jgrewe said:
There is a fine line between Home Office and House Arrest.
I have some new neighbors that both work from home. They moved here to St Pete when they realized they don't need to live between Pittsburgh and Akron for their two jobs.
Working in an office is rough on those who don't conform. My wife is a diabetic. ( inherited) in the last 2 decades she has really gained weight.
People constantly give her disgusting looks and often say cruel things to her because of her weight.
She dresses very nice, her hair and fingernails are perfect.
I don't see how she can be so heavy, she eats small portions of healthy food and works harder than anyone I've ever known. Myself included. My alarm goes off at 5:30 and she's busy keeping an immaculate house that is constantly seasonally decorated.
She sews, does cross-pointing, cans Health foods, cooks me meals I like since I don't like the healthy stuff she does. Gardens,cans, cooks beautifully, and is a wonderful person.
But she hates to go into the office. It's 2 hours of traffic in freezing cold weather or hot summer days. Only to get jeers and sneers along with looks of disgust by younger more fit people.
They come running to her when they can't figure out how to do things or need her guidance on technical matters.
She puts in a full day working from home and doesn't get that. Promotions are regular events for her and she's at the peak of her earning power. So she loves working.
One problem she has is periodic bath room issues. It's like Croons disease . Her current bathroom is steps away from her desk.
Me I'd like to stay home. There are always jerks who try to give me a rough time. I've always hated working in an office. So I work extra long hours to go into the office long after most people go home. Or come in real early in the morning do I don't have my day ruined by the jerks.
I'd rather be hybrid but I'm 100% remote. My anecdotal evidence suggests we have much less intense rush hour now in the twin cities. It lasts much shorter.
STM317
PowerDork
10/4/22 2:15 p.m.
My facility went to all non-essential workers being 100% remote during the early part of the pandemic. They allowed those workers to return Q2 of this year, but the large office building is closed for renovations so space is limited. We've had some engineers return in a hybrid arrangement (I'd guess 10-20%) but HR and IT have more or less remained fully remote.
People who live outside cities are always first to jump to the crime in cities is bad.
Fueled by Caffeine said:
People who live outside cities are always first to jump to the crime in cities is bad.
So you're good with it?
https://www.areavibes.com/minneapolis-mn/crime/
In reply to 1988RedT2 :
Always willing to point out how better things are in the country aren't we. Show me on the doll where the city touched you.
My employer is fighting to prevent this trend, we only allow WFH for special, individual circumstances and for the CEOs "consultants" (read friends). We've had a regulatory vacancy for months because we refuse to allow hybrid or WFH and are willing to burn out personnel to spite the WFH crowd. We also have to rent overflow parking, so we're actively paying to keep people coming here. Paying other businesses, not the people. That would be silly.
I really need to quit this job...
volvoclearinghouse said:
That's a catch-22 though. If people are working less at offices, there's less of a reason to live near densely congested areas. So demand for offices-turned-apartments would not be as high as expected.
With crime on the increase in most metropolitan areas, schools being very hit-or-miss in big cities, and a stickiness to many peoples desire to not be crowded into small spaces with other germ bags, I see no reason anyone would want to live in a major city other than shorter commutes.
This is also translating into hardships for the local businesses that used to do brisk business in breakfast and lunch for office-goers.
Cities offer more than bad things. Theaters, museums, orchestra, art galleries, plays, concerts, modern and classical style construction. University, colleges, planetariums, major league sports, minor league sports, college sports, high school sports, entertainment, concerts, different venues and styles. Multiple movies, Diner, restaurants and ethnic foods. Zoos,
Then as we age the various Hospitals clinics, health care centers, are all conveniently located nearby.
We also have fishing, swimming in various pools lakes and ponds.
Parks and any kind of outdoor recreation imaginable.
Anything you can do in a rural area there are places for it in cities.
Fueled by Caffeine said:
In reply to 1988RedT2 :
Always willing to point out how better things are in the country aren't we. Show me on the doll where the city touched you.
Hey, I live in a metro area of around 1.2 million. I think all violent crime is a problem that needs to be addressed. We can't just stick our heads in the sand and hope it goes away. Or look the other way and pretend it doesn't happen.
