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diff --git a/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.org b/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.org index 2e30f3e..df5fc33 100644 --- a/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.org +++ b/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.org @@ -1,227 +1,274 @@ -+++ -date = 2022-02-10 -title = "Leaving Office-Based Work In the Past" -description = "As the world moves on from the before-times, I'm taking a look back on how working from different office environments affected my effectiveness and comfort." -draft = false -+++ - -## The Working World is Changing - -There has been a trend for the past few years of companies slowly realizing that -the pandemic is not just a temporary state that will go away eventually and let -everything return to the way it was before. In terms of business and employment, -this means that more and more jobs are being offered as permanently remote -roles. +#+title: Leaving Office-Based Work In the Past +#+date: 2022-02-10 + +** The Working World is Changing +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: the-working-world-is-changing +:END: +There has been a trend for the past few years of companies slowly +realizing that the pandemic is not just a temporary state that will go +away eventually and let everything return to the way it was before. In +terms of business and employment, this means that more and more jobs are +being offered as permanently remote roles. I had always dreamt of working from home but thought of it as a fantasy, -especially since I did not want to move over into the software development -field. However, I have found that almost all roles being sent to me via -recruiters are permanently remote (although most are limited to US citizens or -even region-locked for companies who only operate in select states). - -I decided to take a look back at my relatively short career so far and compare -the positive and negative effects of the different work environments I've been -in. - -## In-Person Offices - -### Retail Internship - -I started my first job as a management intern at a busy retail pharmacy, working -my 40-hour weeks on my feet. -As these retail stores don't believe in resting or sitting down, you can -guarantee that you will spend entire shifts standing, walking, or running -around the store. -Unfortunately, I worked at a time when our store didn't have enough managers, -so I spent the majority of my tenure at the store running and breaking a sweat. - -Now, things aren't all bad in retail stores like this. It is definitely tiring -and inefficient to force employees to work constantly, or pretend to work if -there's nothing to do, and not allow anyone to sit down. However, if you are -able to operate a retail store with a limited crew and provide enough comfort -and support, I believe these jobs could be both comfortable and efficient. - -### Semi-Private Cubicles - - - -After about a year, I was able to find another internship - this time, it was in -my field of interest: internal auditing. This was for a life insurance company -that was well over 100 years old. The age of the company shows if you work -there, as most people in management are well into their 40s-60s with little to -no youthful leadership in the company. -Likewise, they owned a large headquarters in a nice area of town with plenty -of space, parking, etc. - -One upside is that each person gets their own large L-shaped desk, formed into -cubicles that house 4 desks/employees. These "pods" of 4-person cubicles are -linked throughout each floor of the headquarters (except the sales -people, who had that open-floor concept going on). The walls of the cubicle were -tall and provided a lot of privacy and sound-proofing, except when I used the -standing desk feature (I'm over 6 feet tall, so probably not an issue for most -people). +especially since I did not want to move over into the software +development field. However, I have found that almost all roles being +sent to me via recruiters are permanently remote (although most are +limited to US citizens or even region-locked for companies who only +operate in select states). + +I decided to take a look back at my relatively short career so far and +compare the positive and negative effects of the different work +environments I've been in. + +** In-Person Offices +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: in-person-offices +:END: +*** Retail Internship +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: retail-internship +:END: +I started my first job as a management intern at a busy retail pharmacy, +working my 40-hour weeks on my feet. As these retail stores don't +believe in resting or sitting down, you can guarantee that you will +spend entire shifts standing, walking, or running around the store. +Unfortunately, I worked at a time when our store didn't have enough +managers, so I spent the majority of my tenure at the store running and +breaking a sweat. + +Now, things aren't all bad in retail stores like this. It is definitely +tiring and inefficient to force employees to work constantly, or pretend +to work if there's nothing to do, and not allow anyone to sit down. +However, if you are able to operate a retail store with a limited crew +and provide enough comfort and support, I believe these jobs could be +both comfortable and efficient. + +*** Semi-Private Cubicles +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: semi-private-cubicles +:END: +#+caption: Semi-Private Cubicles +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220210-leaving-office-based-work-in-the-past/private_cubicles.png]] + +After about a year, I was able to find another internship - this time, +it was in my field of interest: internal auditing. This was for a life +insurance company that was well over 100 years old. The age of the +company shows if you work there, as most people in management are well +into their 40s-60s with little to no youthful leadership in the company. +Likewise, they owned a large headquarters in a nice area of town with +plenty of space, parking, etc. + +One upside is that each person gets their own large L-shaped desk, +formed into cubicles that house 4 desks/employees. These "pods" of +4-person cubicles are linked throughout each floor of the headquarters +(except the sales people, who had that open-floor concept going on). The +walls of the cubicle were tall and provided a lot of privacy and +sound-proofing, except when I used the standing desk feature (I'm over 6 +feet tall, so probably not an issue for most people). I loved this environment, it allowed me to focus on my work with minimal -distractions, but also allowed easy access, so I could spin around in my chair -and chat with my friends without leaving my chair. This is the closest I've been -to a home office environment (which is my personal favorite, as I'll get to -later in this post). - -### Semi-Open Floor Concept - - - -When I shifted to my first full-time internal audit job out of college, I was -working at a company that was headquartered on a floor in a downtown high-rise -building. The company was only about 20 years old when I worked there and were -trying a lot of new things to attract young talent, one of which was a -semi-open floor concept for the office. My department worked just around the -hallway corner from the executive offices and used that "modern" layout young -tech companies started using in the 2000s/2010s. - -Each desk was brief, and you could look most coworkers in the face without -moving from your chair, I hated this so much. -Directly to my left was the Chief Audit Executive (our department's leading -boss), and his desk was pointed so that his face would stare straight at my -desk all day. -I spent more time thinking about who was looking at me or checking on me -than actually working. - -The other annoying part of the open concept they used was that the kitchen area -and pathways were too close to everyone's desks (since the desks were spread -out, to provide space or something), so noise and conversation would be constant -throughout the day while you try to work. For someone like me, who needs silence -to get work done, that was a non-starter. - -### Hotel Office Concept - - - -I currently work for a company remotely (for now) and travel to the office every -once in a while for events and to help coach the staff underneath me. The office -I visit uses the hotel desk concept, where you need to check in at a touch -screen when you enter the office and "rent" a desk for the day. The same goes -for offices and meeting rooms. - -These desks are flat-top only and do not have any walls at all. In addition, -they're stacked with one row of 4 desks facing another row of 4 desks. These -pairs of desk rows are repeated through the office. - -This means that when I go, I need to rent a random desk or try to remember the -unique ID numbers on desks I like. Once I rent it, I have to make sure no one -sat down in that desk without renting it. Then, I can sit down and work, but -will probably need to adjust the monitors so that I'm not staring in the face of -the person across from me all day. Finally, I need to wear headphones as this -environment does nothing to provide you with peace or quiet. - -Luckily, you can rent offices with doors that offer quiet and privacy, which can -be very nice if you have a lot of meetings or webinars on a certain day. - -## Home Office - - - -Okay, now let's finally get to the home office concept. I have worked from home -for a little over two years at this point, across three different -jobs/employers. Over this time, I have experimented with a plethora of different -organizational ideas, desks, and room layouts to find what works best for me. - -These things might not apply to you, and that's fine. -Everyone has a different situation, and I really don't think you'll know -what works until you try. - -### Tip #1 - +distractions, but also allowed easy access, so I could spin around in my +chair and chat with my friends without leaving my chair. This is the +closest I've been to a home office environment (which is my personal +favorite, as I'll get to later in this post). + +*** Semi-Open Floor Concept +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: semi-open-floor-concept +:END: +#+caption: Semi-Open Floor Concept +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220210-leaving-office-based-work-in-the-past/semi_open_office.png]] + +When I shifted to my first full-time internal audit job out of college, +I was working at a company that was headquartered on a floor in a +downtown high-rise building. The company was only about 20 years old +when I worked there and were trying a lot of new things to attract young +talent, one of which was a semi-open floor concept for the office. My +department worked just around the hallway corner from the executive +offices and used that "modern" layout young tech companies started using +in the 2000s/2010s. + +Each desk was brief, and you could look most coworkers in the face +without moving from your chair, I hated this so