Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ben on October 09, 2021, 09:13:45 AM

Title: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: Ben on October 09, 2021, 09:13:45 AM
Is this the Babylon Bee? "The rigors of working from home"?!?

Man, I did everything I could when working in an office to isolate myself to make it more like working remotely, and here we're talking about how tough it is to have to work from home. Food delivery and subsidized furniture. Virtual cooking and yoga. Pretty soon they'll be paid not to work at all because that's too stressful.

https://nypost.com/2021/10/07/employers-look-to-prioritize-well-being-of-remote-workers/amp/
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: zxcvbob on October 09, 2021, 09:31:52 AM
Is this the Babylon Bee? "The rigors of working from home"?!?

Man, I did everything I could when working in an office to isolate myself to make it more like working remotely, and here we're talking about how tough it is to have to work from home. Food delivery and subsidized furniture. Virtual cooking and yoga. Pretty soon they'll be paid not to work at all because that's too stressful.

https://nypost.com/2021/10/07/employers-look-to-prioritize-well-being-of-remote-workers/amp/

I've not read the article, but I will say that working from home all the time *is* stressful in a way.  (at least for me)  It's hard to set up boundaries between work and real life.  For example I forget to mute my work computer when I'm done, (I leave it running all the time to do BOINC projects in the background) and I hear a beep from an email coming in at 23:00 and I go check it.  And you don't have the 20 minutes or so to decompress on the drive home. 

If you live alone, and have a separate office set up for work, a lot of these issues go away; all that's left is the isolation.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: Devonai on October 09, 2021, 09:35:26 AM
My girlfriend has been 100% WFH for 19 months now.  She tried to get her employer to pay for a standing desk and a decent chair from her home office but they said no.  That's all she really wanted.  We were initially concerned about spending more on heat/AC since she was home all day, but the utility bills haven't really varied that much.  I suppose throwing us a bone for that would be nice.

We have no kids and she keeps the cats out, so she has few distractions.  Her biggest complaint is just the psychological closeness to her work and having to suppress the urge to log on for a little while and check up on things.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: Perd Hapley on October 09, 2021, 09:39:47 AM
Before the Age of Wuhan, I vaguely remember hearing about the downsides of work from home. It was one of those things that sounded nice at first, but was not all it was cracked up to be. So I've been surprised to hear how much people like it. (Have little experience with it, myself)
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: Ben on October 09, 2021, 09:42:55 AM

If you live alone, and have a separate office set up for work, a lot of these issues go away; all that's left is the isolation.

That's the perk!  :laugh:

I only ever got to work from home 1-2 days a week, but I put myself on a schedule and stuck to it. That included breaks and PT time for a run at the beach, and then quitting time was quitting time. I had a home office / reading room that was set up to be more comfortable than my office office.

As for knowing when to shut work off, ironically, that was much easier to do on telecommute days. On regular work days, I had a really bad habit of getting online both before and after work to do stuff.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: MechAg94 on October 09, 2021, 11:00:01 AM
My girlfriend has been 100% WFH for 19 months now.  She tried to get her employer to pay for a standing desk and a decent chair from her home office but they said no.  That's all she really wanted.  We were initially concerned about spending more on heat/AC since she was home all day, but the utility bills haven't really varied that much.  I suppose throwing us a bone for that would be nice.

We have no kids and she keeps the cats out, so she has few distractions.  Her biggest complaint is just the psychological closeness to her work and having to suppress the urge to log on for a little while and check up on things.
My problem is the psychological and physical closeness of all my normal distractions at home.  Makes the temptation to stop and go check home email or turn on the TV very easy.  If I was going to do it long term, it would make it easier to get in better habits. 
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: K Frame on October 09, 2021, 01:06:52 PM
Given what I do, and for whom I do it, I can't work at home. I HAVE to work in a specified facility.

I'm actually glad.

I think I'd go nuts if I had to work at home the whole time. I think I'd begin to feel very isolated. Plus, all of my toys are here; I think I'd have a very hard time with that, as well.

I know I'd still have to put Seren in day care, because she'd be constantly pestering me if I didn't.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: sumpnz on October 09, 2021, 01:28:31 PM
I know I'd still have to put Seren in day care, because she'd be constantly pestering me if I didn't.

