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Working From Home? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter fantasycurse42
- Start date
El Floppo
Footballguy
I am really not set up for this. Have had a bit of freelance the last month and after a month of pre layoff work in March I realize that I need whole new setup...which I can't afford.
I need to print large format- 11x17 at min, larger ideally- we have letter size only. I need space to draw...my desk is only for a laptop and some papers..only other option is the dining room table which is used heavily by everybody. Laptop is ancient...but my CAD software is pirated- would have to buy new extremely expensive software to go with new expensive (huge graphic capability) laptop. Not possible while I'm struggling to cover much of anything else right now.
Just have to make do the best I can, which isn't allowing me to produce optimal work.
I need to print large format- 11x17 at min, larger ideally- we have letter size only. I need space to draw...my desk is only for a laptop and some papers..only other option is the dining room table which is used heavily by everybody. Laptop is ancient...but my CAD software is pirated- would have to buy new extremely expensive software to go with new expensive (huge graphic capability) laptop. Not possible while I'm struggling to cover much of anything else right now.
Just have to make do the best I can, which isn't allowing me to produce optimal work.
JaxBill
Footballguy
Like many, next week will be 5 months WFH. Enjoying the change since worst part of my job was 40 minute commute. Second worst part of my job was 17 people from multiple teamsi n an open bullpen area.
Nice quiet office at home with better network. Getting more done while taking breaks to boot.
For a while there, wife (teacher), older son(addiction educator), younger son (college student) were all WFH. Older son went back to office in July. Wife went back last week (no students until next week). Younger son goes back to Gainesville in 2 weeks.
I don't think we're (govt IT contractor for Navy) going back to office until next year at earliest. And if we do, I'll want ti negotiate a couple days WFH.
(I'm not sure if they would consider the spouse of a teacher to be high risk that they would WANT me back right away.)
Nice quiet office at home with better network. Getting more done while taking breaks to boot.
For a while there, wife (teacher), older son(addiction educator), younger son (college student) were all WFH. Older son went back to office in July. Wife went back last week (no students until next week). Younger son goes back to Gainesville in 2 weeks.
I don't think we're (govt IT contractor for Navy) going back to office until next year at earliest. And if we do, I'll want ti negotiate a couple days WFH.
(I'm not sure if they would consider the spouse of a teacher to be high risk that they would WANT me back right away.)
I enjoy working from home as a general matter, and getting so much time with my kids has been really nice. But none of this is tenable for dual career households with young kids. If anyone cracks the code for how not to suck at both parenting/teaching and in their jobs under those circumstances, please post it here.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
If the reason for dual careers was financially driven, perhaps all of the savings from the activities that aren't happening during the pandemic would allow one of the parents to move to part time or no work and operate as a homemaker? Or some similar modification of the career side?
culdeus
Footballguy
Nemesis
Footballguy
I had already started to work from home ~2 to 3 days/wk when the lockdown started in early March & have been 100% WFH since then. I'm in Project Mgmt Finance reviewing 100 page contracts/bids so I've found I can do that from anywhere. Both of our college aged girls came home & finished out the semester/summer sessions online. I'm situated at the kitchen table because i like the backyard view overlooking a large retention pond & can see if a storm is rolling in. At the office, i had a special old chair that worked well with my back and I brought that home with me as sitting posture/support is very important (as many have probably found out the hard way with their improvised home offices)
Since we were all on lockdown anyways, the girls suggested that there is a rescue group nearby & we should foster some kittens. Wife and I said, "Why not? We definitely have the time." So we first fostered 3 kittens in MAY/JUNE for about 6 weeks and all 3 got adopted in a couple of days.......and we did it again starting in JULY and are about 1 wk away from putting them up for adoption:
Scooby Gang: https://imgur.com/a/mi5EFQU Freddie, Shaggy, Daphne
The 100 Gang: https://imgur.com/a/Dlvr19S Bellamy, Octavia, Clarke:
They spent the majority of their time in my daughter's room & it was awesome to know that when you were having a bad work day or just needed a break from your co-workers(or family) that you could walk to the other side of the house and instantly forget your troubles!! Has made the whole WFH experience much better and i don't even miss the office life. I heard that we'll probably be 100% WFH at least thru the end of this calendar year.....who knows about 2021.
Yesterday, both girls went back to college at Tallahassee ~4hrs away....... so it's back to just the wife and I again.