much. Directly to my +left was the Chief Audit Executive (our department's leading boss), and +his desk was pointed so that his face would stare straight at my desk +all day. I spent more time thinking about who was looking at me or +checking on me than actually working. + +The other annoying part of the open concept they used was that the +kitchen area and pathways were too close to everyone's desks (since the +desks were spread out, to provide space or something), so noise and +conversation would be constant throughout the day while you try to work. +For someone like me, who needs silence to get work done, that was a +non-starter. + +*** Hotel Office Concept +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: hotel-office-concept +:END: +#+caption: Hotel Office Concept +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220210-leaving-office-based-work-in-the-past/hotel_desks.png]] + +I currently work for a company remotely (for now) and travel to the +office every once in a while for events and to help coach the staff +underneath me. The office I visit uses the hotel desk concept, where you +need to check in at a touch screen when you enter the office and "rent" +a desk for the day. The same goes for offices and meeting rooms. + +These desks are flat-top only and do not have any walls at all. In +addition, they're stacked with one row of 4 desks facing another row of +4 desks. These pairs of desk rows are repeated through the office. + +This means that when I go, I need to rent a random desk or try to +remember the unique ID numbers on desks I like. Once I rent it, I have +to make sure no one sat down in that desk without renting it. Then, I +can sit down and work, but will probably need to adjust the monitors so +that I'm not staring in the face of the person across from me all day. +Finally, I need to wear headphones as this environment does nothing to +provide you with peace or quiet. + +Luckily, you can rent offices with doors that offer quiet and privacy, +which can be very nice if you have a lot of meetings or webinars on a +certain day. + +** Home Office +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: home-office +:END: +#+caption: Home Office +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220210-leaving-office-based-work-in-the-past/home_office.png]] + +Okay, now let's finally get to the home office concept. I have worked +from home for a little over two years at this point, across three +different jobs/employers. Over this time, I have experimented with a +plethora of different organizational ideas, desks, and room layouts to +find what works best for me. + +These things might not apply to you, and that's fine. Everyone has a +different situation, and I really don't think you'll know what works +until you try. + +*** Tip #1 +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: tip-1 +:END: Let's start with my top rule for a home office: -> If you live with others, working in a shared space is not effective. +#+begin_quote +If you live with others, working in a shared space is not effective. -It just does not work. -If you have another person sleeping in your bedroom, it is difficult to -manage your work schedule with their sleeping/work/school schedule. -If they wake up after you need to start work, you might wake them up -or have to suffer the agony of staring at bright screens in a dark room. +#+end_quote -In a similar vein, working from a location such as the living room likely won't -work either. -Distractions will come far more frequently: televisions, cooking, cleaning, -deliveries, etc. If you're like me, you'll end up playing a game instead of -actually doing any work. +It just does not work. If you have another person sleeping in your +bedroom, it is difficult to manage your work schedule with their +sleeping/work/school schedule. If they wake up after you need to start +work, you might wake them up or have to suffer the agony of staring at +bright screens in a dark room. -### Tip #2 +In a similar vein, working from a location such as the living room +likely won't work either. Distractions will come far more frequently: +televisions, cooking, cleaning, deliveries, etc. If you're like me, +you'll end up playing a game instead of actually doing any work. +*** Tip #2 +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: tip-2 +:END: Okay, the second thing I've discovered that works for me: -> Use the pomodoro method (or something similar) to balance work tasks with -> personal tasks. - -I use a very casual version of the pomodoro method where I will work for 1-2 -hours (usually set in strict intervals like 1, 1.5, 2 hours) and then will allow -myself 30-60 minutes for personal tasks. This schedule works for me, since my -work schedule really only comes to 3-6 hours of work per day. - -In this case, I'll work through my list of tasks for an hour or two and then -give myself personal time to get drinks and food, wash dishes, put clothes in -the washer, get the mail, etc. If you're in a convenient location, this usually -gives time for things like getting groceries (as long as you're not a slow -shopper). - -### Tip #3 - -While I listed this one as number three, I don't think I'd accomplish anything -without it: - -> Document everything: even things you didn't before - such as task lists and -> notes from casual calls or meetings. - -I've noticed that staying in an office gave me more constant reminders of -outstanding tasks or facts I had learned in a conversation. Translating -everything to a digital world has made me lose a bit of that focus (perhaps -since