Telework

Eric

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Looks like us Feds are headed back five days/week pretty soon, which will be a big adjustment for our district considering we're only in office one day/week right now. Plus, our main office is in downtown Los Angeles, which is a beast for most folks to commute to.

For those who have completed some kind of RTO, what was it like? Was it challenging for staff to adjust to? Did some staff end up leaving for other jobs that offer more flexibility re: telework arrangements?
 
Location
Los Angeles, California, United States
Hi Eric,
My current jurisdiction is work at work - working from home is hard to get approved.
Honestly, I prefer working in the office, but maybe it's because my house isn't set up for it?? I don't know. At any rate, when I did work from during the early months of COVID, it was nice not paying for fuel. lol
Sorry I'm not helpful here! I'm sure there will be pushback because people have gotten used to the WFH lifestyle.
 
Hi Eric,
My current jurisdiction is work at work - working from home is hard to get approved.
Honestly, I prefer working in the office, but maybe it's because my house isn't set up for it?? I don't know. At any rate, when I did work from during the early months of COVID, it was nice not paying for fuel. lol
Sorry I'm not helpful here! I'm sure there will be pushback because people have gotten used to the WFH lifestyle.

Thanks! No, I appreciate that perspective. I imagine a lot of building departments are full-time in office since you have permit counters and inspectors, etc. We've always been more heavily paperwork focused with little/no actual facetime with applicants.

I think WFH becomes more critical in job markets like Los Angeles (where my main office is), where people often have to commute 1–1.5 hours to get to work. When RTO amounts to giving up 5-6 hours per week of personal time in order to sit in traffic instead, then yeah, people aren't going to be super happy about it.
 
Agreed. I would personally hate that. I appreciated taking my current role which is only a 20 minute commute, vs my previous being about 45.

I remember when I was living in/stationed in San Diego, I lived less than 10 minutes from base, but it took about an hour to get there. Can't say I miss it! :)
 
In 2020-2021 we allowed some office staff to work from home since City Hall was closed. We actually had some staff that requested to work in the office ( wanted to get out of the house :) ) When we ultimately opened City Hall back up, there was a push by some employees to remain at home but that was overruled and now everybody has been back in the office for the last few years.
 
We actually had some staff that requested to work in the office ( wanted to get out of the house :) )

Yeah I have a guy in my office who actively tries to be in 5 days/week, even though he doesn't have to (yet). He openly chats about how bad for his marriage it would be if he had to be around his wife all day/every day ("I love her but...", lol).

That aside, I can relate to wanting to get out of the house and do something in the real world/at a worksite. It can be healthy mentally and socially for a lot of folks.
 
I imagine that's frustrating for you, @Eric. I can't say that I'd want to drive in that traffic either. Have you considered looking for another remote job opportunity? I know they're out there.

I think the move back to the office will benefit the customers much more than it will the workers. I know I'd often call to check on a permit and I wouldn't be able to hear the administrator over her child screaming in the background, or the inspector would show up late because he was out walking his dog. A return to the office forces professionalism. Sadly, some people need that.
 
I think the move back to the office will benefit the customers much more than it will the workers. I know I'd often call to check on a permit and I wouldn't be able to hear the administrator over her child screaming in the background, or the inspector would show up late because he was out walking his dog. A return to the office forces professionalism. Sadly, some people need that.

I hear you, but yeah, not sure I'm up for driving in five days/week. Speaking only for myself, I feel that I've been perfectly professional/productive working from my home office...but I know that not everyone does WFH well.

The administration just offered all federal employees a buyout offer (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/wh...fer-federal-workers-buyouts-resign-rcna189661). If I were to resign by Feb 6, I could go find a different job and they'd keep paying me my regular salary through Sep 30. If I knew I could arrange a remote/hybrid environmental permitting job (e.g., consulting) before Feb 6 (next Thurs), I'd consider taking the offer. I put a couple feelers out but I don't think any companies turn things around that fast.
 
Yeah I have a guy in my office who actively tries to be in 5 days/week, even though he doesn't have to (yet). He openly chats about how bad for his marriage it would be if he had to be around his wife all day/every day ("I love her but...", lol).

That aside, I can relate to wanting to get out of the house and do something in the real world/at a worksite. It can be healthy mentally and socially for a lot of folks.
HA!! That is funny. I am constantly telling my husband that I can't work from home, ESPECIALLY when our kids are home....I love them, but DANG! They are NEEDY! And it's like he doesn't exist at all!
 
HA!! That is funny. I am constantly telling my husband that I can't work from home, ESPECIALLY when our kids are home....I love them, but DANG! They are NEEDY! And it's like he doesn't exist at all!

LOL. Yeah, I definitely telework best when I'm the only one in the house. During COVID, my wife and I were both working from home, and had to manage having our two boys (ages 6 and 2 at the time) around as well. That was super stressful...I remember feeling at my limit constantly throughout 2020.

Aside from that, for parents of small kids in particular, I think there is something psychologically restorative to being able to go to a workplace and interact with just other adults for a little while.
 
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