In reply to 1988RedT2 :
Any major sized city will have more crime than most urban areas. Simple crowding.
Because that's where the jobs are, that's why the crowding.
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:
Sadly, I am still unable to work from home. 
But we’d all we’d all be happy to see you if we needed you need to make a house call. 
Big city crime is scary to rural folk but the per capita rate is often lower in the city. Meaning you're less likely to get murdered in New York City versus rural West Virginia.
I've worked in many conditions, from hot desking in a very open office floor plan to fully remote even before the pandemic.
I do software development and system architecture. I work best in a quiet environment, and I often have to work after hours. Working from home lets me be my most productive, and keeps my stress down. It also enables a bit more work/life balance, as I can load the washer while on a conference call, etc. Give me my goals, and I'll reach them before the deadlines.
To me, working conditions are as important as salary and benefits. I've turned down "better" jobs based on the office requirements and conditions- as in, I asked to tour the floor where I would be working, it was an open office with no partitions and I retracted my candidacy on the spot.
That's not to say that I don't think in person interactions are important. I think quarterly team meetings in person for roadmaps, planning, etc. are very effective and may be the minimum required to keep things going smoothy, and monthly wouldn't be awful.
In regards to violence, I think what scares people about city crime is that it's possible to be victimized by somebody you don't know, even if you're just minding your business. Yes, that can obviously happen in rural areas, but... odds are you're going to know who is trying to shoot you and exactly why they're shooting.
RossD
MegaDork
10/4/22 8:06 p.m.
There is a rural county in the north woods of Wisconsin that has a lot of second homes at lakes and resort towns, is trying to get high speed internet in each residence or cabin or whatever.
Brett_Murphy (Agent of Chaos) said:
I've worked in many conditions, from hot desking in a very open office floor plan to fully remote even before the pandemic.
I do software development and system architecture. I work best in a quiet environment, and I often have to work after hours. Working from home lets me be my most productive, and keeps my stress down. It also enables a bit more work/life balance, as I can load the washer while on a conference call, etc. Give me my goals, and I'll reach them before the deadlines.
To me, working conditions are as important as salary and benefits. I've turned down "better" jobs based on the office requirements and conditions- as in, I asked to tour the floor where I would be working, it was an open office with no partitions and I retracted my candidacy on the spot.
That's not to say that I don't think in person interactions are important. I think quarterly team meetings in person for roadmaps, planning, etc. are very effective and may be the minimum required to keep things going smoothy, and monthly wouldn't be awful.
In regards to violence, I think what scares people about city crime is that it's possible to be victimized by somebody you don't know, even if you're just minding your business. Yes, that can obviously happen in rural areas, but... odds are you're going to know who is trying to shoot you and exactly why they're shooting.
That's exactly what my wife does. Coordinates the team to achieve the goal. There is actually a formal process to keep everyone focused and achieving. But phone or Skype is most common and efficient method. Considering she works globally in dozens of countries. It's a lot of juggling. But very organized.
I'm not sure that's any less scary than a stranger. With a stranger you don't know that persons competence. So you might feel you have a chance. But a known bad guy would have a reputation, likely something to fear.
In addition a known bad guy would see you recognize him.
While a stranger it's possible that complying with his orders they'd take your money and leave you.
In reply to RossD :
Living in a remote area has many handicaps. You only mentioned one.
I've found living on a lake in a large metro area provides much the same benefits. Without the negatives.
Bald Eagles regularly land on the big tree over the lake, fish are jumping every day. Stand on the end of my dock and watch them. Ducks , geese, and Loons ( I love the call of a loon) parade around. Watch carefully and you'll see turtles going by.
Wild birds? You name it and likely I've seen them. My apple trees attract rabbits & squirrels which attract owls. Deer love apples. They stand there and calmly watch me watching them eat the windfalls. Slowly wander off when they've had their fill.
I'm 23 minutes from Downtown Mpls but may as well be up North . ( no moose, yet) but red foxes, and flocks of wild turkeys.
Fall color is right outside my window. Not peak, that's a week or two away.
