Companies knew the mandated return to the office would cause some attrition, however, they were not prepared for the serious problems that would present.
I started working from home in March 2020 also. I was convinced that my productivity would suffer working from home. Previously, I had only worked from home during snowstorms and that was me sitting on my couch or bed working on just my laptop screen. When the pandemic hit, I got an second monitor and set up a dedicated working area. That made all the difference.
I’m actually more productive now than I was in the office. I can get through an entire days’ worth of tasks in a matter of hours because I can focus without people walking up to me to talk.
I’m also healthier at home. When I went into the office, I needed to pack my lunch and any snacks I wanted. I’d often overpack and since my lunch container was on my desk next to me, I’d snack all day. Now, all my snacks are in my kitchen, but that means getting up and walking downstairs. Laziness actually helps me eat less. Go figure. Plus, I can make a salad fresh for lunch instead of relying on frozen meals.
Do I miss talking to my coworkers? Sometimes, but the advantages vastly outweigh the disadvantages. I’m also now technically working for my company’s home office which is in another state. A commute would be about 10 hours each way for me. (9 hours if I cut through Canada.) So I’m pretty much permanently working from home now as long as I stay in this position (which I have no intention of leaving at the moment).
I started working from home in March 2020 also. I was convinced that my productivity would suffer working from home. Previously, I had only worked from home during snowstorms and that was me sitting on my couch or bed working on just my laptop screen. When the pandemic hit, I got an second monitor and set up a dedicated working area. That made all the difference.
I’m actually more productive now than I was in the office. I can get through an entire days’ worth of tasks in a matter of hours because I can focus without people walking up to me to talk.
I’m also healthier at home. When I went into the office, I needed to pack my lunch and any snacks I wanted. I’d often overpack and since my lunch container was on my desk next to me, I’d snack all day. Now, all my snacks are in my kitchen, but that means getting up and walking downstairs. Laziness actually helps me eat less. Go figure. Plus, I can make a salad fresh for lunch instead of relying on frozen meals.
Do I miss talking to my coworkers? Sometimes, but the advantages vastly outweigh the disadvantages. I’m also now technically working for my company’s home office which is in another state. A commute would be about 10 hours each way for me. (9 hours if I cut through Canada.) So I’m pretty much permanently working from home now as long as I stay in this position (which I have no intention of leaving at the moment).