Coronavirus prep

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  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,054 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    33gail33 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    We went back to 50% in office (20 hrs per week) back in January. We go back 100% July 1 which is the start of our new fiscal year. We have an exception form for people with kids that will be in effect until school goes back in August as summer programs for kids were very limited this year. Going forward we will have more flexibility to work from home when kids are sick and stuff like that, but otherwise WFH ends July 1.

    I've heard a few times (not sure how accurate it is) that people are saying they will quit rather than go back to the office full time.

    I can kind of see it tbh. At my work we are not paperless so it was a LOT of hassle to work fully from home - especially during the stay-at-home orders because there were people who wanted to work in the office, but only alone. So we had to work around that. Personally I went into the office every Sunday for 5 months to get some office time, and had to do pick up and drop off of files during non working hours (like at 7 AM or 9 PM).

    It would be pretty *kitten* for my company to tell employees who were bending over backwards to keep the business going that we were expected to be flexible for them, but they won't be flexible for us going forward. Doesn't sound like my firm will be doing that, but some might.

    I tentatively plan on working Monday and Friday from home, and in the office Tues through Thursday.

    About 95% of our workforce are front line workers that can't really do much remotely...they have to be here and they work directly with the public. During the throws of the pandemic most of them had to be here in person though we kept their numbers down by having them alternate some days at home, but we also had to basically give them busy work to do that wasn't necessarily directly related to their primary functions because they can't perform their primary duties remotely.

    The bulk of the people who were able to WFH are people like me who are in some kind of administrative capacity. Now that we are fully open to the public and things are moving again, our front line people have to be here...and it would be very unfair to them if management and other administration were just able to continue to WFH. I can personally do most of what I need to do from home or frankly anywhere in the world as long as I have internet...but it would be a bad look to have 95% of our workforce having to be in person and 5% of the workforce working at home.

    We are similar. Our factory hourly employees (and direct management support) have been at work all this time as an essential business. Office working from home. As you say I think we will also come back to people being back in the office.

    I used to be an auditor at a large regional CPA firm. That is definitely one industry that I could see doing away with the office. Most of the time I was in the field with my team anyway and my office days were generally pretty few. I know in some of our more expensive cities we were in (San Francisco), office space was limited to a conference room and a handful of offices that you had to check out if you needed the space...I could definitely see them doing away with in person office. They would save a ton on overhead and if you are an auditor or even a tax accountant, there's really no need this day in age to be in an office.

    But really, I think that only works with industries like that who are 100% white collar professionals.

    I agree. I do have some concerns that pressure to continue WFH, from white collar folks in mixed settings (where there's a large contingent of more blue-collar or front-line kind of workers who must be at a job site), could have some dysfunctional side effects, if WFH is used much more than previously in such settings.

    I'm thinking about management/worker disconnects over the span of my working life, which encompassed a time when (among other synergistic things) "promote from within to management" became relatively less common, and the MBA-ification of management with people who'd never done line work in the business became relatively more common. It's an oversimplification, but I think that gradual shift has resulted in somewhat poorer treatment of blue collar/front line employees as a generality, because there isn't the same level of relating or empathy. HQ distant from factories can amplify that effect, and I'm thinking much wider white collar WFH might also.

    If generally everyone can WFH, super limited exceptions, like in all-professional firms, I don't think that would be an issue (though there might be other unanticipated social effects).

    NYT had an article about this. It noted many big firms highly value corp culture and are concerned for new hires, want them in the office to experience (i.e. to be molded by) the culture. DD's 2020 summer internship with a NYC firm ended up online, and it was a meaningful work experience nonetheless. The firm's communications to interns were truly excellent re: expectation setting and values messaging. They were very clear that they wanted interns to have the NYC office experience before deciding on a full-time offer. It didn't happen, but they tried.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,195 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    Interesting change in vaccine advice - for Australia anyway.

    Interval between Covid vaccine and any other vaccine was 14 days either side.

    Has now been reduced to 7 and in exceptional circumstances can be given in under this.

