Without getting too heavy into details (which, as you know, I am wont to do), holy crap! Enough already with the Zoom meetings!
Sure, illness and even death are the very worst things that have oozed from Pandemic World. And while some may think the Zoom (remote) meeting is a plus (less travel? working from home? more time-efficient?), it might be the most annoying "work thing" I must field on a regular basis. Example: There are too frequently times when a few emails would suffice, but no. Gotta field an invitation and sign into one of these things with 12 others who sit and listen to maybe 3 others who just have to talk things into the ground for 20 minutes. (Yes, I see the irony ... STFU! It's my rant!)
Some of you may love them, or what they afford you in your employment situations. I'm not a fan, and specifically not a fan of all the new Zoom-related ways humans can annoy the living hell out of me. (Get offa my lawn!)
We are out the other side of the original pandemic, at least. Still, Zoom (and other such meetings known by other such names) aren't going anywhere any time soon.
/Tuesday morning vent
Yadda yadda yadda, where are you on the remote work meeting?
Janice, unmute!
Janice! We can't hear you.
(((She can't hear us.)))
Can someone send her a note in chat?
That said, I much prefer zoom meetings over in person meetings. At least I can get other work done while in a zoom meeting. But I've been a remote worker for most of the last 13 years now. So working from home was new to me.
The majority of my company is based in Israel so they are 7 hours ahead and Zoom allows me to connect with them and not rely on Slack/Email. I'd say 90% of the time the meetings are efficient and necessary.
If you think the meetings suck, do something about it. Make an agenda, hold people accountable, and don't be afraid to cancel meetings that aren't netting any outcomes. Took me a while to get there but i'm much better at it now.
However, it has also made me more easily accessible to everyone!
He has to be home right? He has to be in the office, right?
And then Zoom and Teams meeting galore. So many meetings so folks can check boxes in Salesforce for get-togethers, pipeline meetings, etc.
I have to keep a sweater (winter) or button down (summer) by my desk in the basement at all times because of scheduled and pop-up Zoom or Teams meetings. LOL
That said, I much prefer zoom meetings over in person meetings. At least I can get other work done while in a zoom meeting. But I've been a remote worker for most of the last 13 years now. So working from home was new to me.
I don't agree. I can't say I enjoy them but the last year has shown me that effective meetings are possible and in many cases necessary. Depends on your industry too but I don't know how collaboration is a bad thing as long as its organized.
We're converting the company standard to Zoom as we speak.
We're converting the company standard to Zoom as we speak.
Me too. It's been the best ~ 2 years of my working life.
We're required 2 days a week now. It sucks. And I get less work done, start working later, leave early because our trains are still on a modified schedule.
The majority of my company is based in Israel so they are 7 hours ahead and Zoom allows me to connect with them and not rely on Slack/Email. I'd say 90% of the time the meetings are efficient and necessary.
If you think the meetings suck, do something about it. Make an agenda, hold people accountable, and don't be afraid to cancel meetings that aren't netting any outcomes. Took me a while to get there but i'm much better at it now.
UConn if you dont mind me asking, which company do you work for? I work with a lot of Israeli companies, I wonder if we have crossed paths.
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even the longer hours and being expected to be more available are better than commuting in and out of Manhattan every fooking day.
We're converting the company standard to Zoom as we speak.
Me too. It's been the best ~ 2 years of my working life.
We're required 2 days a week now. It sucks. And I get less work done, start working later, leave early because our trains are still on a modified schedule.
Same. We're back 2-3 days and it sucks. My downtown bus is still operating on about 1/3 schedule at most. I get in later and leave earlier and all this so called "collaborating" we're supposed to be doing - well, it's not happening.
I also hate meetings of any kind unless they are truly necessary. Although Zoom and similar platforms has made scheduling a hell of a lot easier than it used to be.
If you are wasting hours and hours a day on meetings you don't need to be in, that is on you and your company, not Zoom. Be a leader and insist on agendas and hard stops for meetings. Useless meetings wasting time is not an outgrowth of working remotely, it is an outgrowth of wasteful people.
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even the longer hours and being expected to be more available are better than commuting in and out of Manhattan every fooking day.
We're converting the company standard to Zoom as we speak.
Me too. It's been the best ~ 2 years of my working life.
We're required 2 days a week now. It sucks. And I get less work done, start working later, leave early because our trains are still on a modified schedule.
My company is instituting a "hybrid" work model starting Feb 1, with 2 days likely in the office every week. It's not ideal, but I'm also not going to race onto an early train to get there early.
If they want me to be working by 830a, they can get me at home. Otherwise, they get me at 930a and I'm out the door at 430p. Commuting is on their time, not mine anymore.
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In comment 15485343 JonC said:
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even the longer hours and being expected to be more available are better than commuting in and out of Manhattan every fooking day.
