Responses | EA Staff Feedback Forum #8: Working Remotely
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would prefer to continue to work from home, traveling to campus as needed.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
My commute is 30 minutes, so, not having to commute is a great benefit.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would like to work remote every other day since I have a 1 hr and 15 minute commute. My Supervisor and I have talked about this too.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I would save on gas money and mileage.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I work just as effective and efficiently from home as I do from the office. Actually I work better from home since there are less distractions.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Continue to work 100% remotely (at home) as I have been.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I can effectively do my job without being on campus and I have a pre-existing condition that makes me at high risk to higher-severity COVID19 infection.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Working remotely has a financial strain on employees. Just like Cornell charges PI's overhead on grants to keep the lights on and the heat and water running, my utility bills have gone up as I spend increased time at home. For example, my summer electric bill is DOUBLE what it usually is because I have been paying to run my AC during the day when I am home working. I would normally have it off or on energy saver mode while working on campus. That financial cost is NOT greater than the risk of my life. But Cornell should consider this burden when it comes to compensating their employees.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would prefer to work remotely entirely. There are a handful of meetings each year that would be valuable for me to conduct in person, but I could easily do my work remotely and return to campus for these meetings.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
My preference would be to not have a commute.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I really enjoy working remotely because it provides me with the time and space to focus, and the lack of a commute gives me better work-life balance. My concerns about working remotely are: 1. career growth - will I limit my opportunities in the future if I’m fully remote? 2. if supervisors decide who gets to work remotely, what happens if I get a new supervisor who doesn't support remote work or my supervisor changes their mind about remote work?
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would love to be able to continue working from home, with trips to the office for meetings or for a few days a month.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Not having a half hour commute has been beneficial - gives me more time for exercise and personal tasks, and saves money. Also, if I need to work extra hours, it is less tiring.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
It really depends on the type of job and the type of person. My job is largely solitary and attracts the kind of person who likes working that way. So for me, it works. It is important to stay in regular contact with coworkers to make sure we are all working smoothly together. And occasional face-to-face interaction will be useful to reinforce connections. This is especially important for newer employees who need training and to be absorbed into the culture/community.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Working remotely in all capacity would be ideal.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Not commuting would be very ideal.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Since the work and home life have blended together, I feel like I'm constantly "on" and it feels draining. Maybe perhaps thoughts or best practices on dealing with feeling like I'm always "on"
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I enjoy working from home 100% and would like to continue, but also have in person staff meetings and training in person bi-weekly or so as needed.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I have a long commute. Not having to drive in everyday opens up several extra hours in my day, not to mention saving on gas and wear and tear on my vehicle.Wor
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Allowing remote work allows Cornell to keep the best people who may or may not be located close to any campus, or even in NYS.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
As a young, single who is entering only her second year of work at Cornell and lives in a small apartment by herself, having to continue working from home full-time is honestly a mental health nightmare. Zoom meetings have been a saving grace in terms of providing virtual interaction during this time, but virtual interaction is by no means a substitute for face-to-face interaction. It's human nature to need to socialize, and a full-time work from home scenario completely eliminates this, not to mention my productivity level has been negatively affected during this work from home period. With all of this being said, I think there needs to be an option for all employees to work on-campus at least several days a week. If I had the choice, I would choose to be back in my office on-campus full time. However, I realize that given the current circumstances, that may not be an option. At least having a few days on campus a week would be a happy medium, and would work wonders from a social interaction and productivity standpoint.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Considering that I live only 10 minutes from campus, commuting doesn't really play into my ideal scenario.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I think one thing that has been underestimated by Cornell so far during the "work from home" period is how many personal resources its employees have been expending while trying to complete the same level of work while working from home. For example, because I've been told to work from home, I had to spend my own money (more than $200, which for an entry-level employee is a lot) to create a home office to effectively complete my work. My utility bills have also increased, because I am spending way more time at home than I normally would. I preface this with the fact that I am very thankful for the steps Cornell has taken to preserve jobs and that the university continues to pay me, as I know this is a hard time for us all. However, if the university could provide its employees with some type of stipend for their increased use of resources (and thus monetary resources), that would go a long way for sure!