She would pester you for a little while the first day.  Then she would just lay down by you and mostly sleep.  After a week any pestering would be good indications it’s time for a break and to stretch your legs anyway.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: Boomhauer on October 09, 2021, 01:29:47 PM
I’d love it considering I usually detest my coworkers. Worst thing for me would be it wouldn’t be possible to go a few doors down and get an in person answer

I’d definitely set up an office. My current house is perfect because it had a big office room with a built in desk, shelves, and big windows but If it didn’t have that I’d probably set up a small shed as an office with a window unit ac/heat system, mini fridge, etc
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: grampster on October 09, 2021, 02:43:19 PM
I've been working at home since 2006.  It's great.  Depending on the season I mow the lawn, or shovel snow, or read, or dabble with the 'puter, or take a nap, or take a walk, or sit on the deck in the sun, and snack.
Oh, wait...I'm retired. :facepalm: [popcorn] :rofl:
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: HeroHog on October 09, 2021, 02:59:20 PM
I worked from home for the last 2 years due to my health and that a recliner was my only relief from pain. My recliner was in the living room so that was a distraction issue. There was also the big window next to my chair but, thankfully, we lived on a low traffic street. The online distractions could be a problem, if you weren't careful but weren't really an issue for me. The TV stayed OFF and the stereo stayed ON playing music from my HUGE MP3 library so there were no commercial/news distractions.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: RoadKingLarry on October 09, 2021, 09:00:17 PM
Working from home for me this passed 7+ months since I retired have been great. Work in the garden, putter about in the shop as I see fit. But, the commute tot he lake to work on and now sail my boat did slightly get in the way of my most productive and nearly favorite activity, converting beer into urine.  =D
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: Lennyjoe on October 10, 2021, 01:14:37 AM
Been working from home since March of 2020 and I kind of like it.  My .gov office is offering stand up desks and multiple monitors but I’m good with what I have at home.  I did add a bigger monitor and better chair on my own dime.  Wondering if I can claim that, electric and internet on my taxes this year….
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: K Frame on October 11, 2021, 07:56:19 AM
She would pester you for a little while the first day.  Then she would just lay down by you and mostly sleep.  After a week any pestering would be good indications it’s time for a break and to stretch your legs anyway.

Yeah, you don't know Seren. She's a relentless pesterer. And I have to admit, I love it.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: MillCreek on September 15, 2022, 12:09:18 PM
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/only-one-major-city-ranks-higher-than-seattle-for-remote-work/

Seattle comes in at number two for the percentage of remote workers: 47%.  I did the light rail commute to downtown Seattle yesterday, and I was struck by how few cars were in the park and ride and riders on the light rail.  Back when I was doing this every work day from 2018 to 2020, both the park and ride and train were packed, often standing room only on the train.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: Nick1911 on September 15, 2022, 12:30:40 PM
I've been work from home since March 2020.  I quite enjoy it.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: K Frame on September 15, 2022, 12:40:23 PM
Traffic here in Northern Virginia during the work week seems to be close to where it was just before everyone caught the Woohooflu in April 2020.

Still not quite back to pre-pandemic levels, but a lot closer to really piss me off at times.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: zxcvbob on September 15, 2022, 12:44:31 PM
I've been work from home since March 2020.  I quite enjoy it.

I was WFH from March 2020 until I retired at the end of 2021.  I liked it too, but I actually did better when I went into the office once a week once that because a possibility.  (it took low-level executive approval to authorize me to go on-site, then when my wife found out that I could go in, she insisted that I do so.)  Now I think they want everybody back but they don't really have the office space for it.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: MillCreek on September 15, 2022, 12:49:37 PM
At my meeting yesterday, the healthcare system has an entire floor in an office building in downtown Seattle.  I walked around, and there was office and cubicle space for about 200 employees.  I counted, and there were 25 people there.  All the rest were working from home.  They plan to give up the lease when it comes due next year and move any remaining people to another office building with a smaller office footprint.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: Ben on September 15, 2022, 01:28:35 PM
They plan to give up the lease when it comes due next year and move any remaining people to another office building with a smaller office footprint.

Which seems to have led to an interesting (and I guess expected) real estate trend: Downsizing (or sharing) commercial properties and upsizing residential properties. Seems everyone is back to wanting McMansions with lots of room and office space.

