I May Never Go Back To Work Again
Nobody home…
Regular readers know I scaled down to 20 hours a week in 2017 after 23 years at my W2 job. Since then I’ve been going in twice a week, two ten hour days, and it’s been glorious. I’ve used my new free time to start a great new business, run this blog, and focus on my mind, health, and relationships.
You know, what life should be about.
So here we are in August 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic is still going strong. When it started becoming real in March and shutdowns began, my agency did what most other workplaces did and told us to stay home. I last went into my place of work around March 10th.
And I may never go in again.
Bringing People Back To Work
My agency had a hard time adjusting to folks working at home. Much of what we do is classified, and we have a horrible track record for deploying technology and keeping things running well. It’s been a rough road but many lessons have been learned and we’ve made some good progress.
In early June the senior leadership at my agency started talking about bringing people back to work in the building. They came up with a plan to stagger people back in five different iterations, each of which would be about 20% of the workforce.
Part of the plan is to evaluate and track any COVID-19 cases among those who have returned and adjust the next 20% based on those cases. The bottom line, we had a number of COVID-19 cases soon after iteration #1 started back. That had everyone stand up and take notice.
So things are on hold and they’re deciding about the date for iteration #2, or whether to proceed with it at all. Some employees who have not returned are getting angry at our leadership, others are just scared to go back.
Me?
I’m going to use my 25 year track record as my ace in the hole.
My Rules
I do not miss the sterility
I’ve been employed at my agency for over a quarter of a century. It’s depressing to say it that way, but also true. Using that term instead of “25 years” adds a certain gravitas to the time frame. It’s a long friggin’ time.
Over that quarter century I worked my ass off. When others left, I stayed. I took on jobs that weren’t mine, and took on more work for less pay.
I deployed to war zones, and traveled all around the world.
All of that led me to being a middle/senior manager in a hopelessly dysfunctional bureaucracy, and played a big factor in my decision to go part time. But here’s the thing, even though my “status” took a bit of a hit when I went part time, I still have a lot of pull and influence.
I shot up the ranks extremely fast and became a “thought leader” in my agency. I have a solid professional network of like-minded people who are leading my agency as we speak, because they’re still full time. What does all of this not-so-humble bragging mean?
Well, it means I’m basically going to call the shots as to when, or if, I go back in at all.
Leverage
The reality of my situation is that my agency needs me way more than I need them, and that’s a great position to be in. It’s like a battle where I control all of the high ground.
I have so much FU Money I need a big green tote bag to carry it around
I’m financially independent, I don’t need their money. I have FU money, big heaping piles of it! Yes, I do like the piece of mind of the health insurance, but if I had to leave I would.
The lesson here is if you build expertise, trust, good will, a great track record, and a massive stash of FU money, you hold the upper ground and can make the rules. Okay maybe not make them, but significantly bend them in your favor.
So if they tell me they want me to start showing up in the building again, unless the COVID situation improves a lot, I’m just going to politely decline.
And if they want a standoff based on that response, they’ll get one. As a Federal Employee I have some alternative options to coming back as this FedSmith article details, such as using the Family Medical Leave Act Law to take sick leave. I could also apply to go on Leave Without Pay which allows me to keep my employment status. That’s an option I will keep in my toolbox for sure.
But I don’t want to chew up my sick leave. I’m just going to say “nope, I’ll just keep working from home, thank you”, and keep my sick leave. I used to love the game “dare” as a kid and I’m 110% willing to play it in this situation.
This my dear readers, is the power of financial independence.
The reality of COVID-19 is that it may be with us for a long time. My agency has been talking a big game about “not going back to the way things were before” after COVID, and many companies are pledging to allow telework indefinitely. Just yesterday Google announced it will keep it’s employees home until June 2021. I think others might follow.
I can contribute from home, I’ve proved it and have been doing it for months now. And because I hold all the cards, right now I plan to keep it that way.
Your turn – If you started teleworking after COVID-19 lockdowns began, have you gone back in yet? Has your company told you when you will?
I don’t blame you Dave, I probably wouldn’t want to go back into the office if there was a chance of catching a deadly virus.
Luckily I don’t have to go back to work, as I gave that up about 5 years ago. 😉
Yet another thing you don’t have to deal with. Your chosen path has proven to be a wise one 🙂
I don’t blame you at all, especially since you’re already FI. Question I have for you is what is the retirement plan or do you still love the work?
I started working remote but the toxicity persisted so I parted ways with the company.
I don’t really have a plan, I’ve never been a long term planner. I’ve been willing to stay half-time at my job because I don’t hate it now that I’m out of management, and the healthcare plan is pretty good. And now that I don’t have to go in to the building I actually like it even more. Turns out a large part of what I hate about it is being stuck in a sterile building under fluorescent lights all day. That is so unhealthy and unnatural to our existence as humans, it’s absurd. That said, if they try to force me into a situation where it starts to suck more and I’m more at risk of COVID, I’ll likely just peace-out.