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
My department plans to work remotely during the fall semester, and this is my ideal work situation in order to limit my exposure to Covid-19. Because I am in a high-risk health group for Covid-19, my preference is to work remotely as long as there is risk of contracting the virus on campus. Once there is little to no risk of exposure to Covid on campus, my preference would be to work in-person.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I am able to perform 100% of my job remotely as many of our Center members are at non-Cornell universities. Ideally I would continue to work from home 100%, perhaps with an occasional day in the office. (~once per month)
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I prefer not to commute.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
As an individual with an auto-immune disease, this was the first year I can recall that I didn't get a cold or the flu. I am certain it's due to not being exposed in the workplace.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Ideally, I would like to be able to work in a fully remote capacity until a vaccine is available. I know that this could be a long time, and while I do not enjoy working at home as much, my partner is immunocompromised. We need to be very careful. I am concerned about being exposed to others that are not so careful. Most of my role involves meeting face to face with students in a small office (often 12 different students a day). Even if we were back in our offices, this would not be possible- I would still be meeting with students over zoom. Coming back to work in the office does not add much to the student experience - as we would still be only meeting online or over the phone.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
One of my concerns about coming back in person is the commute. I am not comfortable riding public transportation at this point. I can drive and park in A-Lot, and could walk from there, but it will be a challenge on extremely cold days in the winter.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Working remotely the majority of the time with continued access to Cornell Zoom, Box, Microsoft 360, and a microphone for zoom meetings/presentations, etc. I did not believe my program could be run from home, however I found that not to be the case thanks to these Cornell resources.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I have also found that productivity is MUCH HIGHER working from home with no disruptions. I do feel some time in the office is beneficial, so minimal commuting (2 days per week) seems ideal, however the extension must consider cost on their end to do so.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I did not think my program could run from home and was feel very burdened about having to make this work, HOWEVER I proudly found that use of Cornell Box, Zoom, Microsoft 360, played a CRITICAL role in my success and ability to do so. Hats off to Cornell! I did not use these resources before. I have also found that that productivity is MUCH higher working from home with no disruptions, including commuting time. On a personal side, my quality of life feels much more elevated, as commuting takes a lot of people. In honesty, our income is not high with extension- I would be making twice my income with my experience, however it is the CCE benefits (and love of my job) that are the incentive. Working remotely would be a huge added benefit of tremendous helps on the financial end.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Ideally, I would like to come in two days a week with the rest being remote work. I am able to get more done without the interruptions of the time clock being adjacent to my office.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Not commuting would save our family a lot of money on gas and car expenses. Commuting would mean I would need additional time to get to work in the morning rather than starting earlier like I have been. Bottom line is my commute is two minutes to my computer with my coffee at home, and 30 to 40 minutes to work.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I would love a more flexible work environment to be permanent. It has improved my stress level as well as made work-life balance a lot easier because we have been able to remove the need of a dog walker and care provider for our dog from our daily routine. This has also provided us with the opportunity to consider our future and what we see possible moving forward.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
My ideal work situation would be to continue working remotely. Eventually, once the pandemic subsides, I believe going into the office one day a week to hold staff meetings might be productive. However, working from home allows me a better work/life balance. For example, in my office there are only two hourly employees, myself and another colleague. Due to this structure, we are not encouraged to take lunches, as our salaried colleagues generally do not. Working remotely, I now take the lunches I am legally entitled to and I leave "the office" on time everyday, rather than staying until the work in done, but not getting paid for it. I am also more productive without the day to day interruptions that an open office environment brings.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Well first and foremost, this has a tremendous impact on the environment. Not having to commute reduces pollution and our carbon footprint. Furthermore, the cost of gas, car maintenance, not to mention the cost of a parking permit, positively effects my income. Lastly, the time it takes to commute is a factor. Now that I do not have to leave half an hour before I begin working, I get more sleep and eat a real breakfast. Those new habits have had a positive effect on my mental and physical health.
As an additional side note, coming from CALS, a college that has reduced their employees salaries, not having the cost of commuting offsets the salary reduction for many of your staff.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
One note I have is that now is not the time to gauge whether working remote is positive or productive for employees and the university. During a pandemic, when many parents are struggling to educate their kids, loved ones are sick and dying, and financial concerns are weighing heavy on families is not going to give you an accurate picture or data set for the benefits and draw backs of working remotely.