@TLEF316: If you are starting to feel isolated, you should consider fostering a pet as it is only temporary and who knows, you might just find a lifelong friend in the process.
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El Floppo
Footballguy
TLEF316
Footballguy
very cool regarding the cat fostering. Good idea if you have the time.
Not really a cat guy and I'd feel bad leaving a dog at home alone all day (since eventually, I will have to go back to work). Its actually kinda driving me crazy that a lot of people are adopting dogs because its fun and convenient now. (without much regard for when things go back to "normal")
Having a dog now would be awesome......6 months from now, when I might be walking out the door at 7 AM (to catch my train) and not getting back until almost 7 PM, (assuming I dont want to do anything else after work) its just not ideal.
And to be clear, I'm definitely not feeling isolated in a depressed way. There was a little bit of that back in April when we were totally locked down, but not really now. I play golf after work most days (my brother belongs to the same club as me and lives a mile down the road) and I see other people a little bit. (most of my good friends live out of state, so its been a bit of a bummer not being able to get together a handful of times this summer like we normally do) I just generally enjoy being in the office, shooting the breeze with the people I work with, etc.
Now, the winter could be rough if we're still in this situation, no golf and no winter sports to watch, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
nirad3
Footballguy
I have been WFH for about a month now at my new job. We were supposed to start going back to the office in phases July 20, but our Governor put the kibash on that. I find it extremely difficult to get motivated to work. My old job still had me going into the office, where only a few of us were actually working in-office. I absolutely need to have the "process" of getting up, showering, driving to an office, being in an office environment, etc. I just want to eff around on my Chromebook, go see what my kids are doing, refill my coffee, and heck sometimes even lounge on my office couch and watch TV (rare). I know it's a problem that I just need to get over. I have been going to my parents' place twice a week (Wed./Fri., which is a half day during the summer) just to mix it up a bit and try and get a lot done. I just don't know how y'all do it....
You need to be disciplined enough to put yourself into a routine, and like we talked about before, need to "train" the kids that when dad is working, he is working.
That means have a dedicated work space at the house, even if it is a corner of you bedroom or living room if you can't set up a separate room. Then set a routine - get up, shower and head in to the "office" - schedule your time to go see what the kids are doing, schedule some down time to watch an episode of a show, and schedule time to do work and actually do your work then.
I'm fortunate that the majority of my work nowadays is more project based and less routine, so while I am available via email and phone daily from 7AM - 4PM (and realistically after that as well), I don't necessarily need to be sitting at my desk working all that time - so if it is more convenient for me to say schedule an hour to help the kids with something, go on a walk, go to the store in the middle of the day, I will do that - and then I will log on and make progress on work or reply to non-urgent emails in the evening after dinner when the kids are settling down.
I know that kind of schedule probably won't work if you are hourly, but I have found it has been a huge help to not only my work productivity but also my mental sanity - it helps that my kids are a little older than yours so it is easier to set the expectation with them that when I am "working" they need to handle it on their own (whether that is get their own bowl of cereal for breakfast vs. me making them eggs, etc.), but setting the boundaries is key. And once school starts back up in a week or so be disciplined to focus on work while they are on class zooms and occupied, that way you can be a bit more free to help them and spend time with them in their down time.
TLEF316
Footballguy
Yeah, routine has been absolutely key for me in terms of keeping motivated. I always thought I would struggle at home, but now with the necessity (along with starting a new job that was a pretty big bump in terms of responsibility, visibility and potential for advancement) I've been pretty motivated most of the time. I have some days where I just dont feel like doing anything but that's ok with the nature of this new gig as long as I make it up and really bust my ### when things get busy (which I'm capable of and have been doing).
But every day, I set an alarm, get up at the same time, shower, eat, get dressed, etc. If i was just stumbling downstairs in what I slept in, I dont think I'd be there mentally.
And going against what I think a lot of people are doing......I'm really not drinking at all. We had a couple of virtual happy hours with the team where I had a couple of beers, but no drinking at night at all. I just think that if I drink, I'll feel like crap in the morning and that will screw up my mindset. I've maybe had like 10 beers over the course of this entire process. It just helps me feel better and I didnt want to fall into a bad habit at a time when my activity level is down quite a bit (due to my basketball leagues not running and just a general lack of steps if I'm not golfing)
But every day, I set an alarm, get up at the same time, shower, eat, get dressed, etc. If i was just stumbling downstairs in what I slept in, I dont think I'd be there mentally.
