haven't been into the office since March 13th. I did work a day or so per week at home before that, so the transition hasn't been too bad (outside of every day feeling like the exact same now that it has been over a month). As a company we have been very productive though, and recently our CEO said that even after the office is open again, everyone would have the choice to work from wherever they wanted moving forwards.
April 28th, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
March 13 for me as well. We had some leeway to WFH before, but I did it maybe once every couple of weeks. I prefer working from home, but it will be nice to go back into work and see my coworkers again.
Yesterday. I'm a Defense Contractor, so I have certain requirements I have to do in the office and I'm considered essential in two (!) states. But yesterday was the first time in over 3 weeks. (I've been in proposal hell for the last month, so pretty much all my work could be done from a barn if I had to). I got a lot done at home the last month, but I my productivity is slipping, so I probably need to get back to a regular office schedule as much as the kids home schooling schedule will allow.
April 28th, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
Same here, except that I am not considered essential. My new business work (proposal stuff) dried up with the company's effort to hoard cash in an effort to not furlough/lay off anyone. I haven't been in the building since 13 March, and I don't miss it. But I've never been very good at the whole 'work from home' thing, unless I have specific hard targets - which simply do not exist right now. I have been getting a lot done around the house/yard, though!
I have 5 acres, so I'm not stuffed into an apartment, or even a 1/3 ac suburb community. But I do feel like my brain is starting to atrophy without some work stimulus...
March 13th. It has been glorious. I've even had to take a pay cut, and I'm not sure I wouldn't take a permanent one to do this full time.
In fact, although I do feel sympathy for those actually affected by the disease, and those laid off who aren't getting paid, this has been a rather nice almost vacation for my family. It's going to be tough going back when this is all over.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:17 AM ^
When I changed jobs 14 years ago, my pay stayed just about the same, but my round trip commute went from 2+ hours to 30 minutes.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:21 AM ^
I feel the same way. I could honestly live like this indefinitely.
My company isn't even making plans to get people back on site, so I'll be WFH until at least July. How can offices social distance when everyone works in cubicle farms?
And even when we do go back, they're either going to let me wfh a few days a week, or I'm leaving for greener pastures. Not having to go to the office has saved me a ton of time and money and my productivity is better at home.
It's really nice having more time to spend with the family just doing whatever.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:34 AM ^
My company has a vague "phased return" over the summer. So, no idea when I'll be back. I'd rather work from home, but I also know that if they tell me to go back to the office I'm going.
I've got about 5 years before I'll have the financial leverage to demand things from my employer under threat of walking. It's hardly onerous work for the pay.
April 28th, 2020 at 11:12 AM ^
I won't walk either since I don't have "fuck you" money, but I was looking around before this all happened anyway. I'll just intensify that search and ask about wfh options during interviews.
April 28th, 2020 at 12:09 PM ^
I'm on the same timeline as you. We've been told work starts on 5/15 but unless you are needed to stay working from home. I don't have anything to do in-person until middle of June.
I also second the wanting to do this full time. We have eaten dinner as a family every day since this happened and typically that is only a Friday-Sunday thing. This, along with being able to duck out, as needed, to get things done has been amazing.
April 28th, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
This is the longest "vacation" I've had in 25 years.
I'm working from home regularly. I only have to go in every once in awhile, last Thursday being the latest, if I have to teach a class to new staff. Since it's at the hospital campus, when I DO go in, I now have to wear a full face shield while I'm working (unless I'm eating lunch). Very distracting. I feel for the front liners who have to be there every day garbed in all that protective equipment.
March 13th
WFH
Had WFH 1/week so easy transition
March 12th. It's been weird. But i do enjoy the privilege of being able to make the same salary just by firing up the laptop on the kitchen table every day.
March 11th.
I don't mind not being in my office. What stinks for me is that I used to spend 1/3 of my work year on the road, and I miss traveling.
That's a good point. In the past I traveled internationally 6-8 times per year for work, and I used to manage the little vacation time I took around those trips. That won't be happening this year.
I've worked this whole time. Somehow people still need soap.
April 28th, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
Even in Ohio???
lucky for us, we ship all over North America.
Is that you, Tyler?
March 11.
