At the beginning of lockdown, one of my colleagues started a WhatsApp group titled “Corona Coffee Break”. This was in an attempt to have the mindless conversations that we would usually have around the coffee machine in the morning. All went well until one day we had a whole discussion about which mops are the best. We were all at home at that time, with our spouses and pets and children (everything was closed), and us privileged little office workers were confronted with the fact that we had to mop our own floors. Never in our entire lives would we have had a discussion around the coffee machine that campaigned for the specific bucket that was required and the best plan for pet hair. But there we were.
The Engineer started going back to his office every day towards the end of last year. He said that altough he loves working from home for various reasons, it is just better to be in the office. He also predicted that their CEO will summon them back soon anyway. So off he went with his lunchbox and laptop bag.
The summons came last week stating that from the beginning of next month they will all be back in the office full time. The reason: “to re-energise the company”. Now, I had to think a little on this one. But it does make sense. There is banter and conversations that take place that is not necessarily work-related, especially in a team that works closely together every day. There is an interest in the lives of your colleagues that you are not going to be able to convey on Skype. People cannot spot someone struggling if they do not see them. And if people do not speak up or ask for help, one is going to struggle on your own.
So out comes the list. What did I love working from home:
- Running at lunchtime
- The ability to unpack the dishwasher while attending a webinar
- Being there while our gardener is there to see what he is up to and what else needs to be done
- Listening to music without headphones
- Not having someone storm into my office randomly (except the dogs)
- Being home with my dogs – most days I love them more than people
- Not having to pack lunch
- Could start work immediately without having to choose an outfit and put on makeup
- Having lunch with the Engineer
- Not having a whole office listen to your phone conversation with your father
- Wearing my slippers
- Being there when things have to get delivered
- Starting dinner earlier
What do I love being back at the office:
- The coffee machine – oh how I missed it!
- I don’t have to wonder where some of my employees are
- I don’t feel guilty about not unpacking the dishwasher/doing the washing/mopping something/lifting weights because I am not there to do it
- We are not there the whole day to mess things up
- There is planned snacking and not the whole workday snacking
- When I go home, work is (mostly) done
- We are not discussing things that are broken or old the whole time- it bothers you less when you don’t see them the whole day
- I get to wear a pretty dress
- Fewer things get ordered, because we are not there to have them delivered
- Time management had to become part of my day again, because “home” needs to be home and not the remote office
- I have my dining room table back
- The printer
- I can storm into anyone’s office and ask anything
- In person meetings, because online meetings are horrible
The Engineer contributed to this list as well, but the most interesting development on his side is fever meetings. While they were working remotely it seemed that some individuals had to prove that they were working by having meetings.
I do appreciate the fact that some employers have summoned back their workforce, while others have given up their rent, and there will therefore be many different opinions on this. As for my company, were are trying something in the middle.
I have heard the argument that people are working harder from home. I believe that some are. Some are, however, watching Netflix and painting murals. A small example is that leave from 2021 is being carried over, something that was not a common occurrence in the past, and that is partly because people were able to do their personal stuff during office hours, and did not need to put in leave for that.
I did however also see how people who were sick continue working while they were supposed to be resting because their office was right there, and working from home is now the norm, and expected. I have attended Team meetings starting at 7am or ending at 9pm, because office hours are no longer a thing.
The best contribution that working from home has made to my life was faster internet and a DC UPS that kept it going when the power was out.