And going against what I think a lot of people are doing......I'm really not drinking at all. We had a couple of virtual happy hours with the team where I had a couple of beers, but no drinking at night at all. I just think that if I drink, I'll feel like crap in the morning and that will screw up my mindset. I've maybe had like 10 beers over the course of this entire process. It just helps me feel better and I didnt want to fall into a bad habit at a time when my activity level is down quite a bit (due to my basketball leagues not running and just a general lack of steps if I'm not golfing)
nirad3
Footballguy
Yeah, problem #1 is definitely self-discipline. I have my personal Chromebook on the left side of my desk (cuz, ya know, gotta FFA, have Pandora running, and am in two FF drafts, about to be three). Work laptop in the middle and a second work screen on the right, which I don't even use.
I don't have daily tasks at this point, and starting a new job as WFH is challenging, not only for me, but for my supervisor and the other project manager who's handing projects off to me. They just have a ton of their own stuff to do. In the beginning I was meeting with them for a few hours a day via MS Teams, but now I'm kinda just floating along.
Kids are starting to get it, but we're still a way's off. When the door is closed, it means I'm on a call, whether it be phone or video-call via MS Teams. The girl still opens the door from time to time. And I have a standing 3pm Teams call and it seems the entire neighborhood is running up and down our hallway at that time. That absolutely has to stop.
Things are about to change with the kids being "in school" pretty soon. The wife is going to take the reins in terms of school work and schedule, etc. I'm guessing that frees me up to concentrate and get myself more disciplined.
School-wise will your kids be on the same schedule? If so, and if they have their scheduled lunch at the same time, try and block that time off of your daily calendar to be with them. I'm going to try and do this to fit in a workout with my oldest son - his schedule has him done with academics about 11:30 each day - we are planning to try and get a 45-60 minute work out in each day starting around 11:45 or so, then from 1PM on he is free to do homework, plan bike rides, etc.
Maybe make 3pm be "nap time" for the kids - wishful thinking.
6pm can be fetch daddy a beer from the fridge time.
I would suggest that you keep the personal laptop closed so you are less likely to get distracted, and again, set scheduled "personal" time where you can check in on drafts, FBG, emails, etc. Much easier to do if that screen isn't always open and you have to make a conscious effort to open up the laptop and login, etc.
Brony
Footballguy
Been working out of the kitchen for the past 5 months. Best views in the house. Coffee. Music. My kids have been sleeping or in their rooms til noon or later each day, so it's been distraction free essentially.
With school (remote learning) starting next week, I may have to move out of the kitchen. We have a spare bedroom and finished basement, but both of them seem like big downgrades. First world problems.
With school (remote learning) starting next week, I may have to move out of the kitchen. We have a spare bedroom and finished basement, but both of them seem like big downgrades. First world problems.
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As a manager, I am finding my newer team members are really struggling. Trying to figure out better ways of training and teaching organizational skills.
MAC_32
Footballguy
@nirad3 I trained our kids, if I have my headphones on then I am not here. They will still come up and tap me on the arm sometimes, but I just point at my headphones and they walk away. Can't over use them, but when I have focused work I need to do and the wild animals are getting restless i throw them in.
Nemesis
Footballguy
I've heard of people suggesting to make a RED / GREEN "Paddle or Flag" similar to what you see at Brazilian Steakhouses.
If it's RED --> Do not disturb me......on a call/deep focus work
If it's GREEN --> fair game
Or you could just order this: https://wearewired.in/#0
I know for me, i've had a couple of awkward situations where my wife and college aged kids have just come home from somewhere and they are either discussing a topic that's not something i want my co-workers to hear or they are arguing about something. I have to hold my hand up above my head and tell them "Hot Mike" to get them to notice.
Poke_4_Life
Footballguy
Like the rest of you I've been home since mid-March. Pretty sure I'll be WFH until at least 2021, although my employer is still being coy about officially saying that.
We recently got a budget to get office furniture and second monitors, etc. So I now have a pretty great set up. Have a 24" monitor, full keyboard/mouse and a Steelcase series 1 chair. The chair is a big upgrade because I was using a cheap $50 model and it was bothering my back. I could use a bit better desk, but it works well enough.