Our boss was out, so her boss informed us that day we would be testing the system the next day from home to see how it could handle everybody working from home if we had to. We haven't gone back.
Turns out someone from our building (Located on 42nd Street & 7th Avenue in NYC) had tested positive on the 10th. We haven't been back since & the company began furloughs for every employee (three weeks taken over a three month period.)
We were supposedly looking to move this year due to the lease not being renewed, so who knows what comes next.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:02 AM ^
I have a job and haven't lost a dime, so I first want to clarify I'm not complaining! I realize I'm in a very fortunate position. But, I live in Korea and teach at a university. We've just been holding online classes. I was just told today we won't be going back this semester. I don't have a family. In normal times, I could fly to the Philippines or Bali for less than 500 easily (possible to go to the Philippines for less than 200 sometimes). I could do all the work I'm doing now anywhere in the world, but at best I'd be forced to go into 2-week quarantine. Most countries aren't accepting tourists.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:20 AM ^
This is the frustrating thing to me, although I totally understand! I was looking to go somewhere around Memorial Day, figuring people would be too scared to fly yet, so fares would be cheap.
They aren't cheap. They don't exist. You simply can't fly most places international right now. We really should annex a bunch of Caribbean islands now while people aren't paying attention. It's for their own good.
Makes me wonder what travel will be a year from now. Even if there isn't a second wave, etc etc.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:49 AM ^
Yup. In some ways it's the best time to travel, though obviously not in the most important ways. It was cherry blossom season. Cleaner air than usual because of corona. I don't have to go to work. Told my dad it'd be perfect for him visiting. Just that little problem of getting halfway around the world.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:02 AM ^
Haven't been in to the office and lab since Friday, March 3rd.
This time of year I'm not actively teaching, I'm doing research and mentoring students. Research hasn't been disrupted (yet) because my main three projects are well past the data collection stage and my colleagues are scattered around the globe, so this is really no different. My colleagues with kids are struggling but that's OK because we're functional, supportive teams.
Mentoring students is harder to do remotely, and now I've a few students whose family members are getting sick and dying. Medical school is already stressful and anxiogenic during the best of times...I can't tell a student to focus on their studies when their aunt died last week and there was no funeral. Had another student last week ask me why they should put themselves through medical school if they're not even going to get PPE when they practice. That was a fun conversation!
April 28th, 2020 at 10:05 AM ^
Its been about 7 weeks. Its been that long since Ive talked in person to anyone other than my wife too. I dont think I actually miss it.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:26 AM ^
Agreed. Wife needs to at least talk to someone at a drive-thru or store a couple times a week. Me, as long as I leave the house once in a while, I'm fine.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:06 AM ^
March 20th.
WIP is easy for me since I work in IT. But it’s getting old. Looking forward to traveling soon ((leisure/business).
At least Delta/Marriott are extending status earned in 2019 for an additional year. (First world problem for sure!)
April 28th, 2020 at 10:07 AM ^
I generally work alone at the church building, and I have to be there for a number of functions, including livestreaming. So, yesterday. And I'm heading over there in a few minutes.
Sundays are very different. Most other days are curiously normal.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:21 AM ^
Do you make hospital visits? If so, how has that part of your vocation changed? My uncle is a priest. His parish is about 2000 miles away, but I watched him say Mass a couple times via livestream.
I am not permitted in the hospital and neither are close family members. We don't have a huge number in, but I've got two in the local hospital right now (one with a nerve problem, one with scheduled heart surgery) that I cannot see, and it is difficult.
April 28th, 2020 at 10:07 AM ^
Feb 28. I went on vacation for two weeks off the grid and once I got back to the states there were no groceries or toilet paper. Fortunately, I've only needed like, 6 rolls, since the chaos began. I haven't been back in since. Our CEO has an update call every Friday and on the most recent said that all SG&A functions won't return to the office until July 1 at the earliest, regardless of CDC/state recommendations.
Basically, while being at home, hours worked has decreased but efficiency has increased. I used to spend about 9 hours in the office, and probably 2-3 of that is wasted on lunch, random convos, interruptions, etc.
At home, I probably work 7 hours with minimal waste.
Interesting to think about the possibility of companies never having formal offices and their workforce potentially being more productive for it.