My other note is this: parents are being disproportionately favored during this pandemic set-up and employees without children are being unfairly abused and discriminated against. In my office, out of the six employees, half have school age children at home and half do not. The half that does only works part time, are often not available during office hours for meetings, and are putting their roles, duties, and responsibilities on those of us who do not have school age children because they cannot keep up with their normal workload. As a result, those of us without children have been carrying more of the work load and are feeling under valued, used, discriminated against, overwhelmed, stressed, and quite frankly, bitter. Moving forward, the university needs to figure out a better way to equalize the remote working playing field.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would continue to work remotely if given the opportunity to continue
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Commuting is not an issue but with the my three children returning to school hopefully being home is easier for pick up etc.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
It is very beneficial for my family and especially my three kids and the school scenario possibly being very different this fall.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Would rather continue to work remotely through the fall. With the students returning their safety and learning should be a priority and not distracted by staff re-entry plans if not necessary. Especially with so many unknowns due to COVID within and outside our immediate community and students capability to follow the Behavioral Compact.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Not an issue. I really appreciated the University not charging for parking permit during this time of working from home.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I have actually felt a better appreciation of my fellow staff members and colleagues. Instead of talking on the phone, to me it's been a more personal insight of them. Actually having a view of them inside their homes, and sometimes their pets or family popping in and out, which has lead to conversations that would not have taken place in a business setting.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
My ideal work situation, if given the option to continue working from home, looks much like it does currently, with the possibility of needing to report to campus periodically for necessary in person meetings.
Working remotely since March, albeit, a little difficult to initially transition to in the beginning, has proven for me, to be more effective in many ways than commuting and working on campus. My time is better allocated to ensure I'm meeting my own mental health and physical health needs while being able to perform my tasks and fulfill my responsibilities effectively. I no longer feel like I need to try and fine a way to balance my personal life/needs with my career.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Not commuting to work has opened up more time for me to be able to focus on all that is important to me, both personal life as well as career. I am a Cornell employee who commutes nearly an hour one way when working on campus. I now can start my work day a little early, knowing I don't have to commute, or more often, I don't feel stressed about working extra at the end of the day, knowing that when I complete my tasks, I am already home. I simply need to log off, leave my home office area and I can easily transition to my personal life. Providing more ample quality time with my family and time to focus on my own needs.
When commuting it was often a juggle and a struggle, to try and find balance. I am very much committed to my work, and ensuring my customers receive the best possible service, which sometimes resulted in taking valuable time away from my family and my own mental and physical health. I feel with the ability to work from home, I am able to give as much needed attention to all parts of my life. It's incredible how much 2 hours back in your day spent commuting can make such a difference.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I think one of the biggest struggles many have with working remotely is the lack of person to person interaction. Perhaps not knowing when someone is available for questions. The face to face conversing that many find to be very important. I think it would be nice if there were a video/messaging application all employees could have access to, that would allow for instant messaging or video calling. I know some departments use Skype which allows for it, but I'm not sure if there is something that could be across the board available for all to use, if they chose to. I for one, would be all for having a program on my computer or phone that allowed for others to instantly message me or even video call to discuss questions.
I also think some thrive with a remote working environment as they aren't faced with the multitude of unavoidable interruptions that can take place in an office environment. Casual conversation, co worker phone (business related) conversations, in person customer visits, are just some of the disruptions that take place during a workday. A remote environment for some help to alleviate these types of interruptions as you have more control over a remote work space than a shared work space.
Of course with that comes the flip side of not having your coworkers there to openly collaborate with when needed. Which leads me back to an Instant Messaging platform which is often more effective than a group email being sent back and forth.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
working off my laptop, possible requesting another monitor to work on spreadsheets.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I can pop in and out of the office for some things, but prefer to make it limited so we follow protocol in the building. I am capable to work remote.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
That each person is different and know that if employees prefer to work from home whether it's safety, family or capacity-Cornell should allow with no hesitation. We appreciate your flexibility on this.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
If I was able to come to campus for critical meetings I could continue to work remotely for at least 50% of the time
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
No
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I think the biggest questions on ours, and our staff minds, are what is the university going to do support the staff that must continue to work remotely in terms of supplies and critical office equipment (Desks, printers/scanners/faxes, paper, notepads, etc.). I'm lucky enough to have a separate room in my home I can utilize as an office but I had to purchase my own desk as I was having significant pain in my back/neck/shoulders. Some staff may not be able to afford these critical office supplies.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would like all available resources that I have in the office available at my home. For example, I cannot use certain programs because I have to Log into VPN and that is not always reliable. However, schedule wise I would like to be able to come to work 2-3 days a week.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
My commute is 30 minutes a day. I would absolutely love to not have that commute everyday. However, I do like having the structure of a "real office" in order to get work done.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
in the past, my dept. has not been very encouraging of WFH. There were some tough restrictions that went along with WFH pre covid. I am hoping that the views of my managers will have bent and changed over time.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would continue to work in the same capacity as I have for the last 5 months. 98% of my job is electronic and I can safely say that it has worked incredibly well for me.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I live 45 minutes away from campus currently. There are days in the winter time that it takes me over an hour to get to work due to poor road conditions. Not to mention the nearly $800 that I pay in parking would save my family money by not paying that, and also in gas and wear and tear on my vehicle.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I feel like we, as a community not only came together quickly, but found amazing ways to stay connected, get work done effectively and become creative during a time when we really needed to revisit how we did things. It has been more of a benefit than a hindrance in my opinion.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would prefer to work primarily from home with no more than one day per week in office or as needed.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I have a 40 minute drive to/from work each way, so ideally if I need to come to campus I prefer to work a full day in my office rather than a partial day so that I don't lose valuable working time while commuting.