My only problem is currently I'm having some remodel work done on a couple of bedrooms and the master bathroom so I've moved from a bedroom w/ a door to a desk in the living room. My wife is also WFH (in a dedicated office space) and there's no door currently between us and we are both on calls (phone and web) a lot. We'll make do for a few weeks. Also remodel work is just loud. Ugh.
We recently got a budget to get office furniture and second monitors, etc. So I now have a pretty great set up. Have a 24" monitor, full keyboard/mouse and a Steelcase series 1 chair. The chair is a big upgrade because I was using a cheap $50 model and it was bothering my back. I could use a bit better desk, but it works well enough.
My only problem is currently I'm having some remodel work done on a couple of bedrooms and the master bathroom so I've moved from a bedroom w/ a door to a desk in the living room. My wife is also WFH (in a dedicated office space) and there's no door currently between us and we are both on calls (phone and web) a lot. We'll make do for a few weeks. Also remodel work is just loud. Ugh.
nirad3
Footballguy
Yeah, same schedule I think. They always eat lunch at the same time. I'm super OCD about that. I always eat at the same time but usually end up going into my office with my plate of food so I can check out FFA and other stuff.
Nap time is not happening. I'm guessing once schoolwork is done (probably no later than 1 or 1:30) they are going to be out in the neighborhood playing with their friends.
And mmm, I'm not much of a home beer drinker, especially on weeknights. Maybe Friday night or Saturday night.
Can't resist having the personal laptop up. This will change once we're in the office, though, as I won't have as much time for FFA, fantasy football, etc. When we finally get back into the office, I will designate a quick 10-15 minutes in the morning and then again in the afternoon to check on things.
Courtjester
The Town Drunk
It has the ups and downs.
I have been here since March as well. At first it was a challenge to try and make it work and now, I feel like I have faced every challenge and it has become ho hum. My wife was home since March also, but had to go back this week, which is scary.
It was great being here for my 16 year old who has had a very tough 8 months emotionally/mentally. Not getting in a suit/tie every day is awesome. I have become fairly studly at Fortnite.
The downside is the monotony. You really lose motivation when you aren't going anywhere all the time. I have really fallen into the 4:00 beer routine and my gut shows it. It just takes a lot of purpose out of life and I can see how depression could set in for some--especially single people.
Yet being health compromised, I am in no hurry to go anywhere.
I have been here since March as well. At first it was a challenge to try and make it work and now, I feel like I have faced every challenge and it has become ho hum. My wife was home since March also, but had to go back this week, which is scary.
It was great being here for my 16 year old who has had a very tough 8 months emotionally/mentally. Not getting in a suit/tie every day is awesome. I have become fairly studly at Fortnite.
The downside is the monotony. You really lose motivation when you aren't going anywhere all the time. I have really fallen into the 4:00 beer routine and my gut shows it. It just takes a lot of purpose out of life and I can see how depression could set in for some--especially single people.
Yet being health compromised, I am in no hurry to go anywhere.
Senor Schmutzig
Footballguy
I have definitely gotten better at Fortnite. Hit me up if you see me online (SteamMIA). I play with @Playin4Beer periodically when we are online at the same time.
snogger
Footballguy
WFH has me working 9+ hour days, especially the last few weeks..
I start working at 5am so by the time most start their day I have 3 to 4 hours in. Then along comes the meetings and next thing I know its almost 2pm. Other than Breakfast, Lunch(usually eating at my desk) and a shower I've taken no breaks.
Due to normal business hours I'm expected to be online until 3:30pm... So I try to take a hour, to hour and half, break before I finish the day...
Some need discipline to work.. I need discipline to take breaks.
I start working at 5am so by the time most start their day I have 3 to 4 hours in. Then along comes the meetings and next thing I know its almost 2pm. Other than Breakfast, Lunch(usually eating at my desk) and a shower I've taken no breaks.
Due to normal business hours I'm expected to be online until 3:30pm... So I try to take a hour, to hour and half, break before I finish the day...
Some need discipline to work.. I need discipline to take breaks.
Otis
Footballguy
This has been a struggle for me too. Lots of constant back to back videos and skypes and as the end of the day comes around I realize I've barely been able to do any actual work. But I plop down into a char at 9am and lots of days I look up and it's 6:30 and I can't believe I haven't left my attic and I'm just racing through the end of day crap (I absolutely loathe the people who send a million emails after 5pm, wtf, where were you all day long???) just to try and get downstairs for some dinner and to see the family. I've started making time for a yoga break in the middle of the day, and if I have a little down time with nothing pressing, I'll go sit in my yard in the sun for a few minutes with the dog, just to get some fresh air. It helps.WFH has me working 9+ hour days, especially the last few weeks..
