Replies

I did the office 40-hour work week for most of my life but did the work-from-home bit for a few months. While working from home had some nice perks, I would rather be in the office. There, at least, I have access to managers and co-workers whenever needed. Working remotely, it is easy to be ignored or not included when important information is distributed.

Can’t understand the paranoia from some folks. COVID is over, dude. Of course, I’d had employment offices tell me they couldn’t find qualified applicants who could pass the drug test so maybe a lot of folks fear their bloodshot eyes and slurred speech might give them away.

I got accustomed to telework, and I did fine with it. But I’m not moving back to the politically sick DC area or Maryland just to go back to the office. So I will find another job, either remote or on-site in or near the Pensacola area. Heck, I will commute to Mobile, Alabama, if that’s what it takes.

When I started working remotely it was the exception, not the rule (less than a dozen people in the company of ~5,000 employees).

Before that I had worked for 15 years as a field engineer, with a territory that spanned the entire state. In that role I set my own schedule, worked the hours required to get the job done, and functioned autonomously.

A new manager changed all that. He resented my independence and the rapport I had with my users. So he abruptly removed me from my job and assigned me to the Helpdesk doing phone support (an entry level position). His one dispensation was to allow me to work remotely. I inadvertently proved that the job could be done from anywhere I have an internet connection.

Soon everyone on the technical team was clamoring to work remotely. He decided to hold that against me, too. So he decided to rescind my “privilege” and demanded that I report daily to a location 65 miles from home.

Instead I encouraged him to go F himself and announced my retirement. I never looked back.

'Working remotely, it is easy to be ignored or not included when important information is distributed.'

This is what I felt for the two recent years that I teleworked. But our department was going through enormous changes at the same time, and it might not have been that way otherwise.

I think telework is great if duties make it feasible, but for most it probably should be supplemented with some routine in-office time.

I work for a company that has no office. Every employee works from their home. We have total access to each other via WhatsApp. Doesn’t matter where I am I can talk to the manager….or even the owner if I wanted to via WhatsApp. I wouldn’t go back to an office for any reason.