Covid-19 lockdown check-in

[merithyn]

You tell them life is really hard right now, and it has made you sick.  Sick days are given and to be used, in my opinion.  At where I am UC unless it is multiple days in a row or affecting the overall team there are no questions asked.

As some words of advice, this is not the time to take on more things.  Slow down the MBA, take mental health days, and find something wildly distracting.

I've told my advisor that due to real-life stress, I'm going to work at "typical" speed for the time being. If it takes me two years to complete the MBA, then that's what it's going to take. I simply can't push myself on that right now.

As for mental health days, those will be few and far between due to work deadlines but the moment that I can swing an afternoon off, you can bet your ass I'm going to do so. Maybe load the dog up and head east to breathe.

[derspiess]

I would make your manager and HR aware of what you're going through, in case you hadn't already.

[Syt]

We received an email late last night from our manager that we're free to work from home till end of next week (which incidentally is how long our manager is out of the office ), to be reassessed next week, though he also said the measures within the office will be reassessed to make sure we can return to the office a.s.a.p.

Our team decided to meet up today and coordinate how we go about the next two weeks.

[The Brain]

We received an email late last night from our manager that we're free to work from home till end of next week (which incidentally is how long our manager is out of the office ), to be reassessed next week, though he also said the measures within the office will be reassessed to make sure we can return to the office a.s.a.p.

Our team decided to meet up today and coordinate how we go about the next two weeks.

Isn't working from home recommended by the health authorities? What kind of organization goes against that kind of recommendations?

[Syt]

It's "recommended where possible", but it's just that: a recommendation, and requires consent by employer and employee. Just like it's "recommended" to wear a mask in meetings and when you're not at your desk at our office and to avoid any "unnecessary" travel.

A lot of companies don't allow their people to work from home, because ... old fashioned?

[Syt]

We were looking forward to an undisturbed day with few people at the office, but the strategy meeting in Switzerland was last-minute canceled, so everyone is here, no one wearing masks. Yay.

[Tamas]

That is such idiocy. The whole bloody world has awakened to the fact that people actually do perform well working from home and not just slacking off as many bosses thought. But by your example Syt it sounds like some employers cling to that notion and are afraid of losing control.

[Syt]

"We are a people business, and face to face meetings are so much more productive."

[Josquius]

Well. Thats big.
My company is looking at moving offices in 2022. I've always been happy with this. They're moving from a horrible edge of the city business park with nothing around it to the city centre.
On corona we've been pretty much told expect not to return to the office anytime this year....
Well, just got a mail sent out saying they're going to be handing out 30 minute appointments to everyone to go and clear out the office of their personal things.
This is odd. Its too early to plan for the new office move. Could we be just going officeless? :/

[Tonitrus]

REI, the sporting/adventure goods company had planned/built a brand new HQ to move into in my home town back in Washington state...they've pretty much completely shelved the move there, are selling it off, and appear to be planning on going mostly work-from-home (with some regional, small office locations if needed) for their corporate branch.

[Zanza]

My employer currently calculates with a 65% maximum attendance rate for offices, i.e. there will only be enough desks for 65% of the employees. You have to pick a desk in the morning and completely clean it in the evening. Your personal stuff goes into a locker. They are already decreasing office space by ending rental agreements.

There will be much less demand for office space in.the future. The landlords already start their "socialize our losses" campaign. Same as the owners of now too expensive high street shop spaces.

[Syt]

Well. Thats big.
My company is looking at moving offices in 2022. I've always been happy with this. They're moving from a horrible edge of the city business park with nothing around it to the city centre.
On corona we've been pretty much told expect not to return to the office anytime this year....
Well, just got a mail sent out saying they're going to be handing out 30 minute appointments to everyone to go and clear out the office of their personal things.
This is odd. Its too early to plan for the new office move. Could we be just going officeless? :/

Maybe the plan is to temporarily rent places in the meantime as necessary, or make use of coworking spaces?

[Syt]

I guess part of the reason why management is more reluctant to permit WFH is that we're a pretty small outfit of about 15 people. If we were a larger, more anonymous operation things might be different.

[Syt]

On the plus side, Vienna is offering free flu shots this year; this will be the first time in my life that I go and get one

[The Brain]

That's not many. Who are the lucky free?