Choosing a parking option has been very stressful since it is not clear yet what our unit's reactivation plan will be and how many days we need to be on campus. It is also unclear from the information provided by transportation how long the special discounted parking rates for daily decision lots will be in effect or if any parking in those lots will even be available (maxed out), so if I choose not to renew my permit and then they raise prices or discontinue the daily decision, or if I am forced to park in a more expensive lot, it will be a huge expense.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
When will the online system for reactivation plans be ready? Or unit director has submitted a reactivation plan which was approved by our division, and we are now waiting for the online system for the next approval process. We are all anxious waiting to know when or if we will be returning to campus. We DO NOT want to return, however our director wants us all back as soon as possible. We wish that there were a blanket rule about administrative staff no being ALLOWED back on campus until after winter break. If the University were to put out a rule/regulation/blanket statement, we could rest easy without this constant uncertainty from a director with unrealistic expectations.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I work for extension at a county office.
My ideal work situation would be to continue to work from home indefinitely, barring needs that are specific to the office or office location, ie, large or multiple prints/copies and events or on-site programming.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I appreciate not having to commute to and from a physical office space when working from home. Besides saving money on gas and putting mileage on my car, it affords me a better work/life balance. I can spend more time with my family and needs instead of that same time traveling to and from an office.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Over these five months when we've had no or very limited office access, our staff has continued to give support and be available to residents and farmers alike, and have adapted to the needs of the situation (ie, teaching virtually, offering online programming, zoom meetings).
Besides on-site programming and large projects needing the infrastructure of an office (large printing jobs, program material storage, etc), working remotely is the most efficient and productive means of getting things done.
Those that have gone on into field work and earned higher education degrees in the past 30 years are familiar with remote working and the interconnectness of the internet. In my own experience with undergrad and graduate work, 90% of my work and research was done off campus or outside of a formal location, and done at home or in the field. While having a home base with large, shared resources is a boon for those odd projects or events, in the day to day work that's done it's unnecessary to travel. It's an outdated idea that employees need to be in an office setting and travel to and fro when the resources (internet, virtual communication, etc) are available anywhere.
In regards to the pandemic, I am safer working from home and this keeps my family safer as well. I interact with family members on a daily basis who are older and also immuno-compromised. Less exposure to other people and in an environment with recycled air system means less potential to catch the virus and get sick myself, and passing it on to them.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would want to primarily work from home. My job can be done offsite, and I don't want to risk getting my twin babies sick. I may want to have the option to go into work here and there when I want to have extra focus, but it wouldn't be a necessity.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I am close and don't have a long commute, but not driving every day has been great.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I am worried about how campus will be affected once all of the students are back, and I really don't want to be nearby until there is a reliable vaccine. Since our office can work well offsite, I think we should be able to continue doing so.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Although we had to shift to remote work in an urgent manner as an organization, I already was working remotely a couple of days a week for the past several years. A number of my colleagues also had been working remotely. I think the biggest adjustment was having the whole team working remotely, and getting used to “all zoom,” meetings, and overcoming zoom fatigue. My ideal work situation would be to remain remote full time, due to underlying health issues, and continue to adapt some IT needs, but I have found the transition to full-time remote work quite smooth.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Although my commute to work is relatively short, I have a mobility issue and need to park close to my office. Therefore, I have to pay for the closest garage to my downtown office location (albeit, at a somewhat reduced, accessible rate, but not as reduced as the university provides on campus). In the winter, when the weather is inclement, I frequently have to rely on my husband to drive me into work, to avoid the risk of falling. Working remotely allows me to avoid this entire scenario.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
For the most part, I am very happy working remotely. I miss my colleagues, and while I’m always glad to see them on Zoom, I look forward to the day when we can gather together in person, to celebrate our resilience during these difficult times.