I don't have visual reminders?). - -Keeping a running task list of all things I have to do - even potential tasks! - -has helped me keep up without missing anything small. Likewise, keeping notes -for ALL meetings and calls, no matter how casual/quick, has improved my -retention immensely. Beyond helping my mental recollection, it has saved me -numerous times when I need to do a keyword search for some topic that was discussed -6+ months ago. - -### Tip #4 - +#+begin_quote +Use the pomodoro method (or something similar) to balance work tasks +with personal tasks. + +#+end_quote + +I use a very casual version of the pomodoro method where I will work for +1-2 hours (usually set in strict intervals like 1, 1.5, 2 hours) and +then will allow myself 30-60 minutes for personal tasks. This schedule +works for me, since my work schedule really only comes to 3-6 hours of +work per day. + +In this case, I'll work through my list of tasks for an hour or two and +then give myself personal time to get drinks and food, wash dishes, put +clothes in the washer, get the mail, etc. If you're in a convenient +location, this usually gives time for things like getting groceries (as +long as you're not a slow shopper). + +*** Tip #3 +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: tip-3 +:END: +While I listed this one as number three, I don't think I'd accomplish +anything without it: + +#+begin_quote +Document everything: even things you didn't before - such as task lists +and notes from casual calls or meetings. + +#+end_quote + +I've noticed that staying in an office gave me more constant reminders +of outstanding tasks or facts I had learned in a conversation. +Translating everything to a digital world has made me lose a bit of that +focus (perhaps since I don't have visual reminders?). + +Keeping a running task list of all things I have to do - even potential +tasks! - has helped me keep up without missing anything small. Likewise, +keeping notes for ALL meetings and calls, no matter how casual/quick, +has improved my retention immensely. Beyond helping my mental +recollection, it has saved me numerous times when I need to do a keyword +search for some topic that was discussed 6+ months ago. + +*** Tip #4 +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: tip-4 +:END: Okay, last one for now. -> Keep your work area clean. +#+begin_quote +Keep your work area clean. -This one is straightforward, but I know some people struggle with cleanliness or -may not believe it makes a difference. Trust me, keeping your desk area clean -and organized makes a huge difference, both mentally and emotionally. +#+end_quote -Just think about it, you walk into your home office and see a clean desk with a -laptop, dock, monitors, keyboard, mouse, and a notepad with a pen on top. +This one is straightforward, but I know some people struggle with +cleanliness or may not believe it makes a difference. Trust me, keeping +your desk area clean and organized makes a huge difference, both +mentally and emotionally. -Now imagine the opposite, there's an office with the same equipment, but there -are clothes hanging on the chair, empty drink bottles, candy wrappers and dirty -plates. This can take both a mental and emotional toll by bringing constant -disarray and stress into your working environment. +Just think about it, you walk into your home office and see a clean desk +with a laptop, dock, monitors, keyboard, mouse, and a notepad with a pen +on top. -Just keep things clean each day, and you won't need to do any big cleaning days -to recover. +Now imagine the opposite, there's an office with the same equipment, but +there are clothes hanging on the chair, empty drink bottles, candy +wrappers and dirty plates. This can take both a mental and emotional +toll by bringing constant disarray and stress into your working +environment. -## My Preferences +Just keep things clean each day, and you won't need to do any big +cleaning days to recover. -I've talked about the different environments I've worked in and expressed some -honest thoughts on pros or cons to each, but what do I prefer? Well, if you're -reading along, you should be able to tell that I much prefer a home office above -all else. +** My Preferences +:PROPERTIES: +:CUSTOM_ID: my-preferences +:END: +I've talked about the different environments I've worked in and +expressed some honest thoughts on pros or cons to each, but what do I +prefer? Well, if you're reading along, you should be able to tell that I +much prefer a home office above all else. -Being able to control my own day and allot my time as needed has brought a -calmness to my life and has allowed me to maximize each day. I feel far more -effective and efficient in a home office than any other office, especially -open-office layouts. +Being able to control my own day and allot my time as needed has brought +a calmness to my life and has allowed me to maximize each day. I feel +far more effective and efficient in a home office than any other office, +especially open-office layouts. -If I do need to return to an office part-time in the future, I really hope the -office will have privacy and quietness in order for me to get my work done. +If I do need to return to an office part-time in the future, I really +hope the office will have privacy and quietness in order for me to get +my work done. Cubicles are good! I agree with Alice (from the comic Dilbert): - +#+caption: Dilbert comic strip +[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20220210-leaving-office-based-work-in-the-past/dilbert_120109.png]] |