Return to work- fed edition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just had the meeting about re-entry and I discovered that many in my office are very very very cautious, to the extent that it appears it is going to be drama. Like the office is going beyond CDC guidelines, and there are still people freaking out. I was fine going in until I realized a significant chunk of people are going to be covid neurotics.

On the plus side, we are allowed to say "I have allergies" and just telework always.

My husband is a teacher and had this meeting before his private school went back. By the third week, the same people screaming about the air exchange rate in the bathroom were eating maskless in groups indoors (prevaccines). They will calm down once it doesn’t get them what they want.

+1000 Also when they realize that everyone doesn't immediately drop dead.
IMHO the first step toward unmasking will be hardest, and the rest will follow pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just had the meeting about re-entry and I discovered that many in my office are very very very cautious, to the extent that it appears it is going to be drama. Like the office is going beyond CDC guidelines, and there are still people freaking out. I was fine going in until I realized a significant chunk of people are going to be covid neurotics.

On the plus side, we are allowed to say "I have allergies" and just telework always.

My husband is a teacher and had this meeting before his private school went back. By the third week, the same people screaming about the air exchange rate in the bathroom were eating maskless in groups indoors (prevaccines). They will calm down once it doesn’t get them what they want.

+1000 Also when they realize that everyone doesn't immediately drop dead.
IMHO the first step toward unmasking will be hardest, and the rest will follow pretty quickly.

I just want the freaked-out people to get over it before I have to interact with them. I'm a parent with school-aged kids so I've dealt enough with people freaked out by covid. It's been and still is really unpleasant and has led to ending of friendships as well as some strife wrt schools. I don't have time for that.

[Anonymous]

SEC has pushed back the return until June 6th at the earliest.

[Anonymous]

Will they take the Metros current situation in to account?

[Anonymous]

FCC isn’t saying anything.

[Anonymous]

FBI is starting 3/14 although many have been in person the entire time.

[Anonymous]

IRS Chief Counsel said phased back to the office mid-April to mid-May. Many are eligible for 4x a week telework, the rest are eligible for 3x a week in a pilot that will last 6 months from reentry. Finding that a tad confusing given we’ve successfully teleworked for 2 years.

[Anonymous]

With so many families with small kids they should really wait until there is a vaccine for under 5. What's the friggin rush?

[Anonymous]

I'm really annoyed that everything is getting delayed. I paid for aftercare for my kids when I thought they were going back in January. They're old enough to entertain themselves completely while I work in my office, but not old enough to be home alone. I really would like to be back in my office.

[Anonymous]

I think the “return to normal” is going to become a political issue this year, before the midterms. There will be a rush to get feds back into the office in the hopes others will follow. Just saying this based on how fast mask mandates are being dropped and returning to the office will help Dems looking for something to run on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the “return to normal” is going to become a political issue this year, before the midterms. There will be a rush to get feds back into the office in the hopes others will follow. Just saying this based on how fast mask mandates are being dropped and returning to the office will help Dems looking for something to run on.

Just saw a news article about Republicans sponsoring Return to Office Act to force federal agencies to revert to pre-pandemic telework policies. I’ve been applying to federal jobs, but it definitely gave me pause. In my current position (not a fed), we have been super efficient and productive teleworking. It probably helps that we have a small staff, but it seems draconian to go back to 2019 telework policies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With so many families with small kids they should really wait until there is a vaccine for under 5. What's the friggin rush?

Not sure how not having a vaccine for those under 5 affects the parent's ability to telework vs. going into the office? Serious question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With so many families with small kids they should really wait until there is a vaccine for under 5. What's the friggin rush?

Not sure how not having a vaccine for those under 5 affects the parent's ability to telework vs. going into the office? Serious question.

I am not PP but I know people who are worried about brining covid home to their unvaccinated children or other vulnerable relatives.

I work in person. Despite the vaccine mandate and mask mandate, I do have co-workers who are unvaccinated, and mask use is pretty sloppy. My boss just wears a bandana. It was definitely something I worried about when my (age 5-11) kids were unvaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With so many families with small kids they should really wait until there is a vaccine for under 5. What's the friggin rush?

Not sure how not having a vaccine for those under 5 affects the parent's ability to telework vs. going into the office? Serious question.

I am not PP but I know people who are worried about brining covid home to their unvaccinated children or other vulnerable relatives.

I work in person. Despite the vaccine mandate and mask mandate, I do have co-workers who are unvaccinated, and mask use is pretty sloppy. My boss just wears a bandana. It was definitely something I worried about when my (age 5-11) kids were unvaccinated.

I'm not an anxious parent who is concerned about my kid getting sick with covid. I just care about loosing daycare. I don't want to bring home covid or even an non-covid illness and loose up to 10 days of daycare. Once the rules relax, I will feel better about going to the office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the “return to normal” is going to become a political issue this year, before the midterms. There will be a rush to get feds back into the office in the hopes others will follow. Just saying this based on how fast mask mandates are being dropped and returning to the office will help Dems looking for something to run on.

Just saw a news article about Republicans sponsoring Return to Office Act to force federal agencies to revert to pre-pandemic telework policies. I’ve been applying to federal jobs, but it definitely gave me pause. In my current position (not a fed), we have been super efficient and productive teleworking. It probably helps that we have a small staff, but it seems draconian to go back to 2019 telework policies.

Is this true??? I really don't want non-essential vehicles on the road ever again. It seems ridiculous to force people back into the office... People need to start saying no in great numbers.