Back to the Office

As I wrote that title, I got a little shiver. I had to remind myself that I am not going back to the office. My last days in an office were in 2011, 14 years ago. I was lucky enough to work from home pre-COVID. Then, everyone seemed to be working from home.

As the pandemic waned, people still seemed to be working from home. My wife works for a bank, and I remember the big announcement that they were being asked to return to the office three days a week. Then, effective this September, four days a week. Other banks and financial institutions followed suit, and for many, the work from home era is coming to a close. PATH businesses are happy.

I think we all know someone who moved out of the city during the pandemic. I wonder how many of these people now regret the commute they'll be facing. I wonder if the gems will simply renegotiate their deals to work from home, or simply bolt to the competition for exactly such a deal.

For years I had an empty house to myself 5 days a week, as I pulled the cables (not a euphemism) and turned the knobs at TMDS, but over the past 5 years I've adapted to serious bank business being conducted in the bedroom. (I realize that also sounds dirty, but it's not.) Soon, that will be a Friday thing as I'll reacquaint myself with coffee for one.