I start working at 5am so by the time most start their day I have 3 to 4 hours in. Then along comes the meetings and next thing I know its almost 2pm. Other than Breakfast, Lunch(usually eating at my desk) and a shower I've taken no breaks.
Due to normal business hours I'm expected to be online until 3:30pm... So I try to take a hour, to hour and half, break before I finish the day...
Some need discipline to work.. I need discipline to take breaks.
Senor Schmutzig
Footballguy
Just got off my 9th Zoom of the day with the Australia team. This was an overly busy Zoom day but I'm really getting to the point of wishing we could go back to regular telephone calls (no video).WFH has me working 9+ hour days, especially the last few weeks..
I start working at 5am so by the time most start their day I have 3 to 4 hours in. Then along comes the meetings and next thing I know its almost 2pm. Other than Breakfast, Lunch(usually eating at my desk) and a shower I've taken no breaks.
Due to normal business hours I'm expected to be online until 3:30pm... So I try to take a hour, to hour and half, break before I finish the day...
Some need discipline to work.. I need discipline to take breaks.
belljr
Footballguy
Um obvious answer. Log in laterWFH has me working 9+ hour days, especially the last few weeks..
I start working at 5am so by the time most start their day I have 3 to 4 hours in. Then along comes the meetings and next thing I know its almost 2pm. Other than Breakfast, Lunch(usually eating at my desk) and a shower I've taken no breaks.
Due to normal business hours I'm expected to be online until 3:30pm... So I try to take a hour, to hour and half, break before I finish the day...
Some need discipline to work.. I need discipline to take breaks.
snogger
Footballguy
No matter if I go to bed at 9pm, or 11pm, I'm up by 5am, even on weekends.
Can't imagine just sitting around "waiting" to go to work..
Plus, due to the meetings throughout the day, I tend to get more work done from 5am to 9am then most of the rest of the day.
belljr
Footballguy
Meh... You're not getting paid any extra. I have zero problems waiting until 7 to log inNo matter if I go to bed at 9pm, or 11pm, I'm up by 5am, even on weekends.
Can't imagine just sitting around "waiting" to go to work..
Plus, due to the meetings throughout the day, I tend to get more work done from 5am to 9am then most of the rest of the day.
JaxBill
Footballguy
Interesting. REI built a brand new corporate headquarters in Seattle. They were supposed to move in this summer.
WFH has been successful and they're selling a brand new building.
WFH has been successful and they're selling a brand new building.
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Couldn't agree more. I have been trying to stay off the boards last week or two, really depressing at times.(Me, not you all) The worst is sharing the space with Mrs who is also WFH. We literally got rid of our Dining Room table and converted that into our office which really has no walls and is open to the living room and then the kitchen door is on the adjacent side, the home feels more like an office.
I was reading articles where people are buying 2nd homes or renting 1 and 2 bedroom apartment to have office space for their work...think about that.
On the flip side, my wife loves working from home. She runs a foundation that raises money and actually gets more done at home, where I on the other hand, was already WFH 3-4 days a week but now have to share space and it just drives me crazy. I work best alone, that shouldn't shock anyone.
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MAC_32
Footballguy
I don't know if this is the underlying reason for you guys, but I associate home with where I relax. This was a major hurdle in the early transition stages, when it came to both work and exercise.
I don't know if this is feasible for you, but what worked for me was changing the location to outdoors. I didn't have problems sustaining running in March/April because that was already something I did outdoors. But I no longer had gym access, so I opted to do my strength exercises outside instead of in. And since I did that it's a habit I've been able to sustain. After a couple weeks of that I shifted my office outside. It's kinda cool having this relatively large backyard filled with 80' trees as a backdrop, but more than that I had no prior mental association with this setting. Now I do, it's where I work.
If this reality sustains into fall and eventually winter I won't be able to sustain this, but since I see Florida and California with your locations I don't think that'll be the case for you. So, just something to think about.
