when workspace is homespace.....

when workspace is homespace....

  

  It's such a great idea, she said.  I can work from home and not have anyone looking over my shoulder or watching everything I do!  

  I would rather be at the office away from the kids and all the stuff that goes with sticking around the house, he imagined.  

  Or, so thought millions of office workers nationwide at the height of the CoVid-19 quarantine.

  But, what about office workers' attitudes today, just months after home sweet home turned into new office space and working at home became a reality for so many?

  The new normal for some seems to have its advantages as well as a down side and it appears this change in so many lives will be a part of life for some time to come even with a vaccine.  So, like all major changes, adjustments need to be made to accommodate the most people in order to achieve the highest production from everyone.

  But, is there time to make wiener schnitzel from scratch between important conference calls?  Does the dog really need to go outdoors at this moment?  Who thought the kids would be part of the new homeschooled at this late date?  Does anyone really want to set up a base of operations downstairs on the ping pong table?

  Huh? What's up with that?

  Jackson is an installment loan officer with Chase Bank.  

  I've been working from home since last March.  It never occurred to me working in the same building as I live would test my resolve, he said.  

  The banker says going to the office on a part-time basis is difficult.  

  I go to the bank two days a week and meet with customers who have set up an appointment.  You don't really get into that work rhythm compared to going in every day, he commented. 

  Where to claim space at home and call it your work area or office is off-putting for some.  

  Many employees say a dedicated work area is one of the toughest parts of being home, said Sara, an HR manager with Preferred Medical.

   The difference in quality work space is substantial, she says.  I have a couple people who work on their bed or couch and that makes getting into a work mode difficult. 

  Accredo Specialty Pharmacy in Pennsylvania sent everyone home when the CoVid-19 quarantine began and most staff members have yet to return to the company headquarters.  

  The only exception to that are pharmacists, said Suzy, an Accredo telephone customer service agent. They have to be on site.  But, customer service reps are different.  After training, we have a choice of going to the office, or working from home.  I chose home and I've been here since I started seven years ago, she said.

 Suzy has a dedicated office space and is able to avoid a lot of home distractions. 

  My office is private and has a closed door for even more privacy, she said.  My computer was installed by the company, so I don't have any network issues to worry about either, she added.  

  NPR's Morning Edition reports a third of the country's office workers were working from their homes during the peak of the quarantine.  

  The technology that enables this has been around for many years, but it took a pandemic to force the move to remote work, the May 8, 2020 broadcast reported.

  The office isn't obsolete, but it is changing.  

  According to pwc.com, 30% of executives foresee the need for less office space due to remote work and 50% of them are anticipating an increase due to longer-lasting requirements for social distancing.  

  At PNC Bank, many employees like Leslie have been told to stay at home until at least the new year.

  We may be out even longer than that, the Estate Settlement Officer said.  I've been with the bank 20 years and didn't think my career would end this way.  I retire in about 18 months.  But, it wouldn't be all bad if I didn't have to go downtown every day until then, she continued.  

  Smallbiztrends.com did a survey to determine how workers feel about working at home.

  One of the biggest challenges working from home creates is difficulty collaborating with co-workers, the analysis found.       

  Sara conducted a like study within her company and got similar results

  Lack of interacting with teammates and being able to shut down and leave the building were the top two      negatives with our employees, she said.  They said it's important to be able to leave work behind and you can't do that when home is the same place as work.  

   Jackson shares those sentiments.

   I really enjoy seeing people and the days I go to the bank mean more to me now, he expressed.  Plus, when I walk out the door to go home, it's a whole different culture and that makes life fun. 

   Others feel differently.  Many like Suzy don't miss the commute.

   I live 30 minutes from the office, she said.  Why would I choose spending an hour or more in my car every day? To me, there aren't any disadvantages to working at home.  No wear and tear on my car means money in my pocket. But then, this is what I've done for seven years and it's my first job, so I don't know any other way.  

  Leslie has issues most people don't encounter.  

  My biggest challenge involves technology and the human factor, she said.  I can't print official documents at home because of the bank's secured network and I can't get necessary signatures from home.  Settling estates takes time in the best conditions.  

   Jackson has two sons, five and nine.  

   My wife is a real estate agent, so she is somewhat flexible.  But, when she has to make an appointment, she has to go.  Our struggles involve the boys and NTI.  There's been a time or two we've had to ask for grandma's help, he admitted.  

  Suzy's situation is different.  

  If my husband is home when I'm working, he's on his own until I'm finished.  We don't have any children yet, so, the demands are far less than what a family would face, she said. 

  So, as the office environment changes and fewer people travel to and from their employer's location, we could be in for major reshuffling.  Less office space needed by firms means fewer commercial real estate closures, less office furniture purchased, fewer supplies bought.  Of course, that all leads to higher company profits and greater efficiency. 

  According to globalworkplaceanalytics.com, 56% of the U.S. workforce holds a job which is compatible with remote work.  More importantly, the site estimates that 25-30% of the workforce will be working from home multiple days a week by the end of 2021.  

  However, one major question remains unanswered.  What will happen to office romances?

  Michael Scott (Steve Carell, The Office) can help us here because he said he lived by a simple rule.

  No office romances, no way.  Very messy, inappropriate..no.  But, I live by another rule:  Just do it...Nike.

  HUH?  What's up with that?