We're converting the company standard to Zoom as we speak.
Me too. It's been the best ~ 2 years of my working life.
We're required 2 days a week now. It sucks. And I get less work done, start working later, leave early because our trains are still on a modified schedule.
My company is instituting a "hybrid" work model starting Feb 1, with 2 days likely in the office every week. It's not ideal, but I'm also not going to race onto an early train to get there early.
If they want me to be working by 830a, they can get me at home. Otherwise, they get me at 930a and I'm out the door at 430p. Commuting is on their time, not mine anymore.
I feel the exact same way. Not rushing for the jam packed early train to try to get here by 7:30 anymore. I take the later less crowded train and get her by 8ish. And I leave at 4:30 to make the less crowded 5:07 and have my own 2-seater. At home I'm at my desk at 7:00am working and in a good mood.
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even the longer hours and being expected to be more available are better than commuting in and out of Manhattan every fooking day.
We're converting the company standard to Zoom as we speak.
Me too. It's been the best ~ 2 years of my working life.
We're required 2 days a week now. It sucks. And I get less work done, start working later, leave early because our trains are still on a modified schedule.
Same here, my girlfriend and I even talked about selling the house in NJ and moving Upstate where it's peaceful. I've been trying to do that for 20+ years, but she doesn't like the compromise of living in Westchester, soooo NJ it is for now.
My company was beginning to transition to 1-2 days per week in the office until Omicron hit. Now, nothing figures to change until after the holidays.
Not traveling (just two trips since March 2020) has actually been a welcome change, I have become curmudgeonly in my old age and the mere site of people on planes, trains, rental car lines, etc. has me disliking people more and more. So not being exposed to travel in a long time has taken the edge off.
I don't mind zoom, basically the same thing as WebEx or any of the other dozen incarnations before Zoom.
In the shorter term, I think more and more people are going to come around to the idea that in-person meetings aren't appreciably more valuable than Zoom, Teams, etc.
Prior to 1929 the work week was 6 or 7 days in the US. This is just another evolutionary step.
You and me both my friend! CT for me of course. White Plains to New Haven corridor would work.
Even midtown Manhattan would be an improvement for me so i could walk from Grand Central. Our office is downtown near World Trade. That extra leg on the subway sucks.
Tell me about it. I am partially responsible, I am a partner in my firm - so I could have done more to keep us home. But I was up against two majority partners who since basically summer of 2020, wanted to be back in the office 5 days a week. So 2-3 days was the compromise. Now granted, they are out more than anyone else - or sit with their headphones in all day. Collaboration? Yeah OK.
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when NYC employers want us back in the office, I'll be ready to listen to the options.
You and me both my friend! CT for me of course. White Plains to New Haven corridor would work.
Even midtown Manhattan would be an improvement for me so i could walk from Grand Central. Our office is downtown near World Trade. That extra leg on the subway sucks.
I lived near and commuted from White Plains for a number of years, and I miss it over living in NJ. I'd move right back if I could.
I'm in IT.
I can work 8-3, take an few hours to clear my head, and then do another 2 with better results.
Saving money on gas, lunches........I realize everyone can't do it depending on the job but with the right people it works for all sides.
But to Beezer's example, some people just like to hear themselves talk or know that they can control the agenda by talking a lot. That's the same on ZOOM or in person. It's on whoever is conducting the meeting to limit each speaker's time.
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In comment 15485397 JonC said:
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when NYC employers want us back in the office, I'll be ready to listen to the options.
You and me both my friend! CT for me of course. White Plains to New Haven corridor would work.
Even midtown Manhattan would be an improvement for me so i could walk from Grand Central. Our office is downtown near World Trade. That extra leg on the subway sucks.
I lived near and commuted from White Plains for a number of years, and I miss it over living in NJ. I'd move right back if I could.
I live in Norwalk, so ideally I'd like to stay in state. But getting to WP is no big deal, another 10-15 mins past Greenwich, so I would take a spot there. We actually have an alternate site there, but the firm won't approve my moving there.
It can definitely be overused, too. And the same jackholes who can book unnecessary in person meetings and waste everyone's time can do it with these as well.
The pandemic made me 100% remote so I've gotten used to it and really find it to be fine. I will now get off your lawn.
Gotta love the public chat function in teams meetings, though. All the bootlickers love to cheerlead and try to be funny or clever during department and company town halls. They also all have their cameras on so everybody knows they are there and can see all the on-brand propping they have in their home offices. The added bonus is seeing their dead expressionless faces as they type "So cool! I love that! So awesome! Woot! *smiley face* *fire* *heart* *high five* when somebody with a big title says something unremarkable.
The joys of working for a family owned company. (My football fandom and working life are uncomfortably similar these days.)
but what's worse than zoom, all these "work from homers" seem to be on my golf course all day. go home and get to work already!
p.s. get off my lawn.