Great example of the power of FI. When it comes to your personal health and safety it trumps all.
I feel like this workplace plan is similar to star trek when they send all the redshirts out first. Glad you are able to demand terms to your liking instead of the other way around.
Yes – love the Star Trek analogy!
I work for a provincial government in Canada, and over 90% of government employees, including me, have been working from home since the middle of March. There is an official return-to-work plan to allow up to 25% of employees to return to working in offices, but for the time being only those whose presence in an office is deemed essential are to return. The rest of us are to continue working from home for the foreseeable future. I suspect I’ll be working from home full-time for several more months yet.
The biggest surprise for me has been how much I relish the thought of working from home permanently and how viable the option is. As a team leader who is in constant contact with people throughout my administrative unit and the entire ministry, I truly thought my job would be a lot more difficult working from home. That has not come to pass, and I can do my job with the same amount of efficiency as before. That’s due to two facts: 1) the government has been investing in technologies to support distance working and 2) most people seem to be making a good-faith effort to maintain their levels of productivity and professionalism despite the changed circumstances.
There are obviously some people who don’t thrive working from home, but from what I’ve seen many people do. For me personally, I plan on making it permanent part-time, doing it at least twice weekly if not maybe even thrice weekly. And I think that it will just be the new normal for government workers, especially as, with actual time to plan and adapt, the benefits to people and employer will accrue and become part of strategic planning.
So for the time being, I don’t anticipate having to negotiate for the ability to make working from home a permanent aspect of my professional life. And I’m deeply thankful for it.
Wow, so awesome! I think your story is VERY common throughout white collar jobs everywhere, and we’ll see how many try to stay permanently at home after COVID washes over. But COVID has to wash over first, and who knows how long that’s gonna take.
Congrats to you and thanks for the great comment!
fun fact: a mexican standoff south of the border is just a standoff. that’s a great position you have put yourself in. “no thanks, but i’m sure one of those less competent souls would be willing.” i’ve been working in the facility all along since 2 weeks home in march and i like it that way. the building is pretty empty still.
Haha, love your idioms. I’m not sure I’d call all of the people who are going back “less competent”, turns out many of them WANT to go back. Invariably those are the extroverted folks who thrive on and get energy from being around other people. And HOLY SHIT thank the man upstairs that I’m NOT one of those 🙂
I think employers everywhere are going to face a stark reality when (if??) they try to “force” employees back to work. Folks have fallen in love with working from home, and no one wants to go back to an office. I suspect you’ll find employers being much more supportive of work from home, driven by their need to retain their best employees. You’re a perfect example. Leverage on, my friend. I’d put my money on you winning this one.
Nice to know I have at least one smart person betting that I’ll win 😉
I hope that the work for home option works out for you. I have a feeling it will of which will create some more thoughts and discussion on your blog. So basically its a win win for us all 🙂
Best of luck on that discussion when the time comes.
Thanks Chris, I hope it works too! It’ll be more interesting to see how COVID in general plays out. Will we have a vaccine, will things EVER get back to “normal”, whatever that is. Just so much up in the air now, it feels like being a quarterback who’s intended play just fell apart and now has to just wing it to gain some yards.
“I’ve used my new free time to start a great new business, run this blog, and focus on my mind, health, and relationships.”
And how often have your friends/family asked you, since 2017, “what do you do with all your free time?!”
We get it a lot. I’m not sure what they expect the answer to be. My answer would be pretty similar to yours since cutting out of office work back in 2012 and then starting the early retirement transition in May of this year.
You know, life is about things other than work. I didn’t leave …to do other work.
Love your “high ground” POV, made me think of that infamous Star Wars prequel scene. Now, will your employer dare to try to take it from you? Hope you’re ready to chop some legs off if so.
Yeah I don’t know what’s gonna happen. So far my employer has been accommodating to everyone and besides drop-dead essential workers who never stopped going in, no one has been forced back. Bu who knows. I can foresee a scenario where lawsuits are pursued from folks across the country, I’m sure it’s already happened. I know there have been businesses that have sued their jurisdictions for not allowing to be open and thus going bankrupt. The whole thing is a mess.
I’ve been working from home since March 16th and it’s been great. It knocked off a terrible commute for me and I’ve been saving money. Since then I’ve been back in my office three times (one – to pick up shit, two – for a presentation/meeting, and three – to grab a company car for a trip.) I also used to travel weekly and only did my first road trip last week to Stockton from LA. I’m in CA and think as long as the virus is still climbing and there is no vaccine, my company will allow the work from home. However, when all this finally stops, I have no idea how things will go. Prior to the pandemic, in Feb I proposed working from home one day every two weeks and my boss rejected it. Then one month later in March we’re doing it indefinitely… hahahaha.
Wow, once every two weeks and rejected. You should probably – in a nice way – with hindsight ask why it was rejected. Assuming you’re doing your job well now I can’t see any of their answers being viable. Congrats!
