Can DC physically handle the RTO?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course DC can handle it. Until the last few years, everyone went to the office 5 days a week. And, many private companies are not going back to 5 days a week. I know my law firm is staying at a recommended 3 days in office, although most people are back ~4. It will still be well below pre-pandemic levels. DC, metro included, will adjust, just like it adjusted down in the early days of the pandemic. 5 days in an office was the reality for many of us for decades of our working life. It is not impossible for people or for governments to handle this.

That’s not true. Remote work is not a new thing at all. Ask any employment lawyer when they started writing remote work policies for clients. There were remote workers in the 1980s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be great if DOGE had a study on missed work, cost of commuters missing work due to traffic, having to use sick leave, etc. I know in my office, most all of us will not sign up for situational telework, which now will only be granted at behest of the Govt, ie snow days, other events.

LOL...DOGE doing a study to assess impacts. LOL. I know you said that in jest.

No wonder Twitter is going under.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have worked in DC since 2001. I think the city and metro can handle it. What has changed since the early 2000s is where people live. Back then, I lived in Greenbelt because it was on the Green line and living near a metro was important since my commute was a big part of my life. Now, my junior colleagues live a similar distance away, but not near metro stops, so they will have to drive. Metro parking lots back then were packed and you couldn’t get a spot if you got there after 8:00. I bet they will be full again.

I'll miss having my local Metro parking lot empty. On occasion, I'd use it instead of walking (if I needed to get to the office or if very bad weather).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course DC can handle it. Until the last few years, everyone went to the office 5 days a week. And, many private companies are not going back to 5 days a week. I know my law firm is staying at a recommended 3 days in office, although most people are back ~4. It will still be well below pre-pandemic levels. DC, metro included, will adjust, just like it adjusted down in the early days of the pandemic. 5 days in an office was the reality for many of us for decades of our working life. It is not impossible for people or for governments to handle this.

That’s not true. Remote work is not a new thing at all. Ask any employment lawyer when they started writing remote work policies for clients. There were remote workers in the 1980s.

DP. My earliest memories include my dad talking into a dictaphone on the sofa at night. People have always, always, worked at home to some degree, to make life work.

[Anonymous]

Folks need to embrace the bus more. And we need more routes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Folks need to embrace the bus more. And we need more routes.

I had to rely on a bus for a few years, it was a farce. Resorted to slugging for a short period then moved and started driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Folks need to embrace the bus more. And we need more routes.

Issue is, bus are unfrequent. You may get off the clock at 3pm, but bus comes at 310 and you can't get there, so now you wait till 410, etc. totally not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Folks need to embrace the bus more. And we need more routes.

Did the bus for years. The bus is unreliable, can be totally full, and is often gross. Metro is vaguely better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s all going to have to melt down in front of their eyes if we have any hope of being allowed some telework flexibilities.

And for Muriel Bowser: be careful what you wish for.

Honestly screw her too. All this blathering about supporting DC businesses when she’s done nothing to crack down on the out of control crime in DC. Sure, I’m going to risk my life getting a sandwich. My friend’s agency literally told them not to leave the office between certain hours due to crime from kids getting out of school.

I don’t buy a damn thing in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks need to embrace the bus more. And we need more routes.

I had to rely on a bus for a few years, it was a farce. Resorted to slugging for a short period then moved and started driving.

Busses in DC have improved. But maybe slugging will make a comeback too!

[Anonymous]

Yes just like before Covid. Traffic will suck but you knew that already. It always has and always will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes just like before Covid. Traffic will suck but you knew that already. It always has and always will.

True but most agencies had some telework. For example mine allowed two days a week for years before Covid, as did my husband’s agency. So that got a number of commuters off the road on any given day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s all going to have to melt down in front of their eyes if we have any hope of being allowed some telework flexibilities.

And for Muriel Bowser: be careful what you wish for.

Honestly screw her too. All this blathering about supporting DC businesses when she’s done nothing to crack down on the out of control crime in DC. Sure, I’m going to risk my life getting a sandwich. My friend’s agency literally told them not to leave the office between certain hours due to crime from kids getting out of school.

I don’t buy a damn thing in DC.

News is already reporting Musk’s next hyper fixation is taking over GSA and cutting all the federal office space. FAFO, Muriel. No one is actually coming back downtown, but enjoy losing even more of your tax base if Musks succeeds in firing everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Folks need to embrace the bus more. And we need more routes.

You can't use the bus if you have a set time to clock in. It's rarely on time and when it's too delayed you end up watching a full bus pass your stop. There's also additional drama not seen on the metro such as delays involving the driver arguing with a vagrant over not paying, doubling back to a missed stop, or getting into an accident.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s all going to have to melt down in front of their eyes if we have any hope of being allowed some telework flexibilities.

And for Muriel Bowser: be careful what you wish for.

Honestly screw her too. All this blathering about supporting DC businesses when she’s done nothing to crack down on the out of control crime in DC. Sure, I’m going to risk my life getting a sandwich. My friend’s agency literally told them not to leave the office between certain hours due to crime from kids getting out of school.

I don’t buy a damn thing in DC.

News is already reporting Musk’s next hyper fixation is taking over GSA and cutting all the federal office space. FAFO, Muriel. No one is actually coming back downtown, but enjoy losing even more of your tax base if Musks succeeds in firing everyone.

Elon is a weirdo but at least he seems to quickly lose interest and move on to the next thing. And yes, evidently the agency I support’s building is on a list for sale.