Last week, prior to a meeting, I was part of a most interesting discussion. The fact that it was a hybrid meeting, and that I was attending the in person part, actually led into the discussion.
We got to talking about working remotely (usually at home) versus working at the office. It seemed to be about a 50/50 split among those taking part in the meeting. The discussion centered mainly around the effect and/or impact on the worker, rather than on the company. There were also discussions relating to pre-, during, and post- Covid, and how the situations were different.
Now for myself, I had retired pre-Covid and as such have been “working” at home, which, for me, is certainly not considered remote. As such, my experiences and thoughts were of course different from the others.
Once the pandemic began, quite a number of companies, in effect, closed down their on-site operations. Some were hands on workplaces, so this meant that employees were laid off. However the majority were office type workplaces, and while closing their physical spaces, various arrangements were made for employees to continue to work, in most cases, from home.
Now it seems, as Covid has passed (??), a good number of organizations are wanting their employees to return to the office while others say working from home is “doing the job” (pun intended). Then there are those organizations which are adopting a hybrid solution and having their employees go to the office two or three days a week and work from home the remainder of time.
Judging by the various reactions, some workers like the thought of returning to the office, some are ambivalent, while others are against it. And, it seems that there are some good reasons, and thoughts, behind each of these options.
During our discussions one person mentioned that although they like working at home they did miss the interaction of having co-workers around. He mentioned that the casual chat which often occurs while working had, from time to time, resulted in an “ah-ha” type of moment as he was working on a document or project.
Interestingly enough, both in-office workers and remote workers provided comments about having, at times, a disruptive environment. Either from co-worker activities or from child/dog/spouse activities. For instance, in my case, Otis the cat demanding to be fed. (Be assured, he can be quite disruptive.)
What are your thoughts or experiences? Do you prefer working at the office, at home, or some combination of both. Share in the comments please.
Now, to some who know me, that would be considered a dangerous thing.
Perhaps not, today anyway. However it has been an interesting thing for me. A bit interesting that is. You see, it’s a holiday Monday, here in Alberta it’s called Family Day.
One might imagine that due to the day, I would be thinking about family, and I did a little, however my main thinking has been about my retirement, and some of the factors which have been affecting it.
It is no surprise that topping the list has been COVID. I use capital letters here because that was the way it arrived. Now it has become more like #@&%*$ Covid.
For millions of people, the ramifications of Covid threw the proverbial monkey wrench into the system. My thinking today is more limited to retired folks, because I are one.
Back in late 2018 I retired for the final time, and yes, I even had plans. More than just plans, they were being put into practice.
For a good portion of the winter I would be in Malaysia, based at our apartment, spending time with family, friends and just doing some traveling around. My wife Kim would join me for part of the time as she was still working. The late spring, summer and early autumn would involve quite a bit of time on my motorcycle, going on rides with mates and fellow veterans, or just by myself touring around Alberta. On the weekends my wife and I would relax and travel around a bit, as well as being involved in weekend motorcycle and other community events.
For 2019 most went according to plan. I spent three months in Malaysia, Kim with me for a month. Summer saw some 6000 kilometres put on the bike and we were involved in various activities most every weekend. Right up to the end of the year we took part in both Kiwanis and veterans events. Life was doing okay.
2020 started out quite well, however there seemed to be ominous rumblings. Mid February Kim and I were off to Malaysia for six weeks. For the first three weeks we were joined by our daughter and her husband from Edmonton. For me this was a big event as she would meet her two sisters in Malaysia, in person for the very first time. (If you have been following my blog posts over the years you’ll know we have a blended family.)
After we arrived, the ominous rumblings increased, and people started talking about this Covid thing. The first three weeks went well, daughter and her husband headed home, and the rumblings increased. After another week they were more than rumblings and we reluctantly made the decision to err on the side of caution and headed back to Edmonton ten days earlier than planned.