I don't know if this is feasible for you, but what worked for me was changing the location to outdoors. I didn't have problems sustaining running in March/April because that was already something I did outdoors. But I no longer had gym access, so I opted to do my strength exercises outside instead of in. And since I did that it's a habit I've been able to sustain. After a couple weeks of that I shifted my office outside. It's kinda cool having this relatively large backyard filled with 80' trees as a backdrop, but more than that I had no prior mental association with this setting. Now I do, it's where I work.
If this reality sustains into fall and eventually winter I won't be able to sustain this, but since I see Florida and California with your locations I don't think that'll be the case for you. So, just something to think about.
Poke_4_Life
Footballguy
I do something similar, but I have an interior workspace. I just only use my work desk when I'm working. Otherwise I stay out of that room, away from that desk, and off the work phone. Helps me not feel like I should be working at all hours.
Peak
Footballguy
Going on the 5th month of WFH. Wife is a teacher and I have 3 school aged kids. The summer has been brutal for us. I set up shop in our basement away from everyone. That didn't help. Wife says I ruined her summer because I was always around. Lately I leave the house at 8am and don't come home until 5pm. Take the laptop and work at a park or restaurant, or just sit in my car. Whatever it takes to keep the family happy.
Work doesn't see my team going back in this year. They've been productive WFH. There are small teams which may/have to go back in shifts. I was told to expect to WFH for the rest of the year. At this point, I'm good with it as my wife and kids are going back in school in a couple of weeks. Assuming no major outbreaks in our school system, I may have a quiet place to work at home for awhile this fall.
Work doesn't see my team going back in this year. They've been productive WFH. There are small teams which may/have to go back in shifts. I was told to expect to WFH for the rest of the year. At this point, I'm good with it as my wife and kids are going back in school in a couple of weeks. Assuming no major outbreaks in our school system, I may have a quiet place to work at home for awhile this fall.
Poke_4_Life
Footballguy
What/Who did you prevent her doing by working in the basement? Maybe the country being in the middle of a pandemic ruined her summer more than just having you in the basement everyday.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
irish eyes
Footballguy
So she says you ruined her summer because, god forbid you actually work and it has to be at home. And now it's on you to leave the house everyday to find a place to work. She couldn't be more selfish if she tried. My prayers go out to you
Peak
Footballguy
Thanks all. She went back to work yesterday, so now it's just me and the kids. In 10 days, it'll just be me in the house. At least until COVID part deaux hits. I've tried to have these same conversations, but it's no use right now. All of us being home together for this long has really rubbed a few nerves raw. I think we'd all like to have our somewhat normal lives back. Even if its for a short time.
Nemesis
Footballguy
I hear ya......Since our 2 college aged daughters came home with their 2 cars, we were a household of 4 cars and my car was continuously parked inside our garage. My local errands (or going to our neighborhood gym) nearly always involved using their cars or my wifes car, which were more conveniently available as i wasn't about to play "car Tetris" to get it out.
As a result, i would try to make a point to still use my car occassionally..........but as you probably guessed it, recently i found that my car was totally dead........I mean, it wouldn't even chug. Worse yet, my ignition switch & steering column are electronic......so i couldn't even manually turn my ignition switch.
I needed to try to jump it and all of our other cars were in the driveway. To make matters even worse, my steering column had locked with the wheels ever so slightly turned. So here i am in the garage, having to find & use the manual unlock of my gear selector to get it into neutral and as i'm inching it out of the garage I realize the angle of the car is headed toward my daughter's car. Luckily for me, I didn't have to move my daughter's car, but it was very close and i was successfully able to jump start my car, and the battery is now showing a full charge.
Pandemic problems
Otis
Footballguy
This is a dangerous mindset. I don't think "normal" is coming back for many of us. The better, safer approach, for your own sanity and the mental health of your wife and kids, is to get settled into and comfortable with this new normal. Find ways to make it work.
Nemesis
Footballguy
Hey....General Question for this Group:
With the pandemic, and more WFH'ers: Have any of you had concerns for the LONG TERM TRENDS that will come out of this pandemic that are Negative?
Recently, i listened to a podcast (i think it was McKinsey) and they brought up the topics of:
1-Due to the pandemic, there is a trend where a lot of workers who live in Higher Cost of Living areas have either moved to Lower COL areas or are considering it. A prime example is the tech sector workers that find California is less desirable due to high housing costs and other issues (taxes, homeless, traffic, polictics). Heard that since some of those companies are not requiring some workers to be local, that those workers are moving to adjacent states or cities and the unintended consequences affecting the new locations (such as increased housing cost in those new cities affecting long time residents that can no longer afford it)
2-Will companies eventually start to adjust existing worker salaries based on WHERE you live?
