Hey, Do You Remember… Office Space?

Today I saw an article on CNN where the CEO of Amazon was paraphrased demanding employees return to the physical office at least three days a week or consider employment elsewhere even if they were originally hired for remote positions.

Yikes.

As an introvert who has a really hard time tuning out distracting noises, back in the day when I worked in an actual office, I dreaded the rumors that my branch of Big Educational Publishing Company might adopt an open office plan because the cool kids at Silicon Valley offices were doing it. I can’t imagine trying to read a manuscript on early childhood development and assess it for issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion while a sales rep walks a professor through how to set up an online gradebook or while a clump of folks gathered outside the bathroom debates where to go to lunch.

I need walls, and a door, and preferably a white noise machine or headphones.

When COVID lockdown happened I was already working in an awkward office at home, having gone freelance in 2014. It was squeezed into my bedroom in front of a wall I’d painted an ill-considered lime green in an attempt to help keep me awake and energized for work.

In spring of 2020, my daughter and my husband joined me at home. The husband turned down the guest room. So the kiddo got that for her remote classroom space while the husband perched at the homemade bar he’d built in the dining room.  

And we all tried to avoid doing something embarrassing in the background of each other’s video feeds as we inevitably had to cross paths.

I did manage to announce to the husband’s entire office that, “I actually managed to put on matching underwear today!” while the husband was unmuted during a conference call.

What did/does your home office look like? How have you managed to embarrass yourself or your family?

To submit your own story, email us at heycanwetalkaboutcovid@gmail.com. Remember, you can always ask to be anonymous.