I realize I have been very lucky to work from home for 2+ years. That time is coming to an end as work wants us back in the office one day a week. DH and I have been extremely cautious due to existing health conditions, so I am extremely uncomfortable with the thought of being in the office for several hours.
Work has no mask or vaccination requirements. We are in pods of touching desks with only short dividing walls. There will also be meetings where I would be expected to be in conference rooms with others.
Can anyone suggest possible accommodations they have seen in the office that could help? The only things I have thought of so far are to ask to sit in a separate area or to come in on a different day.
Are you sitting in a pod area with someone else all day? Or are all people separated by dividers?
I’ve been in the office full-time since June 2020. We have a large room with 14-16’ ceilings that is separated into 8 cubicles with 5.5’ tall dividers and some open common space. No mask or vax requirements here either.
Before vaccines were available, I was not happy to say the least. I brought in an air purifier for my space and I wore a mask with a PM-2.5 filter all day. I was the only one. We were supposed to wear a mask in common spaces, but most didn’t and it wasn’t enforced.
Once vaccines were available and case counts dropped, I dropped the mask and the air purifier. I do turn it on during waves such as omicron. I wear masks to meeting that I deem crowded. But if there are only 4 people in a large room and we are all spaced out, I don’t bother. I will add that often I am the only one masked in these meetings. Sometimes it bothers me, sometimes not. It depends on the day.
I would definitely wear a mask if I had to work in a small pod with someone else.
Edit - If I had serious health issues, I would also get boosters as soon as I was able. And, I would be in touch with my doctor to have a plan how to get the antivirals if I did come down with it.
I would definitely wear a good mask, use hand sanitizer, etc. I would leave the building to eat/drink.
Office remodeled during Covid, changing from standard cubicles with 5 ft walls to shared work spaces with 3 ft dividers. The desks are stand/sit, so short dividers are almost useless as others will be breathing above them.
I am just not sure there is anything they can do that will make me comfortable. Fortunately, I am at an age where retirement is an option.
I bought a pretty amazing HEPA filter air purifier for my home when we have company. I can’t remember the brand name, maybe AirBlue? Anyway, each one handles like an 800 sq ft area with normal height ceilings, changing the air out like 20x per hour. Dont’ quote these numbers, please do your own research, but it’s easy to research. I would think even a smaller one would be very helpful in your desk area. Filtration is incredibly effective and should give you a lot of mental relief. Perhaps your building ALREADY has great ventilation/filtration, but bringing your own HEPA filter will give you added comfort.
Getting your 4th shot should also provide an extra level of comfort.
And doing some analysis of the latest statistics will probably also provide comfort. The case fatality rate continues to plummet. And the percent of hospitalized people who are in the ICU due to covid is by far the lowest its been in 2.5 years. Looking into how things have changed/improved over time may provide you some relief.
If you have severe health issues, perhaps you are eligible for EvuShield?
I would also be ready with frequent rapid testing at home and a plan to get a therapeutic if you turn positive (without obsessively worrying about it; just have a plan).
N95 masks are pretty amazing. Think of all of the doctors/HCWs who knowingly deal with people, close-up, touching them, with highly contagious diseases, and are protected with their good quality masks. You could consider doing something to make sure that yours are well-fitting.
I think it’s reasonable to take precautions and then allow yourself to not be too worried. Of course I don’t know what your health conditions are and if they are extreme. But I have several friends on chemo who have had no problem shaking off Omicron, which gives me comfort that it really is getting less virulent. I think doing your own research to the real numbers on case fatality rates and other statistics is likely to make you feel BETTER, and safer, not worse. Good luck back at work; try to enjoy the added sociability! Best!!
I’ve been teaching in person this academic year, and have been the only one wearing a mask in the classroom for the last few weeks, which is OK by me. I have a sign on my door with a pocket filled with surgical masks asking people to put one on before entering, and so far everyone has been very good about it. (DH is immunocompromised, so we’re being super cautious.)
DH just returned to the office yesterday and said about 50% were wearing masks and people were trying to social distance, but I’m guessing that will erode as time goes on. He can work from home, but will lose his desk if he doesn’t go in, so is trying to find a workable combo.
Kids have had varied experiences, but in general their take is that people are Just Done With It. Fortunately we live in a region where no one shouts at you if you decide to mask up.
If you are able to pick a day to work at the office, choose a day with the fewest number of workers (like Friday).
My office brought people back on a hybrid schedule and allows one accommodation. If someone is not comfortable with one of their assigned days, they can skip that day and come in on Friday, our least crowded day.
This is just one day a week you have to go in- is that correct? There is nothing wrong with making your discomfort known to your supervisor. Maybe expressing that will bring about some suggestions by them. Maybe put you on an end cubicle or maybe there is enough space to have a space between you and others - an empty cube or two.
Keep sanitizing often. Avoid as much group stuff as possible - during breaks go outside if possible - even eat lunch in your car to give you mask and mental breaks
Do not go out and buy an air purifier without making sure your building allows it. Some may violate rules on electrical appliances. A visit from our fire inspector sent all kinds of things home, from espresso makers, space heaters, and air purifiers. Particularly in cubicle areas.
We still have plenty of folks wearing masks. And we have free tests available. And we’ve all been in the office since Sept 2020!
My company started construction to make it a more collaborative workspace prior to Covid. They took advantage of the empty building to accelerate construction. There are still wings of the building closed off due to ongoing construction. The result is that my department has 24 desks for 60 people. They have split us so one third will go on Tuesdays, a third on Wednesdays, and a third on Thursdays. Upper management also goes in on Mondays in addition to their group’s assigned day.
Our desks are in two groups of four and two groups of eight with a couple of tables for collaboration stuck in the middle. We are surrounded by similar arrangements for other departments in an open space. Desks are not assigned. We have to reserve a desk up to a week in advance on an app . Covid aside, I would still hate this.
I have let my supervisor know about my concerns and have a meeting scheduled with our HR rep to discuss options. I will ask about an air purifier. Given the shared office space, I will need to carry it in and out every day.
I have been putting off getting my second booster hoping for an updated version at some point, but will get it if I go in. While we have risk factors, neither of us are immune compromised to the point of qualifying for evushield.
My husband’s company did the reverse and switched all the pods so staff are more separated. Everyone was required to be fully vaxxed before returning to the office. Lots of flexibility with which days people are coming in. Most are working T/W/TH and working from home M/F.
I have been working 1 day a week in the office through most of Covid. I am in a cubicle area where prior to Covid 6 people could sit. When I go in on Thursdays there are only 2 of us in that area. At this point I have stopped wearing a mask in the office as I feel safe with the current set up. When we have a meeting in the conference room with more than 4 of us I always put a mask on.
If you truly think there is nothing your company can do to make you comfortable then I think all we can do is encourage the retirement OR share our experiences with going back to work.
Everyone has different home and office set ups of course. I feel pretty sure none of us wish that we had to deal with Covid and WFH, going back to work - all of it!
I have been back in the office at least part time since July 2020 and mostly full time the last year or so with a little flexibility to work at home 1-2 days a week. I work on a hospital campus. Masking still required in public areas though now not on our administrative floor unless we desire. It kind of stuns me that some offices have not gone back to the office at all. Like they hope to but it hasn’t happened yet. With so much of everyday life back on the table (even if masked) it is surprising to me that some offices are still largely remote.
My advice would be to give the office a go for a trial period - maybe a couple of months. You MIGHT find the adjustment easier than you think - or not. But you will have at least trialed it.
I had my meeting with HR and my supervisor. They will let me sit elsewhere in the building so I can isolate myself. They will not allow people to bring in air purifiers.