    I don't know if the official advice has changed in the US yet, but I remember on TWiV recently they said that the original 2 week buffer was out of an abundance of caution as there was no data, and at this point they don't see any need. Someone had written in because they were leaving the country, had to get one vaccine before they left, but also wanted to get the covid shot because wherever they were going was having supply issues if I'm remembering correctly. And they advised him to load up.

    I don't know if it applies to covid vaccines, but when I was reading up on vaccine intervals for my shingles shots (which do, or at least did at the time, have an interval recommendation with respect to other vaccines), and wanting to figure out when I could get my seasonal flu shot and a tetanus booster that I needed, I discovered that you could get all on the same day and not have to worry about interval spacing. My recollection was that this was a general recommendation (I believe I was on the CDC site) for any vaccinations that require an interval before getting a different vaccine (not all vaccines require an interval -- my recollection is that it wouldn't have been an issue if it had just been the flu shot and the tetanus booster).

    Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor and all of the above is based on stuff I read nearly a year ago, so my memory could be off on details, although I'm confident on my main point about same-day vaccination being an option in lieu of interval spacing.


    That's because shingles vaccine is a live vaccine

    Our standard recomendation in Australia is that live vaccines can be given on same day - but if not, have a 4 week interval.

    Since flu and tetanus are not live vaccines this does not apply to them

    While Zostavax, which you use in Australia, is a live vaccine, Shingrix, what I received in the US, is not.

    Thanks. I didn't think it was, but felt pretty vague on the subject. Thanks for straightening it out.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,055 Member
    edited June 2021
    33gail33 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    We went back to 50% in office (20 hrs per week) back in January. We go back 100% July 1 which is the start of our new fiscal year. We have an exception form for people with kids that will be in effect until school goes back in August as summer programs for kids were very limited this year. Going forward we will have more flexibility to work from home when kids are sick and stuff like that, but otherwise WFH ends July 1.

    I've heard a few times (not sure how accurate it is) that people are saying they will quit rather than go back to the office full time.

    I can kind of see it tbh. At my work we are not paperless so it was a LOT of hassle to work fully from home - especially during the stay-at-home orders because there were people who wanted to work in the office, but only alone. So we had to work around that. Personally I went into the office every Sunday for 5 months to get some office time, and had to do pick up and drop off of files during non working hours (like at 7 AM or 9 PM).

    It would be pretty *kitten* for my company to tell employees who were bending over backwards to keep the business going that we were expected to be flexible for them, but they won't be flexible for us going forward. Doesn't sound like my firm will be doing that, but some might.

    I tentatively plan on working Monday and Friday from home, and in the office Tues through Thursday.

    I'd already been working remotely 100% for 9 years before the pandemic, and have no desire to ever be onsite full time again. I'm hoping employers are now much more open to it than previously.

    My employer wasn't open to it initially, but I had worked there in person for three years before I moved and he trusted me. We had another employee who worked there in person until his visa expired and he had to leave, and he became remote as well. We also had a variety of overseas freelancers who were able to access some of our resources, so our sys admin was experienced with setting people up for remote access, and we were in better shape than many companies to make the switch to all remote for the people in IT and Marketing.
  • xblosh
    xblosh Posts: 146 Member
    edited June 2021
    Home workout is one of the best solution in this pandemic ofc. Just keep the body moving and sweating hihi
  • xblosh
    xblosh Posts: 146 Member
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    33gail33 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    We went back to 50% in office (20 hrs per week) back in January. We go back 100% July 1 which is the start of our new fiscal year. We have an exception form for people with kids that will be in effect until school goes back in August as summer programs for kids were very limited this year. Going forward we will have more flexibility to work from home when kids are sick and stuff like that, but otherwise WFH ends July 1.

    I've heard a few times (not sure how accurate it is) that people are saying they will quit rather than go back to the office full time.

    I can kind of see it tbh. At my work we are not paperless so it was a LOT of hassle to work fully from home - especially during the stay-at-home orders because there were people who wanted to work in the office, but only alone. So we had to work around that. Personally I went into the office every Sunday for 5 months to get some office time, and had to do pick up and drop off of files during non working hours (like at 7 AM or 9 PM).

