Has Covid changed your opinion on working from home?

[TGantz]

I haven't had one minute off of work due to Covid. Not a single moment worked from home (besides answering calls/emails in my off time). I HAVE worked tons of overtime, including directly supporting people that are Covid positive.

I used to get angry in the beginning of the pandemic with everyone enjoying their time off and/or working from home. Stupid articles about new hobbies with all the free time. Ultimately I chose this career and can change if I want to. That said, I will still get a little snarky at some people occasionally in emails if they're being pushy about something low priority while they are working at home and I am actively risking my life every day in the middle of staffing shortages.

Corporate sends lots of messages calling us heroes, quickly followed up by a petty conversation on par with remembering cover sheets for TPS reports. It gets old.

Anecdotally, I would guess most people are at around maybe 75% of their productivity when working from home instead of the office. Anyone that disagrees is probably currently working from home and trying to convince themselves or others. There are too many ways to be distracted these days. Depends a lot on job obviously, but in my world I can most definitely see a difference.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I miss getting out of the house and getting more social interaction with certain people. I also miss just moving around.

Working indefinitely from home would probably drive me mad. I certainly lean more towards introvert than extrovert, but I need more in-person social interaction than my wife and dogs can provide on a daily basis.

@Popeye_Card - The comment I'm about to make is 100% not directed at you, but in response to the situation that you describe (because others are experiencing similar circumstances):

Volunteer

If one is looking for social interaction, it can be that simple.

As someone who has worked from home for 12 years, I'm totally fine not leaving the house for 3-4 days at a time. Now, I would describe myself as neither an introvert nor extrovert. I can do both just fine.

But I volunteer via my kids' sports. However, one does not need kids to volunteer. It makes it easier, sure, but it's not necessary. Animal shelters, food pantries, nature trails, adopt-a-highway, etc. Those are just top of mind. I'm sure there are plenty of opportunities out there. Just have to find the one(s) that is/are right for you.

The bonus is that it'll get you out of the house, unlike some hobbies (gaming, movies, model trains, woodworking, knitting, scrapbooking) that could/would keep you in the same space.

What's the purpose of working from home only to then turn around and say, eh, I'll go take the same risk I would going to work and instead go to a food pantry or basketball game?

Not meant to be snarky because I get your point, but most people working from home started doing so to mitigate covid risk. And, they'd then be negating said mitigation risk by going out, just doing it with people outside the work place.

[haltz]

I am actively risking my life every day in the middle of staffing shortages.

Can I make a recommendation?

Occasionally I work from home for a few days before I go install the thing or hand it off and sometimes I'm in someone else's house by myself for extended periods of time. I really enjoy the solitude, but I bartend every weekend and spent so long in the restaurant industry full time that I don't think I'll ever get over how refreshing it is. Sitting in front of a computer basically doing homework (no offense everyone), whether that's at home or in an office would make me insane.

[mikechamp]

I miss getting out of the house and getting more social interaction with certain people. I also miss just moving around.

Working indefinitely from home would probably drive me mad. I certainly lean more towards introvert than extrovert, but I need more in-person social interaction than my wife and dogs can provide on a daily basis.

@Popeye_Card - The comment I'm about to make is 100% not directed at you, but in response to the situation that you describe (because others are experiencing similar circumstances):

Volunteer

If one is looking for social interaction, it can be that simple.

As someone who has worked from home for 12 years, I'm totally fine not leaving the house for 3-4 days at a time. Now, I would describe myself as neither an introvert nor extrovert. I can do both just fine.

But I volunteer via my kids' sports. However, one does not need kids to volunteer. It makes it easier, sure, but it's not necessary. Animal shelters, food pantries, nature trails, adopt-a-highway, etc. Those are just top of mind. I'm sure there are plenty of opportunities out there. Just have to find the one(s) that is/are right for you.

The bonus is that it'll get you out of the house, unlike some hobbies (gaming, movies, model trains, woodworking, knitting, scrapbooking) that could/would keep you in the same space.

What's the purpose of working from home only to then turn around and say, eh, I'll go take the same risk I would going to work and instead go to a food pantry or basketball game?

Not meant to be snarky because I get your point, but most people working from home started doing so to mitigate covid risk. And, they'd then be negating said mitigation risk by going out, just doing it with people outside the work place.

2 things:

1. I don't know if @Popeye_Card is referring to those who choose to work from home, or those who are forced to work from home. Either way, some of the volunteer opportunities I listed would probably be of equal risk to working in an office/confined space. For those who choose to work from home, those volunteer opportunities would not be good choices. However, activities that call for you to be outdoors (coaching soccer, improving trails, etc.) would be a very viable option.