Turns out, it was a good decision, as air traffic was essentially shut down shortly after we got home. We had to do our two week quarantine and then Kim was laid off as her workplace was shut down (only for about three months it turned out).
I’m sure that everyone is pretty familiar with what followed for the remainder of 2020 and basically all of 2021, so I’ll just talk about how this affected the retirement thing.
Now is a good time to touch on another factor affecting retirement, that being my health. I have always had a pretty robust immune system, however I have had some mobility issues, particularly in the last ten years. I was diagnosed with a bad hip and the decision was made to put me on the list for a total hip replacement. For those who have experienced this, it is an interesting process. Immediately I was scheduled for a whole battery of tests, including, but not limited to x-rays, heart tests, lung tests, dental tests, nervous systems tests, and more. These are all intended to determine if I was suitable for surgery.
All the tests were completed, however our friend Covid had laid a beating on all scheduled surgeries. Then, towards the end of 2021, I was notified to expect surgery in January 2022. About the same time I received a small injury to my lower leg and it was slow healing, which they thought likely due to me being diabetic. Injury, small or not, has a risk of infection, hence the surgery was cancelled.
Turned out that over the years I have developed poor circulation in my lower legs, causing my legs to be discoloured, and have extremally thin skin, which can be easily abrased, and any wounds would be very slow healing. Following that determination, there came extensive treatment by the wound clinic and home health care (kudos and thanks to these awesome medical professionals). End result, I will now be wearing compression stockings for the remainder of my time.
Good news is, the surgeon seems happy with my condition now and I may be looking at surgery in April of this year. After still more tests of course.
Now, back to this retirement thing.
Of course, any social activity had become a non-starter during 2020, so it was just me, or Kim and I, for the majority of the time. With my hip issues, I made the change from two wheels to three and bought a trike to ride. This made Kim happy and she now rode with me quite a bit. Between the two bikes I managed to put on over 8000 kilometres in 2020. As well the weather was helpful as Kim and I had our last ride of the year the first week of December. Throughout the year our riding was mostly solo. On the odd occasion we rode with others, whenever stopped we would be outside and maintain the suggested two metre distance.
For 2021, social activity remained at a minimum. Kim would go to work and get groceries, being masked and maintaining her distance at all times. Basically I would just stay home, so much that even Otis the cat was getting tired of me. Between the weather, a blown radiator and my leg issues, less than 4000 kilometres was accomplished on the bike. Veterans gatherings were almost nonexistent, while Kiwanis took on an extremely low profile.
2022 was more of the same, however we were starting to get out for our weekly dim sum, socially distanced of course. For me, I think Otis was starting to maybe like having me around, or not. He’s a cat so go figure. Very little riding this year, only about 4000 kilometres again. For my legs they were doing regular appointments as well as home care, so I had to be cautious and was not able to plan much. Come summer our veterans group was having weekly gatherings once more, however they were socially distanced in a parking lot. Oh well, at least we were getting together. Then in the fall, we were able to get together, actually inside. With some of our members being immune compromised, they were not comfortable attending. For Kiwanis, meetings were by Zoom only.
In September, we were lucky enough to add a vehicle to our garage. Defined as a Classic is our 1999 Mercedes SLK 230 sports car. For the next couple of months it was able to steal a few thousand kilometres from the trike, however they seem to get along well anyway. The nice thing is that it expands our ability to have some fun travel, day runs on the trike and longer with the Merc.
So now, here we are in 2023.
Soon it will be three years since we have seen our daughters and grandchildren in Malaysia. Otis and I have held down the home front with me getting out of the house for a few hours averaging one day a week. On occasion maybe two. Right now, this is retirement for me… my house. What day of the week is it? Oh it must be the weekend because Kim is home on Saturday and half of Sunday, and sometimes on a holiday (she works most holidays).
But, things are looking up. As I mentioned, possible surgery in April. Late last year I had a coffee with a friend, then with another friend in January, and now one tomorrow, this with a regular coffee mate from before Covid, but now for the first time in about two years or so. The two “summer rides” are resting in the garage, awaiting Spring and the opportunity to get out and about. An increased level of activity with Kiwanis is being contemplated. Our veterans group is getting together more often. And… we hope to be back in Malaysia about a year from now.
