Some businesses are not happy about WFH but others are and more and more of them are allowing for remote workers. It's inevitable. I am currently in the job market and have pretty much stopped looking for work here in Houston and instead at remote positions in other cities because the economy here is not good. Thank goodness for remote work because I would be SOL.

I need a laptop and an internet connection to work. (and the ability to fly anywhere in the country on a moment's notice). I don't need to go into an office for that. And the 19 years I spent dragging myself into an office didn't make me any better for having suffered through it. 17 years office-free and never looking back. More productive and better paid, too.

I don't think it's being an introvert. I think it's hating the commute and being able to set your own schedule (want to set your work hours at midnight to 8 AM . . .fine if you're at home).

I haven't seen evidence of that (more and more). What I see is companies that possibly thought they would let a lot of people work at home and save money leasing real estate having second thoughts. For one thing, a lot of the real estate is going unleased (because so many companies had the same idea) and while individual workers may be quite productive at home, the synergy of people working together and exchanging ideas isn't there.

I was just handed a memo from my boss at work. It's now official; we're following new Los Angeles County Health Department Guidelines, effective today, at my company's office:

1) Face coverings outdoors - No longer needed regardless of vaccination status.

2) Face coverings indoors - Fully vaccinated employees no longer need to wear face coverings indoors; however, partially vaccinated or non-vaccinated individuals must wear face coverings at all times except when in a closed office.

3) Face coverings inside a company vehicle - Fully vaccinated employees no longer need to wear face coverings in a company vehicle but partially vaccinated or non-vaccinated individuals must wear face coverings at all times.

4) Social distancing is no longer in effect (indoor or outdoor).

5) Lunch rooms - There are no longer restrictions on the number of employees allowed in lunch rooms.

Employees who are not fully vaccinated, or who do not furnish us a COVID-19 vaccination card, will be required to wear face coverings.

Good. There are a few Trumpers here who refuse to get vaccinated.

Doesn't look "in the middle" to me. Looks well above average:

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/ser...055077/enhance
https://data.oecd.org/lprdty/labour-...ndicator-chart

So here's what I want to know. Let's say somebody who isn't vaccinated lies about it, doesn't wear a mask and otherwise behaves as if they were vaccinated. And let's say somebody else in the office gets covid.

Do they have grounds to sue the person who lied? The company? Will the company fire the liar? Are they requiring any proof (and does that change their possible liability)?

At my company, we've all been asked to submit copies of our vaccination cards to put in our medical files. Many have complied. Some still haven't submitted their cards, and I know of 2 people who have outright refused to get vaccinated.

I think it's a question of lack of control. Bosses have the perception that their cracking of the whip or.patting of the back or glowering or cracking inappropriate jokes or whatever it is they were doing is what was driving productivity previously when it probably wasn't. It doesn't make their jobs as important if the work happens largely on its own. So they create a story in their heads that everyone at home is slacking because they don't have a boss looking over their shoulder. At least this is what I think has been happening at my workplace.

As I said, I'm job hunting. Half the jobs I encounter are remote and yes, companies are turning to remote work to open up talent pool, save on rent and given to demand. More stodgy traditional companies (like my wife's) are opposed to WFH and brought everyone back in the office last summer. A lot of newer companies with younger workers are shifting to WFH.

Well, Facebook did just announce last week they are letting folks work remotely long-term if they want.

I do think there are several jobs that require people to be in the "office" around their colleagues. But.... I also think the definition of "office" may change in the future too. Maybe companies give their employees WeWork access memberships to come in and collaborate at a location of their choosing only when they need.

Or maybe some people will want that anchored company office and come in five days a way.

Or maybe some people will do a "hub and spoke" model where they use office locations spread across the world as a means to be a digital nomad.

The point is people have so many choices now, and there isn't a binary choice anymore between going in five days a week (with the occasional WFH day) and people who are freelancers that work remotely indefinitely. It's a whole new world that ultimately I think benefits everyone in a net positive.

I do see some people coming back to the office, but not all, and certainly not everyone is going to come back five days a week. As I have said before, it will be interesting to see how this all shakes out over the coming weeks/months/years. It's so awesome to have these choices though.

how did i get a double post lol

Where I work we will be returning to the office eventually but the remote policy is going to be much more generous than pre covid. Pre covid was 2 days a week remote, post will be more time remote than in the office. I love remote!

This is really the main negative of WFH. It works fine when you can still send the kids somewhere for the day, and probably better yet if you and your partner aren’t both working from home in an apartment at the same time.

But to those that say people will miss the human interaction - there are places outside of home I can work from and have human interaction that I vastly prefer to my latest office. Part of that comes down to my latest firm’s culture being absolutely terrible, of course.

And no nightclubs, no bars, no restaurants? Like living in a prison, except you have to pay the bills.

They announced that some time ago and since then Google and Apple have pushed in the other direction. You know . . . those stodgy old companies.

Was in the Arts District last Sunday (two days before the official statewide reopening), and it was absolutely hopping. Tons of people (and a diverse crowd to boot) dining, visiting the Hauser Wirth, shopping, and snapping photos for Instagram. I had never seen the AD that vibrant before, but then again I hadn’t gone there in ages.

Why is the border still closed between America and Canada?

I just heard the closure was extended another 30 days out.

Because it's still April 2020 in Ontario.