Posted on 06/07/2022 6:22:42 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
To Jonathan Pruiett, it just didn't make sense.
A geospatial analyst who updates Google maps for a living, Pruiett had been called back to his company's offices in Bothell, Washington, five days a week, starting June 6.
Like many on his team, Pruiett had only worked remotely, having started the job in the pandemic. He'd adapted well to it, finding efficiencies such as multitasking during virtual meetings, using the time to process data.
And yet, now he was being told to report to office. Anyone who failed to report within three days of the return date would be processed as having abandoned their job.
"Nothing will change other than having a couple snacks in our office and having an in-person meeting," Pruiett said. "We're kind of starting to think that this job isn't worth it."
Source of tension between workers and bosses
More than two years into a pandemic that has no clear end, the debate over remote work has only intensified. Working from home isn't possible in many jobs. But for those who have the option, it's now evident that it is feasible, even beneficial.
But how beneficial is a point of contention between workers and their bosses. Some bosses are deciding too much is lost when people aren't in the office and it's time to come back.
Tesla boss Elon Musk is one of them. He recently emailed his employees with the subject line "Remote work is no longer acceptable." He reasoned that Tesla creates and makes "the most exciting and meaningful products of any company on Earth. This will not happen by phoning it in."
Musk told them anyone wishing to do remote work "must be in the office for a minimum (and I mean *minimum*) of 40 hours per week."
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
And whether I want to work for an employer is MY business. Man I love Right to Work laws.
When my company tried to make my contract remote, we wanted to explain the benefits to the government. For example, at home, we pay for our own internet. Meanwhile, the government needn’t pay for the office space to house us, because our workstation (we’re on rotating shifts) is also slated to be moved from one building to an adjoining building where it would be difficult to make room for it.
Also, having us scattered in different places reduces the risk of us being completely down in a major emergency or a physical attack on the building, which, given the way this country is going, chances of such are increasing. And our data and applications are already in cloud storage, meaning that part of our job is likely already off-campus.
To their credit, they did make a hybrid arrangement where we could work night shifts and weekends from home, so my Pennsylvania co-worker will come down to Maryland for his weekday shifts, sleeping on a cot in the building in between them. Unfortunately, commuting from Florida is unfeasible for me at this time.
Another delight with working from home!
For those who are certain that teleworking is just lazy people watching TV, have fun at the office! Please distract my @sshat boss for me since he adds no value to any of my projects.
True dat. I hate people. Being alone at home with my pets for the last 2.5 years has been the best thing that ever happened to me! Next phase: get out of this crappy city and do my job remote from the country.
EXACTLY!
No one is holding a gun to your head saying you *must* work for XYZ Corp......yet.
Sounds like the bottom line is that your employees who didn’t have to keep working quit rather than face mandated office time. Is that really balance?
I now have 2.5 acres to mow.....
No, returning to the office was and is completely optional. There is no return to office mandate.
Ah, I thought you were referring metaphorically to cleaning out their desks.
Yeah that’s no fun. The flue always takes it toll.
It’s literal 😀 the 100% remote workers come in once to clean out their desks forever so that our office space can shrink and then we’ll pay less rent (fewer square feet).
Well, it wasn’t the flu. They did extensive blood work and identified it as an unidentified coronavirus. It was tested and found not to be SARS, SARS-COV1 or MERS but they knew it was a coronavirus. They spoke of “Wuhan” but did not have the test. I also had Influenza-A and pneumonia. The real damage was done by the coronavirus. I had a heart attack the day after admittance. They did a quad bypass to assist healing the damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, etc. from the coronavirus.
They take blood tests every 4 hr.s to track what’s going on. They can tell which organs are damaged and how badly by chemicals in the blood.
My doctors were intelligent. They were not hindered by Covid protocols at the time. They knew the difference between influenza-A and a coronavirus. They knew the organ damage was from the unknown coronavirus. At 6 am shift change they would meet in my room to discuss this. So I was lucky to know what was going on.
geospatial analyst? I can do that job without any money on a College edumacation.
Lucky you!
Their place was a street over from Lahans store and PO.
Beach was private and even had picnic tables before a 75 ‘cane.
Be truthful, most people “working” from home are not working most of the day.
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