May 2 randoms - return to office themed

[wildrice]

May 2, 2022 13:55:31 GMT -5 tacokick said:

May 2, 2022 10:15:25 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I have such a love/hate relationship with office days. I generally do like being there, but the whole routine around it sucks. Getting up earlier, bringing a bunch of stuff with me, packing food and a water bottle, etc. My new job is in a weird location, too, where there is really nowhere nearby to get food and since it's downtown, driving somewhere to pick something up would mean dealing with parking. I usually bring a lunch anyway, but "usually" is no longer a thing since I work from home most of the time, so when I do go in I feel like it's extra work to have to figure out something packable.

I was back 5 days a week in my old job, so I bought a bunch of clothes. Then I changed employers and I'm only in maybe 4-5 days a month now. I have way too many things to wear.

Are you close enough to walk to Pitamore? That’s my husband’s go-to for his weekly in-office days. I think his office is single handedly keeping that place afloat.

Unfortunately, not quickly! Our building is kind of across from where the Sunday farmer's market takes place (but on the east side of it). While technically there are things within walking distance, they aren't really close enough to just pop over and grab something quickly on a lunch break.

We do have another office that is closer to the harbor that I'm at occasionally, but our lease there is ending soon so I kind of doubt I'll be over there much! Maybe if I am I'll try Pitamore though, somehow I missed that one completely when we lived down there.

[rubytue]

May 2, 2022 13:17:41 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

May 2, 2022 13:13:48 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Speaking of virtual meetings while in the office (madDawg228 ), here is something I’m currently struggling with. All me meetings are virtual, but frequently with some portion back in the office. We work in a cube environment. I’ve noticed that someone will be on my meeting, and then someone walks into their cube. And they attend to to person standing in front of them. It gets even worse when it’s a supervisor or manager, which keeps happening (one manager in particular, who is a demanding jerk). But i don’t think this would happen if people were in a conference room meeting. I think it’s going to be just one of those things we struggle with going forward. There are some obvious solutions, but mostly, I’m just throwing it out there to see if other have seen this?

Is the concern that it's interrupting the participant, that it's distracting for those on the zoom, or both?

I guess both. Most the meeting participant. I mean, there is some aspect of the participant needs to tell the intruder they are busy. But, I’ve seen it mostly with younger coworkers and their supervisors, so I get there is a power issue there. Not everyone is comfortable telling a boss to get the fuck out. 

But also, you can hear the conversation, for which I usually manually mute them.

[tacokick]

May 2, 2022 14:22:36 GMT -5 wildrice said:

May 2, 2022 13:55:31 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Are you close enough to walk to Pitamore? That’s my husband’s go-to for his weekly in-office days. I think his office is single handedly keeping that place afloat.

Unfortunately, not quickly! Our building is kind of across from where the Sunday farmer's market takes place (but on the east side of it). While technically there are things within walking distance, they aren't really close enough to just pop over and grab something quickly on a lunch break.

We do have another office that is closer to the harbor that I'm at occasionally, but our lease there is ending soon so I kind of doubt I'll be over there much! Maybe if I am I'll try Pitamore though, somehow I missed that one completely when we lived down there.

That’s a tricky spot to get food! I did some work near there in the past and gave up trying to find anything.

I think Pitamore is only open during lunch hours during the week so that might be how you missed it. It caters to the office worker/conference goer crowd.

[gt7301b]

I've been in the office two days a week for almost a year. Most of our HQ staff has still been working from home the entire time, but they have started coming back into the office last week. I've missed getting to see people, but there have been more interruptions these last couple of weeks as people are stopping by to chat. There are some people who don't get the hint when I need to get back to work. It was much easier to end those conversations in a zoon only world.

[wawa]

May 2, 2022 12:38:12 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

I've been back to work 5x/week since the end of February, for no damn good reason. I literally sit in my cubicle in front of my monitors all day, except when I go to the bathroom or breakroom. Meetings are still virtual.

I keep going back and forth on getting a new job, but haven't done more than browse LinkedIn every few days. I'm worried about losing my seniority and sick time I've accrued. That first 90-ish days of not having PTO available for most new roles is making me the most cautious. But if I could have 2-3 days WFH again, it would probably be worth it. I also still mask indoors, and am worried if that would hurt my chances with any interviews (if they were to be in-person).

Is that standard in your industry that it's not flexible at all?  everybody we've hired in this current market except he entry level guy has negotiated coming in like they have at least 5 years of seniority in terms of PTO accrual, some with time in the bank.  I did the same my last two job changes (pre-covid, obvs).  

It's probably worth asking about.  