My company went completely remote until further notice. Could be even forever. Anyways, way before COVID-19 started, I was already deep into negotiations about going remote myself. So no matter what happens, I’m not going back to the office any time soon. Who knows, maybe never again in my life 🙂
Awesome, join the club! Or is that the sweatpants club? 😉
Good for you Dave and you’re in a great position!
My wife resigned over a year ago from her management position. This was largely due to a “bad boss”, decline in health (the stress and pressure), and being completely under valued. Several times she broached working remotely and was completely shut down. The company maintained a 1970’s mindset “counting bums in seats”.
Leaving work was likely the most difficult decision she ever made! Having shared that, it was also the best decision she ever made. She (we) are healthier and happier than ever before. Whereas financial independence was key, the decision to “pull the pin” was based on her acute unhappiness with her bosses. Little did they realize that we all have options.
Another case like the previous commenter of being shut down on asking for remote work pre-COVID. Ridiculous. Good for you and your wife – YOU WIN!
I’m teaching from home at the moment – it’s winter here – and I love it.
I’d prefer to be back in the classroom but as much as I love my students, I don’t want to die for them!
We Google Meet at the start of every lesson and call the roll, have some banter, then I explain the lesson (any materials they need are posted online) and off they go.
Saves an hour and a half of commute time and I can also make fresh sourdough every second day.
I have some teacher friends who have been struggling with the remote thing but I think it’s because their schools are levying too much on them. Your routine sounds nice, especially the sourdough. Great job!
My wife loves working from home. When things go back to normal, I hope she can work a few days from home.
Her workplace is still mostly closed for now. You can go in if you really need to, but you don’t have to.
It’s proven that work can continue. People should work from home more when this is over.
Also, the first quarter of school will be online for Portland. That’s good for us.
Hopefully she can negotiate to stay home Joe – take the upper ground!
Honestly I already worked from home when not traveling before this began. That unofficial work from home was largely a result of the same standoff you mentioned. Sometimes they need you more then you need them. In that case you can, as you stated, bend things in some areas.
I still have a desk but I’ve probably been there 6-10 days in the last two years.
Wow, you’re an old pro at this. I guess things aren’t too much different than normal for you work-wise. Six days in 2 years sounds great to me!
I’ve been working from home since March now and don’t imagine going back 5 days a week ever. The company was acquired in October 2019 and in January the new corporate replaced all of our PCs with laptops. It seemed ridiculously wasteful at the time but when March rolled around it was easy to grab the laptop, ensure the VPN was set up and I haven’t been back. I have a big screen at home already but I could have taken my screens too. I’ve haven’t had any trouble getting my work done including recording video voice overs (after just a few hours of troubleshooting the microphone. hint, make sure all the cords are plugged in 🙁 )
Coincidentally, our office had actually run out of space at the beginning of the year when they started a hiring push and people that weren’t already were tripling up in offices. They’re renovating a new building right now and I hope someone re-evaluated the plans to see if the space plan reflects the very likely scenario of more flex space and fewer dedicated desks for employees.
That’s great Thomas, seems like it’ll be business as usual for you!
I was already a remote worker for a few years prior to this one so having everyone sent home didn’t impact me much. In fact it’s more of an equalizer on conference calls when everyone is joining from home. The factor working against me though is the locality pay. The gap between rest of the US and DC seems even more unfair when I’ve proven myself as a remote worker and am doing the same work as everyone else who isn’t on site.
DC is hugely expensive, that’s for sure. It’s mostly concentrated in the absurd housing prices.
On locked down since March 12th with a few days in the field. I’m loving this intro to FIRE lifestyle. Amazing that prior to COVID-19, one had to go to our headquarters located in the armpits of America (Philly) if you wanted stretch assignments to upskill. Overnight, it is now doable. I’m looking forward to the “New Future” and world of expanded opportunities. For now, I’m enjoying early morning SUP and mid-afternoon MTB rides when there’s nearly empty lakes/trails. Now, I really get a good sampling of the good FIRE gig.
“intro to the FIRE lifestyle” is a great way to frame it. Haha, Philly often does smell like an armpit but I grew up in Baltimore and it smells like a skunk’s armpit…
Seems like you’ve got it dialed in, SUP in the a.m. and MTB in the p.m. Sounds like some of my days too, ain’t life good 🙂
Life is good indeed. Skunk’s armpit sounds like the pit.
2 conference calls today under a patio umbrella with coffee and pancakes. Then, MTB ride followed by SUP around sunset.
You probably have great pics, I think you should start a blog 🙂
I totally don’t blame you Dave for feeling like this.
I’m sure there’s millions who feel the same, it’ll be interesting to see what changes
I never had a job that could be done from home, until I retired. But now, my few hours a week of consulting go well with remote work. One of the nice things about being retired during covid is nothing has changed for us. If it wasn’t for the news, and on rare occasions, wearing a mask we wouldn’t know anything unusual was happening.
You’ve got a great setup, and if you just got rid of new completely you’d probably be happier 😉