So… the retirement thing, what’s it all about. My experiences have been up and down, back and forth, good and bad. Well, that’s what life is, not only for me, but for every person experiencing the retirement thing. We are all different, not better or worse. All unique!
I’ve thrown a bit of light on my retirement thing, how is yours going?
Want to share? Please do! It would be great to hear from you.
Back in June, I wrote a blog post about not going to work sick. In Avoid Going To Work Sick I spoke of how both Kim and I were sick as a result of her coworkers coming to work sick.
For a number of years, Kim has worked two jobs (because that’s what she likes to do) and about ten days ago a coworker at her primary job came to work sick, coughing, hacking, sniffing and so on. It was suggested that they go home so as not to spread it, however they refused to do so. As a result, Kim and a couple others caught it, resulting in Kim missing several days of work, from both jobs.
Early this week she was feeling pretty good, having got over most of the aftereffects of the illness. Two days ago, while at her second job, one of her coworkers came in coughing, hacking, you know the drill. Suggested they go home, refused to do so.
Now, once again, Kim is sick, already missing work at her secondary job, and most likely to miss work at her primary job if it doesn’t clear up in the next day or so.
We have also learned that at least two more people from her secondary job are now off work sick as well.
So… who is affected by all this.
About half a dozen employees are now missing work (translated – income). Two employers are having to juggle workers or have their businesses run short of staff, resulting in lack of production or possible loss of business, both of which impact their bottom line.
Then we have the ripple effect, with different issues created in the workers families, particularly should they get sick as well.
When I was an employer for a good number of years, I would have my employees stay home for a day or two when sick. As an employer, there are different ways to make sure the employee did not suffer hardships for missed time. I felt that to be better than having a larger portion of my company absent simultaneously. And I guess I was a good employer, as my employees always seemed to agree.
Today however, even with good employers, that is quite often not the case.
The whole issue really pisses me off. Hence this blog post, and my request.
I have been stewing on this thought for quite a while and today is the day to get it expressed.
We hear, seemingly nonstop, about the different generations, Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z and so on. We could just as well refer to them as Gen “Pick A Letter”.
Regardless of all this, I seriously believe we have transitioned, en masse, into Gen “Finger Pointers”.
It seems that, irrespective of what transpires, it’s somebody else’s fault. Whether it be politics, a work situation, highway traffic, a social event, or any other happening. If it’s not perfect it’s always another person’s fault, never our own.
Immediately, the finger gets wagging and pointing, indicating it’s their fault and they damn well better make it right. Seldom any thought process, seldom any discussion, simply a directive, perhaps even an ultimatum.
We seem to have lost the ability to give, and receive, constructive critiques. Gone somewhere is the act of discussion, thought sharing, working together, and compromise.
Now, these things are not lost forever, and are even still utilized by a good number of people.
However, in a great many circumstances, individuals need to demonstrate how good, or worthy, they are by indicating how terrible, useless or ineffective are those who may disagree with them or have an opposing view. Kind of like road rage being displayed in so many diverse venues.
For instance, this thought process as it is displayed in politics becomes an exercise in pointing out how bad the opposition is and why you should not vote for them, rather than showing how good I am and why you should vote for me.
For business, it is, our competitors perform poorly, lead you astray and just take your money, rather than let us have the opportunity to work with you to help benefit and improve your productivity and sales.
Is there a cure for this malaise? Can it be overcome? What is needed?
Yes, and yes. An effort by all of us to refrain from the finger pointing, refrain from the often automatic negative approach.
Let each of us work together, for the benefit of all and the betterment of our communities.
It is seriously my hope that the pendulum will swing back and many aspects of life will become more civil.
Well, it has been, once again, a while since I have been active with my Wee Internet Empire, or much else for that matter.