[madDawg228]

May 2, 2022 16:13:48 GMT -5 wawa said:

May 2, 2022 12:38:12 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

I've been back to work 5x/week since the end of February, for no damn good reason. I literally sit in my cubicle in front of my monitors all day, except when I go to the bathroom or breakroom. Meetings are still virtual.

I keep going back and forth on getting a new job, but haven't done more than browse LinkedIn every few days. I'm worried about losing my seniority and sick time I've accrued. That first 90-ish days of not having PTO available for most new roles is making me the most cautious. But if I could have 2-3 days WFH again, it would probably be worth it. I also still mask indoors, and am worried if that would hurt my chances with any interviews (if they were to be in-person).

Is that standard in your industry that it's not flexible at all?  everybody we've hired in this current market except he entry level guy has negotiated coming in like they have at least 5 years of seniority in terms of PTO accrual, some with time in the bank.  I did the same my last two job changes (pre-covid, obvs).  

It's probably worth asking about.  

That's a great point! Thanks for bringing that up.

I'll have to consider that if I start interviewing. I've been in this particular industry going on 5 yrs, so I'd be on the cusp. It still seems like such an employee-friendly market for the most part, so I might have a shot at an "extra" benefit like that.

[loira]

I've been back in the office 1 day a week for over a month. Most of my team would prefer to be fully remote, but my organization is obviously keen on getting us back. They are very much spinning it as "connection and collaboration". I have actually been pretty amenable to coming in once a week, but last week I got told off twice for speaking in a normal voice because apparently my voice "carries". Fuck that. First of all, I am "connecting and collaborating" which is the whole point of coming in. Secondly, we all work in the shitty open plan layout that our exec team decided to renovate specifically for these "opportunities". Third, there is such a thing as headphones.

I came home and changed my LinkedIn profile picture for the first time in 12 years. I'm sure it went unnoticed but it made me feel better. I'm also looking for opportunities with the federal government now. Am sure they are just as bad but at least they pay better than the province.

[cattledogkisses]

I am annoyed. I'm planning a shower for my sister. Invites went out over a month ago; the RSVP date is Wednesday. Out of 50 people invited, 32 still have not responded. So unless I get a deluge of RSVPs in the next 48 hours, I guess Thursday I get to start tracking down all the non-responders.

[mrsukyankee]

We have to be in 60% of the time and almost all of our counselling appointments are still online. It annoys me. I'm trying to dress a bit nicer but realised I've gained too much weight to fit into most of my trousers, so I'm trying to go on ebay to find new ones as I don't want to spend money on items that hopefully won't fit next autumn. I just want to work from home or be in person.

[isabel]

May 2, 2022 8:34:06 GMT -5 breezy8407 said:

I've been in the office 3 days a week for a while now, and have had to buy new shoes and clothes. Our office seems to have trended more casual, so more fashion sneakers, jeans, etc. I am happy about it. I have almost zero tolerance for the raised heel/wedge type shoes I wore pre-pandemic so I've bought more slip on type flat heeled shoes instead.

On the flip side, I went to a mall this weekend looking for a dress for a funeral and wow, I hate shopping in person so much. The selection is dismal and what is there is way too casual. I won't have time to order anything online, so I am going with dress pants and a jacket I already have.

Shopping in person is maddening. I went to the mall in hopes of finding a simple black short sleeve top and found absolutely nothing. It reminded me why I never do that.

[ssmjlm]

This week we're mandated 3 days in office, 2 days at home now and all interns are FT in the office.

Everyone is rightfully upset, but what can you do? I've started looking for other reasons, but this doesn't help.

[rubytue]

My best description of today is “soft opening”. Shit show is more accurate. It took about 3 hours to have most everything up and running. Then, I tried to print something, walked to the printers and they… weren’t there. 🤣

But, I feel like the themes in this thread (which imply most are back or going back this month) was true as far as traffic patterns. Since I moved a year ago, I didn’t have much of an idea what the commute would be like.

[bears]

Today was my first day back and I am so, so tired. I don't know how I'm going to do this for another 2 days this week.

I didn't hate it, kind of liked it, but I'm glad it will not be every day.

[taratru]

We are on a vacation in a place with pretty relaxed mask mandates. I've been wearing mine indoors still, and I seem to have caught a cold. I haven't had a cold in two years. This kinda sucks.

[Vespasia]

I found out yesterday that my dad has to have open heart surgery tomorrow. They originally thought it would be over 6 months off and that they could do a less invasive procedure but he went in for a test yesterday and it was much worse than they expected. I'm honestly freaking out. He's in his early 80s but has always been so healthy. I'm worried about complications both short and long term.

I'm 4 hours away and I am not sure that he will want me to come up but I think I am going to insist. I don't know that I need to be there for the procedure but I do want to hear all of the discharge instructions and long term plans first hand. My stepmother is older, has a failing memory, and absolutely should NOT be driving. Luckily her two kids and their wives live very close by so they have a good support system in general.