    It would be pretty *kitten* for my company to tell employees who were bending over backwards to keep the business going that we were expected to be flexible for them, but they won't be flexible for us going forward. Doesn't sound like my firm will be doing that, but some might.

    I tentatively plan on working Monday and Friday from home, and in the office Tues through Thursday.

    I've seen several articles stating the bloded that x% won't go back to the office. I'm sure that number will change when the employer says that's fine, I'm taking that as your resignation.

    Of course employers (in most U.S. states) are free to do that, but given widespread labor shortages, the employees are likely to have an easier time finding a new position that suits them than the employer will in finding someone to fill the vacancies if they aren't willing to offer new hires flexibility or higher wages or better benefits.

    Thing is many of the critical labor shortages are in occupations where WFH isn't an option.

    Totally aggre 100
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,526 Member
    Breaking news: AZ vaccine in Australia will only be for over 60's
    Pfizer for all under 60's
    Changed from 50 as of today.

    I presume those under 60 who have already had one dose of AZ still get their 2nd dose though

  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,305 Member
    Re the European Football as mentioned above, supporters who travel have been required to show clear covid test results before travel/attending. Travel is frowned on from the UK, the traffic light system has only one or two countries designated as green on it which means one does not have to isolate afterwards.

    I can't say I like the idea of people mixing in such large number, nor can I comment on the amount of interactions between the persons not having seen the footage. I have to accept that these supporters are screened and will probably be tested later to see what the transfer rate is/was. There have been other large gatherings which have been monitored in this way to enable a greater understanding of this "covid thing" so an idea can be gained for opening up. Needless to say, one chooses to attend, one is free to do as one wishes within the guidance.
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,459 Member
    Gisel2015 wrote: »
    Morgan Stanley CEO to NYC workers: Be back in the office by September or else (https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/16/investing/morgan-stanley-ceo-return-to-office/index.html)
    "If you can go to a restaurant in New York City, you can come into the office. And we want you in the office," Gorman said.

    It seems that not everybody is giving the workers a choice unless there are special circumstances for doing that. I am not going to comment on this subject because I am retired so my thoughts really don't count in the matter. I am just posting this information based on the comments written by many members.

    Changing the subject: My husband and I had to run some errands today, the first day after California re-open and I noticed a discrepancy between what is allowed and what people are really doing.

    Doctor's office: everybody (staff and patients) wearing masks. No exception, as listed in the health orders.
    Restaurant: nobody (staff or patrons) wearing masks, but indoor tables were not too busy and people were choosing tables that were further apart. It was too hot to even think about eating outside.
    Sketchers Store: All employees were masked, and the same with some patrons, while others were very happy to show their mask-less faces.
    Home Depot: all the employees were wearing mask, but some patrons were not, while most of them were masked. What a mix!

    I don't know if the people wearing masks were being careful or were not vaccinated, but everybody was very civilized. No funny looks or comments.

    I did wear my mask in the stores, but my husband was not. He was happy to be able to wear his hearing aid without the risk of losing it again. It seems that glasses, hearing aids, and the strap of the mask don’t work very well together.

    When I was sewing masks, one style was different from anything sold. One friend saw them and asked for some specifically because of the issue with his earring aids and them getting pulled out.

    @kshama2001 DD and SIL used to live in NYC and SIL worked for a very large company. Two years ago, they moved to the Boston area and SIL transferred to the Boston office. Same company, same job, same responsibilities but pay was cut. For that well known company, Boston pay is lower than NYC due to the expense of living in NYC. Though from pre-COVID that parallels the current position of the Morgan Stanley CEO.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,055 Member
    SModa61 wrote: »
    Gisel2015 wrote: »
    Morgan Stanley CEO to NYC workers: Be back in the office by September or else (https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/16/investing/morgan-stanley-ceo-return-to-office/index.html)
    "If you can go to a restaurant in New York City, you can come into the office. And we want you in the office," Gorman said.

    It seems that not everybody is giving the workers a choice unless there are special circumstances for doing that. I am not going to comment on this subject because I am retired so my thoughts really don't count in the matter. I am just posting this information based on the comments written by many members.

    Changing the subject: My husband and I had to run some errands today, the first day after California re-open and I noticed a discrepancy between what is allowed and what people are really doing.

