Working from home, quarantine, & social distancing discussion thread

[Ch28]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

anyone gone to look at the guy in "South Port Coquitlam" selling refurb Herman Miller and Steelcase chairs? Says his name is Muhammed in the ad

He said he needed a few weeks to procure a chair last time I reached out to him (right around the start of COVID) so I don't know if it's any better now.

Ended up getting a Steelcase Think instead of waiting

[Euro7r]

How many of you guys are still working from home full-time?

[sonick]

Haha I was just thinking of bumping this thread now that we're getting into fall/winter to discuss ideas on how we're all staying sane with crappy weather and more time indoors.

I have been planning monthly weekend getaways nearby so there's something to look forward to, as well as buying wet and cold weather gear to allow for outdoor activities (hiking, walks etc) even if it's wet or cold.

I'm still wfh full time, but have the option to go into the office, which I try to do once a week.

[EuterVanWasser]

I'm WFH still. Hate it, but I don't want to go back to the office either.

Completely feel like a slave to the work laptop again after July/August felt sustainable.. I turn it on any time from 7 to 7:30am and start my day. A bigger issue is my staff all sleep in and start their day around 9:30am, then work till 6 or 7pm each night. So as a result, I was on the phone until 6pm last night for work.. The lines between work and family are completely blurred again for me, although I'll admit I only work at like 70% intensity of what I would have before.

One nice habit I've started however is I'm now walking my kid to school each day and bringing the dog with us. It forces me out of the house for 30 minutes each morning otherwise, I literally sit here all day and the dog certainly loves catching up on the neighbourhood gossip daily.

I also played hockey for the first time in a year on the weekend. Yiiiiikes am I out of shape. But, have to do something!

[pastarocket]

I also still WFH. As a Canadian government employee, I am thankful that the feds are providing some benefits to employees who are working from home.

Federal government employees can be reimbursed up to 500 bucks in office furniture by providing receipts of purchases to their managers. Office furniture such as a high back leather chair and/or a home office desk would qualify under this employee benefits program.

My manager said that "video gaming chairs" don't qualify for this $500 reimbursement because the chair is not work related. -makes sense. It was worth a try though.

-bought a $320 dollar leather office chair with lumbar support and adjustable armrests from Staples recently. -still looking for a decent office desk to use up the remaining 180 bucks in benefit reimbursement.

What I realize now is that my neighbourhood can be really noisy in the summer time with noise distractions from people working. For example, one neighbour had contractors replacing his home's roof. -non stop sound of a nail gun all day. Then you have neighbours cutting their lawn.

Then you have a dude driving his ice cream truck around my neighbourhood during the
summer while he plays a corny jingle song in order to attract customers.

-hard to filter out that noise if I need top open my room windows during the warm summer months.

[EuterVanWasser]

@pastarocket - my work allowed me to expense Airpod Pro's to help with WFH under the same type of incentive. The noise cancellation feature was amazing for getting rid of neighbourhood noise, and my kid screaming over xBox in the next room.... Plus with all the virtual meetings via Zoom/WebEx/Teams, wireless instead of corded ear buds are awesome and completely benefit productivity.

[quasi]

Originally Posted by Euro7r

How many of you guys are still working from home full-time?

1 or 2 days a week usually Thursday/Friday. Part of me would like to just work from home full time but I do enjoy the conversation and feeling like I'm part of a team when going in, it's a little different working from home.

[underscore]

I really need a better chair for WFH, I wish we had office resellers up here like there is down there. It's hard to pay retail when you know a couple hours away they're half the price.

[GLOW]

still at home. picked up a $200 exec chair from costco. who knows how long it'll last, but beats the wood dining chair i was using for last 6 months

[Razor Ramon HG]

Still working from home. Been here since March. Using an Ikea Renberget and no issues with comfort or back pain. Tempted to pick up a better chair, but maybe at a later date.

[TOS'd]

Still WFH as well. Even in the new year I think our office will adopt a sort of come into the office once every couple of weeks sort of thing just to give people an escape from home.

[Presto]

There's no coffee at the office, due to COVID. I have to go into the office every day, and that's just to grab a backup tape, but I work from home when I can. Most people are working from home, but there are a handful that are still in the office. It's good to see people IRL. My wife works about 5 ft from me, and it's been working out. She turns down the TV if I need to take a call. Can't beat the short commute!

EDIT: any suggestions for posture/comfort for people that like to work on the couch?

[bobbinka]

Originally Posted by Presto

EDIT: any suggestions for posture/comfort for people that like to work on the couch?

Don't work on the couch?

[Presto]

Of course! That is genius! Why didn't I think of that?

It's a serious question, and I would like suggestions. The wife insists on using a laptop on the couch. She has a stand, but wants something for better seating comfort.

[SkinnyPupp]

Honestly "don't work on the couch" is the best advice. If she insists then she has to suffer the consequences. Or buy a new couch that can accommodate proper posture, if one exists

[mikemhg]

Still WFH, we have no plans of opening the office up until 2021, and even then, it'll be a graduated return.

[CivicBlues]

Originally Posted by Presto

EDIT: any suggestions for posture/comfort for people that like to work on the couch?

bought this table.
https://www.palluccifurniture.ca/hat...-coffee-table/

add mouse, wireless keyboard and you're all set to work from the couch.

Source: been doing it on and off for a year now for a couple hours a day. Back still fine.

[TOS'd]

What about those side tables that you can pull up to your couch and then you can sit up right on the couch to use it.

[Presto]

This is non-negotiable. My wife won't give up the couch. So, I just want to equip her the best I can. She's got a surface already. Just need support for the back to promote better posture. My wife works about 3 - 4 hours a day, and exercises for breaks.

[Hondaracer]

If your couch is firm I suggest getting a lumbar roll. They are cheap on amazon etc. And correct posture and reduce strain. I use one when driving longer distances and it a a life saver

[68style]

Damn that’s one high maintenance bird, how can she expect someone else to find her things that she finds comfortable or not, especially with that little actual working hours? Tell her to figure it out lol

[GS8]

MrsHappySilp has a sister?

[sonick]

Originally Posted by GS8

MrsHappySilp has a sister?

[SkinnyPupp]

Originally Posted by GS8

MrsHappySilp has a sister?

Stop, you got that guy's wife to ban him from coming back, don't do it to another member!

[Mikoyan]

Still WFH full time. Company extending it through to Q2. Looking like it's likely going to pretty much permanent for the most part. Pre Covid, about 1/3 of staff was remote at home full time anyways. Pandemic just accelerated it.