Returning to the Office

My company sent out an email in May stating we would not be expected to return to the office before September 8th.

Two weeks ago, they sent out an employee survey regarding returning to work. Now today, they sent out another email stating we would not be expected to return to the office before January 1, 2021.

I am curious what other companies are doing?

My company is based on Long Island and is considered an essential business.

Message edited 7/17/2020 1:50:40 PM.

Re: Returning to the Office

I have no idea because they aren't telling us anything anymore.
They opened one office in Virginia- because it's headquarters and that's it. Dead stop.

But my question is- what makes them think January 1 2021 will be any safer? In the dead of winter and height of sickness season?
I feel like everyone has the year 2021 as some magical unicorn where life will magically go back to normal.
It's all just the year 2020. It's a bad year. Wait for 2021 then we'll be fine.

Returning to the Office

We were allowed to return to group 2 days a week in June (either M-T or W-Th). We were given arrival times to check in and only 1/2 of the group was going to be there at a time.

Our group opted to stay home since it seemed more trouble than it was worth. Right now we are staying home until the kids go back to school or until we feel comfortable returning.

Re: Returning to the Office

We've been back in the office since 6/22 on rotating schedules. Broken into 4 groups and each group works one week a month in the office and then three weeks from home. We have staggered start times and do the whole temperature check and fill out a health questionnaire each time we go in.

We can go in more frequently if there is something we need to be in the office for, but need to ask permission to make sure we stay under the capacity allowed.

We found out a few days before they were re-opening the office when we would be going back. We have no idea how long we will be working like this....communication with their employees is not one of their strong points!

Returning to the Office

My company is based in Chicago, but has offices all over the US. We are an essential business. The NY offices were never "closed", but we were encouraged to work from home- which everyone did, but maybe 1 or 2 people went in 4/5 days a week. We are now open, but still encouraged to stay home. Now, it's more like 5-8 people in office 4/5 days a week. (The main NY office has probably 40 employees). We haven't been given a date that anyone has to come back. It's entirely feasible that almost everyone in our company could work remotely permanently- but I know they won't do that.

*My cousin lives/works in PA. She was remote until last week- they put them on a rotating schedule of 2 days per week. She worked those two days and now with #s rising there, they are back to 100% remote.

Re: Returning to the Office

I work at an essential business, and our offices have been open the entire time, but they are encouraging anyone that is able to work from home, to stay home. I don't see that changing for a while.
I'll be working from home even after the "all clear" is given, just to be on the cautious side of things.

Returning to the Office

Essential worker- been back full time since the first week in May.

Re: Returning to the Office

Returning to the Office

My husband works for an essential business. It’s a large, international company. They just reopened offices this week at 25% capacity but they are encouraging everyone to continue to work from home. His coworker said there were only two people in the building today.

My brother in law works at google and will work from home until at least January.

My brother in law is a lawyer at a big firm in NYC and will be home until at least January.

My father in law works for as an electrical engineer for the government and will be home until at least January as well.

Everyone else in my family is essential (nypd,medical, military, grocery) and have worked the entire time.

Message edited 7/17/2020 2:28:11 PM.

Returning to the Office

My FIL works for NYtimes they aren’t expected back until sometime in January

Returning to the Office

I work in an office of about 90 people. We are an essential business so we never fully shut down but most were able to work from home the majority of the time.
Since mid-June we have been encouraged to come in as long as no more than 30% of us were in the building at the same time.
In the last week, they said up to 50% of employees could be in the building. I come in about 4 times a week but may only work 10-2 and the rest from home.
I have coworkers in my group that have only been in for 10-15 minutes to stop by and grab paperwork.
I would say on average there are about 35 people in on any day.
I do feel like people think 2021 is going to be the magic date for everything to go back to normal- lol!

Re: Returning to the Office

I am back in the office, in Manhattan. We came back June 22.

I am downtown and I feel the city is still pretty empty. I commute via express bus and there hasn't been more than 10 on any bus since I've been back.

Re: Returning to the Office

Wow there is going to be some traffic come January 2021.

Returning to the Office

I work for an essential business and am considered an essential employee. I have been WFH since mid-March. We were told this week that they are returning people in phases. Phase 1 goes back July 30th, Phase 2 August 27th and Phase 3 September 24th. I am part of Phase 3, so as of right now (assuming things don't backslide, I go back Sept 24th

Returning to the Office

I've been working from home since mid-March. They said we don't have to be back until Sept 1 but since my office doesn't work directly with students (I'm at a university), we probably won't have to go back before Jan 1. Depending on what's going on then, we might just keep working from home.

Re: Returning to the Office

I work for a very large bank in the city (at my office location, there are 275 people on my floor). We have all been home since mid-March. They told us that no one would be allowed to come back before September 7th and that they would give us 30 days notice before we were expected to return. I would be surprised if they sent us back in September.

Re: Returning to the Office

My company is also essential and is on LI.
We worked remotely for the past 3 months; with the exception of maybe 10 people coming in every day.

We had to return last Monday, 7/6.

Have to wear a mask when walking to a common area; but not necessary at your desk.

Hand sanitizers are everywhere as well as cleaning supplies. The woman who sits up front has a thermometer. For anyone who walks in, she has to take it.

Re: Returning to the Office

Returning to the Office

We are being told beg of Sept but no definitive date. The were only allowing 2 people in the office at any given time since we all started to work from home. This week they started allowing 10 but you had to request permission. They already told us they won't force us if we don't feel comfortable.

Re: Returning to the Office

We were told not until next year. Until I know what will happen with my kids school/childcare, going in isn’t even an option. So I guess it will be re-evaluated on both ends in Jan.

I worked remotely 2 days a week prior to covid and my company is all working from home.

I don’t expect to ever go back exactly as before. I think more people will do 2-3 days a week from home and the company will seek to reduce real estate expense. Several of my coworkers have moved to Philly. We may even start offering more 100% virtual positions.

Re: Returning to the Office

My company is small...5 employees and 1 boss. 2 employees and the boss continued to work from the office while the other 3 worked from home. One of those employees came back in July. The other 2 will work from home indefinitely.

Returning to the Office

I have no idea if we are ever going back. My office has around 100 people. Around 10 people have been rotating in the office for functions that can’t be done at home.(mine is fully functional from home) I think they are trying to shift to WFH forever, which is fine with me. Then they can look for a smaller office For the functions that can’t be done remotely and that will be the end of it.

Re: Returning to the Office

I work for a large essential business. Anyone who can work remotely, including me, is doing so and will likely continue through at least the fall. Based on my responsibilities though, this month I have started going to certain locations 1-2 times per week. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m mostly working from home through the end of the year. DH will be working remotely until September and he expects that to be extended until at least January.

Re: Returning to the Office

My firm reopened when phase 2 opened. We are back at 50% capacity and go in groups (MWF or T, Th). However, if you want to work from home can. There is really no hard and fast rule at this point. I can tell you judging from the parking lot, maybe 10% of employees are back in the building.

Re: Returning to the Office