The majority of my company is based in Israel so they are 7 hours ahead and Zoom allows me to connect with them and not rely on Slack/Email. I'd say 90% of the time the meetings are efficient and necessary.
If you think the meetings suck, do something about it. Make an agenda, hold people accountable, and don't be afraid to cancel meetings that aren't netting any outcomes. Took me a while to get there but i'm much better at it now.
I get this.
It's been a few hours since posting ... I've calmed down a bit. LOL
Metropolitan areas and the money they pump into the National economy are crucial to maintain.
The domino effect of everyone staying home not only has a destructive effect on the social aspect of society but the economic aspect as well.
Same. Worked from home for 28 months, pre-pandemic and through the pandemic. Couldn’t stand it, especially towards the end. Came back to an office in September and I’m like a different person. I enjoy the office and leading people in person.
Metropolitan areas and the money they pump into the National economy are crucial to maintain.
The domino effect of everyone staying home not only has a destructive effect on the social aspect of society but the economic aspect as well.
Absolutely true. I think there's something in between what was, and full remote working. Work/life balance and schedule flexibility has to become a consideration. Especially with many in the workforce being working parents (COVID quarantines are brutal on work schedules) and there aren't a whole lot of stay at home moms/dads.
What I do believe will happen, particularly in cities like NYC - is there will be a slight decrease in workplace footprint and an increase in housing. Commercial buildings will transition to residential, and that will support the ancillary businesses. It won't happen all at once, but I already know for a fact that many commercial buildings are looking into this. NYC is still desirable to live in, even after the temporary 2020 exodus - the residential real estate market is apparently pretty strong.
We'll see.. based on the traffic in NYC, it's like we're back to 2019.
“How long will this be down?” I don’t know. I’ve never seen this error before, I’m looking into it.
“Can you please share your screen, I want to see what you’re looking at.” I was frantically googling before jumping on this call. Would have had an answer by now if not for all the interruptions
“How long will this be down?” I don’t know. I’ve never seen this error before, I’m looking into it.
“Can you please share your screen, I want to see what you’re looking at.” I was frantically googling before jumping on this call. Would have had an answer by now if not for all the interruptions
This shit kills me. You need two people now in order to work a problem. One to do the work and one to do the call. Jesus what a waste of time.
Metropolitan areas and the money they pump into the National economy are crucial to maintain.
The domino effect of everyone staying home not only has a destructive effect on the social aspect of society but the economic aspect as well.
City planning rules are changing to discourage capacity increases and encourage anything that reduces auto traffic and GHG emissions. It's going to be a long process with a 25+ year time horizon and in many cases much longer, but changes are coming in the way land is zoned, the relationships between land use and transportation, and where government funds are being allocated.
Adjustments are already underway, but it's a slow process.
When I was in the office and on BBI all day, it was easier for my staff to call BS and drag me into a conference room.
We have back in the office in person for 3 months. Almost all meetings are still via teams. There are 3 or 4 of use in close proximity often in the same meeting. Even muting the microphones, the echo or bounceback, or hearing them say something and then hearing it in a slight delay in my headphones is annoying.
as the workforce gets younger, people are less and less inclined to email or even consider it a primary communication tool.
text, collaboration/messaging tools (teams, slack, etc.) chat, video conference, etc. all preferred mediums to email by newer generations.
I'm the same way or I was, now I don't mind not getting 150 emails every day to wade through. If someone needs something from me bad enough they'll text or message me.
at least as an internal communication tool, external they'll do whatever email probably.
Actually virtual work has my wife and I considering hitching the camper and remote working from the deep south in the dead of winter. Couldn't dream of such a thing 3 years ago... not at my job, which is now around 95% virtual.
Closing so much more business and having so much more free time --
I do agree that I am too accessible now -- but the trade off has worked for me
....and -- I don't have to zoom with Beez : ) -- man that guy can take over a meeting
Actually virtual work has my wife and I considering hitching the camper and remote working from the deep south in the dead of winter. Couldn't dream of such a thing 3 years ago... not at my job, which is now around 95% virtual.
My wife and I talk about it too but I'm nervous.
I've been to the south to visit. And I always feel I'm about "this" close to getting myself shot for speaking up against some of the absolutely heinous shit people there think is OK.
Not traveling (just two trips since March 2020) has actually been a welcome change, I have become curmudgeonly in my old age and the mere site of people on planes, trains, rental car lines, etc. has me disliking people more and more. So not being exposed to travel in a long time has taken the edge off.
I don't mind zoom, basically the same thing as WebEx or any of the other dozen incarnations before Zoom.
It doesn't help that people in general seem crankier than usual out in public. Like people forgot how to behave or something.
So true. This is how it should be for everyone who is required to go into the office.