When I was still working I recall one of those "shared spaces" companies was up and coming in Santa Barbara. Basically the civilian office worker equivalent of hot racking, but with cubicles. I recall just before I retired that they were looking at bankruptcy. I wonder if that trend is back now as well?
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: zxcvbob on September 15, 2022, 01:40:54 PM
Which seems to have led to an interesting (and I guess expected) real estate trend: Downsizing (or sharing) commercial properties and upsizing residential properties. Seems everyone is back to wanting McMansions with lots of room and office space.

When I was still working I recall one of those "shared spaces" companies was up and coming in Santa Barbara. Basically the civilian office worker equivalent of hot racking, but with cubicles. I recall just before I retired that they were looking at bankruptcy. I wonder if that trend is back now as well?

One reason my former company may not have office space for everybody (even tho' the number of employees is way down) is they sold a bunch of buildings, and just before covid they converted one large building into shared spaces.  Not even cubicles, just everybody crammed into one big open area.  I was never assigned to that; if I had been I would have refused to work there, but right at the end I was moved from a traditional office to a traditional cubicle because they had given up the lease on my building.  I made the move to the cubicle on my way out the door and never actually occupied the cube.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: Cliffh on September 15, 2022, 08:41:05 PM
I did the WFH thing for 10 years or so.  Converted the 2 car garage to a workshop/office/retail space.  Built & repaired PC's & did some small home & office networking.

SWMBO made sure I (mostly) stuck with the posted business hours; 10-7 M-F, 10-2 on Sat (10-12 during race season), closed Sun.  Any holiday I wanted off.  Closed on family dirt riding weekends or for whatever good reason came up.  A couple part-time employees & a couple on-call (mainly for on-site work I couldn't get to).  Run the radio or TV on whatever channel/station I wanted.  Pet the cat while reinstalling Windows on a clients' PC.

Worked out well, until Calif. got so damned expensive.  For example, the "low cost" housing* being built all around us was listing for $450k+, in 2004. 

Sure do miss those days.

*They weren't anything special either: 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 2 car on <1/4 acre.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: HankB on September 16, 2022, 07:51:05 AM
My job - which included work in the lab - was generally not well suited for working from home all the time, though I could have done it one or two days per week and been happy.

When I retired, some groups in the company - fortunately not mine - were getting their workspaces in large open areas. I think everyone - EXCEPT managers, of course! - had their own table (not a desk) with a PC and monitor on it, and a two drawer file cabinet for all their books and papers. I was SO glad I had my own 12x14 office - with a door, since I had storage for files and reference material hardcopy as well as some specialized tools of my own that I needed.

They gave a tech forum presentation once on how well this "open" plan was working, and how it improved productivity with everyone working closely together. When they opened the session to questions, I asked "Has management productivity also improved by doing away with offices and having them sit at a small table with one file cabinet like the rest of the workers?" The answer - that managers still had offices - resulted in MUCH laughter from the audience. And I got a few dirty looks from their managers when I opined (after the laughter died down) that since putting everyone else at tables worked so well, siting managers at tables sure sounded like an idea worth trying.  >:D  (more laughter)

The presenter (one of the tabled workers) said "I'm not going to touch that one."   :angel:
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: Bogie on September 16, 2022, 11:33:47 AM
Gee, if I was working from home, I wouldn't have had to throw out a Methican American the other day... SOB was vibrating HARD, and wanted to wander the store picking stuff up and putting it down, hoping we wouldn't notice him stealing something...
 
So tell me how your work from home life sucks some more?
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: zxcvbob on September 16, 2022, 11:36:11 AM
Gee, if I was working from home, I wouldn't have had to throw out a Methican American the other day... SOB was vibrating HARD, and wanted to wander the store picking stuff up and putting it down, hoping we wouldn't notice him stealing something...
 
So tell me how your work from home life sucks some more?

Has anyone said it sucks?  I must have missed that.   There are some challenges, tho', like setting up boundaries.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: Bogie on September 16, 2022, 12:12:31 PM
Tweakmonkeys would just steal the boundaries.
Title: Re: Employers Improving the Well-Being of Remote Workers
Post by: French G. on September 16, 2022, 01:40:04 PM
The impending commercial real estate collapse will probably drive a recession to the point of we will all be lucky to work, home or otherwise.