Whew!
A work thing I can talk about because it is relevant to employees at a lot of large companies “post” covid but doesn’t call my actual employer out.
An email came in with “RTO” in the subject. Yikes! The content was that every employee “assigned” to an office would be required to return to the office three days a week starting in April. APRIL??? Hmmm… What is the definition of “assigned”? Am I “assigned” to an office? Our Ann Arbor office closed early in the pandemic but the last time I knew, there was a Detroit office that showed up in Workday for us. Detroit is not a fun commute from here. I am not quiiiite ready to quit but I do not want to commute to Detroit EVER, let alone three days a week. Actually I don’t really want to commute ANYWHERE EVER AGAIN!
I wasn’t really panicked. I am an adult and I decided I would wait for more information and think the whole thing through. So. It turns out I am NOT assigned to an office. I am classified as a “remote” worker. The Detroit office closed years ago. So I still don’t have to commute anywhere and neither does my new/old boss.
I haven’t ever had a long commute to work. In fact, in my “childhood” job, I *walked* home every afternoon from the EPA motor vehicle emissions lab (five miles). Until the day “shooting pains” in my legs became an early announcement of the imminent arrival of my first beach urchin. After that, child care for a beautiful newborn girl changed my habits.
My “adult” job (the one I did today) required an eight-mile zen drive pre-pandemic. No freeway required. But many co-workers were permanent telecommuters all those years ago and it was always okay for anyone to telecommute for whatever reason. Usually snowstorms.
There are good things about commuting to an office for work. I have long complicated thoughts about this. I think there are good reasons for people to meet in person. Especially young folks who are just beginning their careers who need to network a bit. I just don’t think people should be required to be in-office just so the company can check a box. A pandemic is “over” box. Or a Trump box? I dunno.
The pic is from my mouse a few days ago. Floating/paddling down the Huron River.
March 18th, 2025 at 8:10 am
That’s very interesting. Keep us posted on developments. It’s a tRump thing. He’s determined to move this country into an autocracy — or some other Ocracy that we don’t even have a word for yet. Now that tRump is planning to ignore the third branch of government we’re toast. When he says make America great again he’s obviously been referring to the time when King George was in charge.
March 18th, 2025 at 9:30 pm
Although I supported closing the schools when we weren’t sure how contagious/dangerous Covid was for the young (just think if it had been like the 1918 pandemic), I do think that teaching is much better done in person. Other things, not so much.
March 21st, 2025 at 10:02 am
Also dentistry!