A good part of the reason was that my wife and I were sick, unpleasantly sick, for about ten days or so.
Fortunately, it was not Covid (or it’s variants), however the symptoms and immediate effects were much the same. As a result, we isolated in the house for the duration.
For me, as I’m retired, isolating was to some degree merely an inconvenience, not being able to ride and missing a couple of veterans get-togethers. For Kim, it meant missing work on both of her jobs which was not great, however by staying home she was able to deal with the illness and return to work in reasonable time with much better health.
Now comes the reason for this blog post.
Earlier, at one of Kim’s workplaces, one of the employees became ill. They came to work, were advised that, if sick, they should go home. They did not. The next day, that person and another co-worker were sick. It was suggested to both that they go home. They did not. The third day, not long after starting work, Kim felt unwell. She informed the employer and came home, not to return for ten days. During that time period, almost all who worked there became sick, making Kim leery about returning too early.
The aspect of all this, which pisses me off, is those who insist on going to work sick, particularly with the possibility we have had for the past couple of years, that it could be quite serious, perhaps Covid or it’s Delta or Omicron variants.
From all medical related levels, we have been advised that, if we were sick, particularly with certain specific issues, we should stay home, to look after ourselves and protect those with whom we worked.
The failure of people to follow this action is a point of frustration for me and hence generated my thought process for this wee rant.
Of course, this is my opinion, one that not all may agree with, and that is fine. When I had my own businesses, this is what I expressed to my employees and our relationships were such that we had no issues.
Thanks, once again, for reading. Your feedback is always appreciated.
Tonight I’m at work, for the first time in 2017. Some of you know where I work, others do not.
It is, or at least it can be, an interesting place where I work. You see, I’m in jail. Since the summer of 2012 I have worked as a casual guard in the cellblock of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Detachment in Strathcona County (just east of Edmonton).
Casual means that I get called to fill in for the regular guards when needed, such as holidays, illness and so on. We work twelve hour shifts, 6 to 6, either days or nights.
So what do I do. Here is a brief overview. When an individual is arrested, they are brought to the cellblock to be dealt with. I do the booking process, then typically they are given the opportunity to make a phone call after which they are placed in a cell while the RCMP member looks after all the legal stuff, which may include interviews, charges, justice of the peace hearings, breathalyzer and such. Whatever the case, at some point (within twenty-four hours) they are released or transported to the Edmonton Remand Centre or Edmonton Young Offender Centre.
My primary task is to record all that happens while the prisoner is in the cellblock, which includes monitoring them while in their cell on a regular basis (intervals of fifteen minutes or less). This is done by a combination of physically looking in the cell and video.
The regular guards of course have more duties, as they are Peace Officers with Strathcona County Enforcement Services, whilst I, as casual, am not.
So what is it like to work here? Well, as noted above, the word “interesting” comes to mind, however there are times when “interesting” could not even begin to describe events. We deal with over 1200 prisoners per year, from public intoxication to domestic disputes to drugs to murder, and much more in between. They can be male or female, range in age from pre-teen to eighty something, and can include every personality one could imagine (and then some). It can be positively quiet, or it can be brutally noisy. It can be slow, boring even, or it can be frustratingly busy. Can’t honestly say it is ever peaceful, however it can be totally aggravating.
So why do I work here. Because it’s a job? Just for the money? There are times when I wonder that myself. One reason in my mind is the RCMP members here. I am proud to have worked with the men and women at this detachment over the past four and a half years. They are people just like the rest of us, however as police officers they frequently deal with aspects of society that most of us would prefer to avoid, or perhaps not even acknowledge. Are they perfect – no. Do they do their best – for the most part yes. Do I always agree with them – no. Do I respect them – yes.
So there you go, a few thoughts about where this retired guy works. How long will I work here. Who knows. The joy of being retired is I work when I want to work and will work until I no longer want to.
Thanks for reading. As always, feedback is welcome.
Richard's Ramblings 