[aurora]

Vespasia, I hope your dad's surgery goes well and he recovers quickly.

[pixy0stix]

My husband came home talking about a frat that was shut down because their house was unlivable. Something happened to the sewer system and sewer gas was leaking in. The fire dept told them to leave, but failed to notify the building dept so the frat just kept on keeping on. Building dept was finally tipped off and they went in, and the property was trashed. Multiple fire doors damaged. Almost every single wall punched through, including key fire walls. He said think of the pictures you see of foreclosed homes where people just rip out everything, and that was the situation.

There's a news article today, and it's all about how the poor wittle wambs have no place to live and it's finals time. I dunno, don't be animals and trash your living abode?

[pixy0stix]

(( Vespasia ))

[winecat]

Vespasia- sending good thoughts to your dad.


I had a pelvic MRI on Monday. I realize that today is only Wednesday but they haven't posted the results yet. They usually do within a day, and usually the same day if the scan is in the morning. I'm trying hard to not borrow trouble but am not doing a good job at that.

[agnes]

We’ve been hybrid wfh schedules since the beginning of the pandemic. We got notification this week that our floor has an outbreak. Our first one this whole time. They just say that masks are mandatory for 14 days after no new cases. And they sprayed disinfectant in the cubicles of the outbreak unit. Not my unit, and there’s a door closing off that area, but it’s like 20 feet away. It just doesn’t feel like enough. I feel like they should increase our wfh schedules or something.

[madDawg228]

I usually enjoy reading on my commute to work (public transit), but the recent SC leak and assault on the 14th amendment has me in such a rage/fear fog, I can't even enjoy that. I'm currently reading The Vile & the Splendid by Erik Larson, but reading about battle against authoritarianism during WWII is too much for me right now. I've always considered myself a WWII nerd, and enjoy learning about the transitions of power pre and post WWII. I've known some of this shit was coming, but to live during this time (like pre-WWII) is too much.

No one at work has said anything about Ukraine or Monday night's leak, and everyone is going lalala without a mask. I feel insane, or that I'm living in a different reality.

[wawa]

May 4, 2022 11:03:52 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

I usually enjoy reading on my commute to work (public transit), but the recent SC leak and assault on the 14th amendment has me in such a rage/fear fog, I can't even enjoy that. I'm currently reading The Vile & the Splendid by Erik Larson, but reading about battle against authoritarianism during WWII is too much for me right now. I've always considered myself a WWII nerd, and enjoy learning about the transitions of power pre and post WWII. I've known some of this shit was coming, but to live during this time (like pre-WWII) is too much.

No one at work has said anything about Ukraine or Monday night's leak, and everyone is going lalala without a mask. I feel insane, or that I'm living in a different reality.

aaand this is why I've been reading almost exclusively fluff for the past 2 years. I've tried to pick up some WWII era historical fiction, social commentary non-fiction, or even just heavier dystopian fantasy/sci-fi a few times and could.not.deal.  

fairy smut for mental health it is!  Also the occasional chick lit/beach read. (I hate that dismissive genre name, but not sure what else to call it.  Jennifer Weiner is my fave though)

[StrawberryBlondie]

Got to the office this morning to learn that my desk had been pillaged. No second monitor, no power cord, no mouse, no mousepad (which was literally mine, not the company's).

Our dept admin took care of everything right away, but who TF steals a power cord from someone's docking station?

[MixedBerryJam]

May 2, 2022 10:14:36 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

....
Side note - I am desperately trying to find a pair of black pants, wide leg and a bit slouchy, not cropped, not dry-clean only, but nice. Willing to spend up to $250. Somehow, this is more difficult than it needs to be. Everything that looks good to me is on back order till end of May or June.

These are so much cheaper than your "up to" range they may not be what you're looking for but I love LL Bean's starfish pants. They come in skinny, straight, and boot cuts and are super comfortable.  www.landsend.com/search/S-xea?initialSearch=true&q=Starfish%20pants I probably have 6 pairs.

[mcsangel2]

May 4, 2022 11:46:28 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Got to the office this morning to learn that my desk had been pillaged. No second monitor, no power cord, no mouse, no mousepad (which was literally mine, not the company's).

Our dept admin took care of everything right away, but who TF steals a power cord from someone's docking station?

Ohhhhh this would make me raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaage!

[wawa]

May 4, 2022 12:47:55 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

May 2, 2022 10:14:36 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

....
Side note - I am desperately trying to find a pair of black pants, wide leg and a bit slouchy, not cropped, not dry-clean only, but nice. Willing to spend up to $250. Somehow, this is more difficult than it needs to be. Everything that looks good to me is on back order till end of May or June.