    Doctor's office: everybody (staff and patients) wearing masks. No exception, as listed in the health orders.
    Restaurant: nobody (staff or patrons) wearing masks, but indoor tables were not too busy and people were choosing tables that were further apart. It was too hot to even think about eating outside.
    Sketchers Store: All employees were masked, and the same with some patrons, while others were very happy to show their mask-less faces.
    Home Depot: all the employees were wearing mask, but some patrons were not, while most of them were masked. What a mix!

    I don't know if the people wearing masks were being careful or were not vaccinated, but everybody was very civilized. No funny looks or comments.

    I did wear my mask in the stores, but my husband was not. He was happy to be able to wear his hearing aid without the risk of losing it again. It seems that glasses, hearing aids, and the strap of the mask don’t work very well together.

    When I was sewing masks, one style was different from anything sold. One friend saw them and asked for some specifically because of the issue with his earring aids and them getting pulled out.

    @kshama2001 DD and SIL used to live in NYC and SIL worked for a very large company. Two years ago, they moved to the Boston area and SIL transferred to the Boston office. Same company, same job, same responsibilities but pay was cut. For that well known company, Boston pay is lower than NYC due to the expense of living in NYC. Though from pre-COVID that parallels the current position of the Morgan Stanley CEO.

    Yes, I did not mean to compare Boston salaries directly to NYC, but Boston to South Florida, and then agreeing that getting a NYC salary means suffering the inconveniences and expenses of living in or commuting to NYC :)
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,887 Member
    edited June 2021
    SModa61 wrote: »
    Gisel2015 wrote: »
    Morgan Stanley CEO to NYC workers: Be back in the office by September or else (https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/16/investing/morgan-stanley-ceo-return-to-office/index.html)
    "If you can go to a restaurant in New York City, you can come into the office. And we want you in the office," Gorman said.

    It seems that not everybody is giving the workers a choice unless there are special circumstances for doing that. I am not going to comment on this subject because I am retired so my thoughts really don't count in the matter. I am just posting this information based on the comments written by many members.

    Changing the subject: My husband and I had to run some errands today, the first day after California re-open and I noticed a discrepancy between what is allowed and what people are really doing.

    Doctor's office: everybody (staff and patients) wearing masks. No exception, as listed in the health orders.
    Restaurant: nobody (staff or patrons) wearing masks, but indoor tables were not too busy and people were choosing tables that were further apart. It was too hot to even think about eating outside.
    Sketchers Store: All employees were masked, and the same with some patrons, while others were very happy to show their mask-less faces.
    Home Depot: all the employees were wearing mask, but some patrons were not, while most of them were masked. What a mix!

    I don't know if the people wearing masks were being careful or were not vaccinated, but everybody was very civilized. No funny looks or comments.

    I did wear my mask in the stores, but my husband was not. He was happy to be able to wear his hearing aid without the risk of losing it again. It seems that glasses, hearing aids, and the strap of the mask don’t work very well together.

    When I was sewing masks, one style was different from anything sold. One friend saw them and asked for some specifically because of the issue with his earring aids and them getting pulled out.

    @kshama2001 DD and SIL used to live in NYC and SIL worked for a very large company. Two years ago, they moved to the Boston area and SIL transferred to the Boston office. Same company, same job, same responsibilities but pay was cut. For that well known company, Boston pay is lower than NYC due to the expense of living in NYC. Though from pre-COVID that parallels the current position of the Morgan Stanley CEO.

    Yeah, that's normal. For example, large law firms normally pay the same starting salary as their perceived competitors within the city, not over the various cities the firms are operating in, even though they usually have a bunch of different offices.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    There are also regional pay differentials in federal service. There's a basic pay rate per position, and it is increased depending on where your job is located. It can actually be a huge difference in pay from place to place. And that's part of the compensation for working in particular areas. If it's more expensive to live there or commute there, then you are compensated for that.
  • SModa61
    SModa61 Posts: 3,459 Member
    To the topic of working "for" and company in one state, but "working from home" from another. I wonder what complicating factors there may be with the IRS.