From fdd80eadcc2f147d0198d94b7b908764778184a2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Christian Cleberg Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2024 14:18:55 -0500 Subject: format line wrapping and fix escaped characters --- content/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.md | 301 ++++++++++++-------------- 1 file changed, 141 insertions(+), 160 deletions(-) (limited to 'content/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.md') diff --git a/content/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.md b/content/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.md index 76adad3..c16aae8 100644 --- a/content/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.md +++ b/content/blog/2022-02-10-leaving-the-office.md @@ -7,195 +7,180 @@ 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. +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). +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. +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. +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 ![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). +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). +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 ![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. +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 ![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. +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 ![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. +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. +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 -Let\'s start with my top rule for a home office: +Let's start with my top rule for a home office: > 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. +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. -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. +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 -Okay, the second thing I\'ve discovered that works for me: +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. +> 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. +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). +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: +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. +> 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?). +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. +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 @@ -203,39 +188,35 @@ Okay, last one for now. > 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. +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. -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 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. -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. +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 keep things clean each day, and you won\'t need to do any big -cleaning days to recover. +Just keep things clean each day, and you won't need to do any big cleaning days +to recover. # My Preferences -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. +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): -- cgit v1.2.3-70-g09d2