2. My response was focusing on this part of his post: "need more in-person social interaction than my wife and dogs can provide on a daily basis". He (and others, which is why my response was not directed solely at him) is looking for more social interaction. For some, they might be willing to take whatever risks come with the volunteering opportunity they choose. Maybe those people feel that, due to such factors as location or group size, there is a lower risk than their office. I know my wife, for one, would 100% agree with that last sentence.

[TGantz]

I am actively risking my life every day in the middle of staffing shortages.

Can I make a recommendation?

Occasionally I work from home for a few days before I go install the thing or hand it off and sometimes I'm in someone else's house by myself for extended periods of time. I really enjoy the solitude, but I bartend every weekend and spent so long in the restaurant industry full time that I don't think I'll ever get over how refreshing it is. Sitting in front of a computer basically doing homework (no offense everyone), whether that's at home or in an office would make me insane.

I think I agree, although I'm not sure where the recommendation is in there. I guess you're saying as annoying as it is working directly with people, it's overall a more rewarding experience than doing cover sheets for TPS reports. I agree with that. That's why I am still showing up. Although to clarify, I have a decent amount of computer work with my job. I just have to do it on location.

But just don't ask me while I'm in the middle of a tough day at work. I'll take the job the guy had on Lost typing numbers into a computer every hour so the world doesn't explode over working directly with people if you catch me on the wrong day.

[Arthur Dent]

At this point, it would make more sense to talk about working from in terms of the fact that pandemic proved that it’s perfectly feasible for some small number of white collar office type jobs to work this way, and is that a change we want or keep or not on its own merits.

We already live in such a terribly lonely and isolated society. Getting together in cube land for a lot of often sad and coercive socialization is not exactly a good answer, but the idea that “COVID safety” is an argument to scale back normal in person human interactions permanently is just such an incredibly sad and dystopian idea to me.

[haltz]

I am actively risking my life every day in the middle of staffing shortages.

Can I make a recommendation?

Occasionally I work from home for a few days before I go install the thing or hand it off and sometimes I'm in someone else's house by myself for extended periods of time. I really enjoy the solitude, but I bartend every weekend and spent so long in the restaurant industry full time that I don't think I'll ever get over how refreshing it is. Sitting in front of a computer basically doing homework (no offense everyone), whether that's at home or in an office would make me insane.

I think I agree, although I'm not sure where the recommendation is in there.

I was just being snarky about getting vaccinated.

[Popeye_Card]

At this point, it would make more sense to talk about working from in terms of the fact that pandemic proved that it’s perfectly feasible for some small number of white collar office type jobs to work this way, and is that a change we want or keep or not on its own merits.

We already live in such a terribly lonely and isolated society. Getting together in cube land for a lot of often sad and coercive socialization is not exactly a good answer, but the idea that “COVID safety” is an argument to scale back normal in person human interactions permanently is just such an incredibly sad and dystopian idea to me.

I think there are several benefits that could come from wider-scale working from home arrangements. Reduced carbon emissions from eliminated commutes. Less of our cities being taken up by surface lots and parking garages. More people being able to live and spend their salaries in small town economies, with a reduced cost of living and potentially a way to actually save many of these towns.

I just don't know if working and living in the same building for the bulk of your life is for everyone. I don't think it would be for me, and I say that as someone who really likes to spend time alone on my hobbies. But I'm also just evaluating it from the temporary experience I had last year still having to live in the same city, and not being able to move to a more desirable location permanently. It would be cool to move back to St. Louis or wherever, and still keep my same basic job.

[TGantz]

I am actively risking my life every day in the middle of staffing shortages.

Can I make a recommendation?

Occasionally I work from home for a few days before I go install the thing or hand it off and sometimes I'm in someone else's house by myself for extended periods of time. I really enjoy the solitude, but I bartend every weekend and spent so long in the restaurant industry full time that I don't think I'll ever get over how refreshing it is. Sitting in front of a computer basically doing homework (no offense everyone), whether that's at home or in an office would make me insane.

I think I agree, although I'm not sure where the recommendation is in there.

I was just being snarky about getting vaccinated.

I even gave you the benefit of the doubt and tried to understand what you meant. Should have figured it out.

You will not be receiving a Christmas card from me this year.

[ghostrunner]

At this point, it would make more sense to talk about working from in terms of the fact that pandemic proved that it’s perfectly feasible for some small number of white collar office type jobs to work this way, and is that a change we want or keep or not on its own merits.

We already live in such a terribly lonely and isolated society. Getting together in cube land for a lot of often sad and coercive socialization is not exactly a good answer, but the idea that “COVID safety” is an argument to scale back normal in person human interactions permanently is just such an incredibly sad and dystopian idea to me.

I don’t think Covid safety is the grounds but what you said first.

To me the best answer to isolation is to make cities and neighborhoods more livable and walkable. Convert the office space to living space and give people less reason to do what I did and live in the burbs where you drive miles from home and miles back. I’m in a “city suburb” but can’t walk to any stores easily. Either distance or traffic is a barrier.