"You want to live in Billings, Montana and work remote.........Then, here's the salary we're offering you (or your COL adjustment) since we know you don't have as many costs as some others."
3-Will companies start to seek lower starting salaries on positions since they can recruit and cast a much wider net than before?
4- With remote working more focused on skills/task completion...... Will companies start to de-emphasize some intangibles and move even more toward looking at employees as just a number or interchangeable costs?
5-How will employee training be handled in the future? I would guess we see even more and more remote or online learning available but how will companies react to it for existing EEs and hiring practices? Will age-ism increase as an unintended consequence?
I know a lot of the above topics sound like the same thing.......but if you peel back the onion, you'll see that the whole system will change at some point.......and some of it will create some speed bumps ahead.
With the pandemic, and more WFH'ers: Have any of you had concerns for the LONG TERM TRENDS that will come out of this pandemic that are Negative?
Recently, i listened to a podcast (i think it was McKinsey) and they brought up the topics of:
1-Due to the pandemic, there is a trend where a lot of workers who live in Higher Cost of Living areas have either moved to Lower COL areas or are considering it. A prime example is the tech sector workers that find California is less desirable due to high housing costs and other issues (taxes, homeless, traffic, polictics). Heard that since some of those companies are not requiring some workers to be local, that those workers are moving to adjacent states or cities and the unintended consequences affecting the new locations (such as increased housing cost in those new cities affecting long time residents that can no longer afford it)
2-Will companies eventually start to adjust existing worker salaries based on WHERE you live?
"You want to live in Billings, Montana and work remote.........Then, here's the salary we're offering you (or your COL adjustment) since we know you don't have as many costs as some others."
3-Will companies start to seek lower starting salaries on positions since they can recruit and cast a much wider net than before?
4- With remote working more focused on skills/task completion...... Will companies start to de-emphasize some intangibles and move even more toward looking at employees as just a number or interchangeable costs?
5-How will employee training be handled in the future? I would guess we see even more and more remote or online learning available but how will companies react to it for existing EEs and hiring practices? Will age-ism increase as an unintended consequence?
I know a lot of the above topics sound like the same thing.......but if you peel back the onion, you'll see that the whole system will change at some point.......and some of it will create some speed bumps ahead.
Otis
Footballguy
I agree with all of the above. Other impacts/things many organizations are thinking about, especially in the service industries:
- More WFH — doesn’t matter where my workforce is anymore, that’s been proven now for many industries. Was never proven before.
- Decrease demand for commercial real estate in major cities. Why does my firm still need 5 floors in that high rent hi rise? We can get away with just 2 floors, and have floating office space that people rotate through as needed, and have most of our workforce WFH.
- What will happen with supporting services in the commute regions? If people don’t commute anymore, do we need the corner bodega for lunches for the corporate folks ? Can all those places stay in business ? I don’t see how. Heck, what happens to mass transit? Commuter train ridership, when it returns, may be a fraction of what it once was. Do they have to increase pricing to operate? Fewer trains each day? Who knows what that’s gonna look like...
- Decreased residential real estate demand in the middle of large cities and in immediately adjacent high COL suburbs. Why am I paying so much to live in Long Island or Westchester? I can move further into upstate New York, and get twice the house at a fraction of the cost, a bunch of land and fresh air. I don’t see these areas or the cities crumbling, because people want the amenities and community available in these areas and cities, and for those with kids, I want them educated in the good schools in these regions (they eventually, I assume, will return to in person). But boy, I otherwise would be up on a mountaintop with views and the highest speed internet and wifi money can buy. End of story. I should note one other competing factor — if we eventually return to business travel, distance to good airport hubs may be important again. It’s pretty meaningless at the moment...
- Airline travel is surely going to be different forever. Folks in the industry have told me they are projecting air travel will go back to the luxury/premium experience it was back in the 50s and 60s. It won’t be like we were used to. I assume that means far fewer flights and less packed planes and/or much higher fares. On the bright side, maybe the airlines will reverse the trend of decreasing space between seats by another inch every year and constantly packing in more seats — maybe now they spread them all back out, but charge a bunch more. I’d be totally ok with that. Flying coach had become completely and utterly miserable anyway.
skol asylum
Footballguy