These are so much cheaper than your "up to" range they may not be what you're looking for but I love LL Bean's starfish pants. They come in skinny, straight, and boot cuts and are super comfortable.  www.landsend.com/search/S-xea?initialSearch=true&q=Starfish%20pants I probably have 6 pairs.

moreace01 would any of these do you? www.universalstandard.com/collections/pants-trouser-wide-leg

I've been doing a lot of coveting on that website lately, and have seen rave reviews from a few friends. They also have a slouchy pull-on linen pant. Which might be *too* slouchy, but I feel like the linen brings it out of "dress sweatpant" category.

[rubytue]

May 4, 2022 11:13:03 GMT -5 wawa said:

May 4, 2022 11:03:52 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

I usually enjoy reading on my commute to work (public transit), but the recent SC leak and assault on the 14th amendment has me in such a rage/fear fog, I can't even enjoy that. I'm currently reading The Vile & the Splendid by Erik Larson, but reading about battle against authoritarianism during WWII is too much for me right now. I've always considered myself a WWII nerd, and enjoy learning about the transitions of power pre and post WWII. I've known some of this shit was coming, but to live during this time (like pre-WWII) is too much.

No one at work has said anything about Ukraine or Monday night's leak, and everyone is going lalala without a mask. I feel insane, or that I'm living in a different reality.

aaand this is why I've been reading almost exclusively fluff for the past 2 years. I've tried to pick up some WWII era historical fiction, social commentary non-fiction, or even just heavier dystopian fantasy/sci-fi a few times and could.not.deal.  

fairy smut for mental health it is!  Also the occasional chick lit/beach read. (I hate that dismissive genre name, but not sure what else to call it.  Jennifer Weiner is my fave though)

I actually have been somewhat opposite. I’ve read so much WWII historical fiction the past couple years. I’ve been trying to figure out why it’s been so compelling to be when we are in such dark time, and I think it’s the threads of hope and survival in dark times. And as a reminder that, on the whole, humanity survives dark times. 

[audette]

I am fed up with people.

I took Friday off, and the office was _insane_ on Monday and Tuesday. A whole new person showed up I didn't know was coming, and he needed my help, and mine only, because my old boss still hasn't hired my replacement.

Then the latest SC news has me in a bit of a fog... so concentrating on much was hard yesterday, slightly better today, but, still having an effect.

And today, I tried to not become "that lady", when dealing with two businesses that _should_ have fixed their own fuckups (each of which are affecting us to the tune of thousands), and neither of which seems to understand that making me reach out to them is making the whole situation even worse...

One of them magically fixed the situation within a few hours of my call, so, yay. But, way to squelch any trust I might have had in them. I should not have to harangue a business to make them do the thing they are obligated to do...

The other says I should get more info from them tomorrow. Time will tell - I have already waited over a week. I am nearing the point of filing a dispute with my CC about this situation.

[madDawg228]

May 4, 2022 14:22:43 GMT -5 rubytue said:

May 4, 2022 11:13:03 GMT -5 wawa said:

aaand this is why I've been reading almost exclusively fluff for the past 2 years. I've tried to pick up some WWII era historical fiction, social commentary non-fiction, or even just heavier dystopian fantasy/sci-fi a few times and could.not.deal.  

fairy smut for mental health it is!  Also the occasional chick lit/beach read. (I hate that dismissive genre name, but not sure what else to call it.  Jennifer Weiner is my fave though)

I actually have been somewhat opposite. I’ve read so much WWII historical fiction the past couple years. I’ve been trying to figure out why it’s been so compelling to be when we are in such dark time, and I think it’s the threads of hope and survival in dark times. And as a reminder that, on the whole, humanity survives dark times. 

The survival aspect is a big part in WWII reading. Erik Larson writes nonfiction, but it reads like fiction. "The Splendid and the Vile" goes over Churchill's first year as PM (1940-1941) and another book of his, "In the Garden of Beasts" takes place in 1933 Berlin.

Reading about the real life famous and not-so-famous characters is fascinating. But my mood right now is in the pits. I hope I'll be able to enjoy reading Splendid/Vile again soon.

[StrawberryBlondie]

May 4, 2022 13:31:49 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

May 4, 2022 11:46:28 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Got to the office this morning to learn that my desk had been pillaged. No second monitor, no power cord, no mouse, no mousepad (which was literally mine, not the company's).

Our dept admin took care of everything right away, but who TF steals a power cord from someone's docking station?

Ohhhhh this would make me raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaage!

I'm literally the 3rd cube in a row of 5 so whoever did this needed to walk past 2 other cubes, decide nah, then decide mine was the one to pillage.