Working remotely provides me with a sense of independence, control and ownership over the work I do for Cornell, which I truly value. Everyone has their own work style and energy, and I think that remote work provides employees with the opportunity to focus their energy at its peak, and to be the most productive they can be for Cornell!
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
A hybrid situation where I have the flexibility to work remotely, and come into an office environment as needed.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Not so much. I had a 10 minute commute, so other than navigating Ithaca hills in the winter, I never minded my commute.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I believe offices should keep an open mind that most people can successfully work remotely. If Cornell embraces remote (or hybrid) work, they can likely attract better talent that otherwise wouldn't consider moving to upstate NY.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
For me, there is no "ideal" work from home scenario. I am an interactive person who works to provide interactive outreach websites that help solve other people's problems. It is very hard to do this without regular communication.The only way i would continue to work remotely is if Cornell forces me too.under threat of termination ... oh wait, that's what's happening now ...
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
My daily commute ia a 3 hour round trip, but it is 1,000,000 times better than sitting ALONE in my home office all day, every day while rarely having an engaging, one-on-one conversation with anyone else.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Working remotely SUCKS !!!
Humans were created with the need for SOCIAL interaction with other humans. It is how we learned the skills to survive over the last 200,000+ years. It is especially what we need to survive disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanoes, war and COVID19.
Watching and listening to a person's image on a computer screen is NOT one-on-one communication. It is two talking heads interacting awkwardly.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
While my internet situation is not ideal, I am actually enjoying working remotely. I do miss the daily face to face interactions with my team and co-workers. Better internet would greatly enhance my working situation, but I feel I can accomplish the work I need to do remotely but some functions take a bit longer than they would if I were in my office. There are rumors that better internet is coming our way, so fingers crossed that will happen. Aside from that I have a nice workspace, I'm home alone most days so it is generally quiet and a good working environment.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
My commute is around 30 minutes so it is saving me a good deal of money in gas and wear and tear on my truck by working remotely. I am spending a lot of those savings at Amazon, however. :-) I find that some of the commute time is spent working so I am working a bit more hours than I would if commuting and that makes up for some of the tasks that take longer for me to complete.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Working remotely works well for me. While I don't know if it would be a good permanent situation in my current role, I find it enjoyable and am comfortable working in this manner as long as is permissible and logical for the office. I am a type 2 diabetic and that may put me at a higher risk for exposure to COVID-19 so for the time being this feels like a better, safer option for me.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
A mix of remote and on-campus work. Acceptance of meeting attendance via Zoom
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Not at all. I live locally.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I hope that the University has seen that remote work can be very productive and can meet business needs. I believe many had hesitancy about flexible work arrangements in the past.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would support continuing to work from home 100% in the same capacity. I would also support going into the office a specific number of days per month (1-4) for the purpose of working with around my team, however, it is not necessary for me from a "social" perspective.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
While I commute approximately 2 hours per day RT, longer during the winter it is not 100% impacting my druthers to work from home, however it does come into play. The benefit of not commuting are increased the number of hours that I work per day, and helps with work/life balance. It also has helped to defer some costs that I would have with an 80 mile per day commute (gas, oil changes, wear and tear) and helps to limit the impact of not having a pay raise this year.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
From my personal perspective (and outside of the direct impact of not having to commute), I find that I am more productive and have fewer distractions while working from home. Our workload has increased substantially since COVID, and i feel that, because I'm working more hours (10-12/day) in order to keep up with the increase, i would not be able to sustain that level of work hours per day on top of a 2 hour RT commute and maintain any level of work/life balance.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
As long as COVID continues to be a prominent threat, and while social distancing and masking is in place, I would prefer to continue to work remotely and only come to campus if the task absolutely requires me to be in person. Once COVID Is not a prominent threat and we no longer have to mask, my ideal work situation would be to return to campus three days a week and work remotely two days a week.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I have a 40 minute drive, plus a 15 minute walk from my parking lot. Not having to commute everyday would be excellent (it is climate friendly, saves me time, reduces my gas expenses, and protects me from having to drive in questionable weather).
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Leadership in my department have suggested that they would like staff to be on campus this fall. I get the sense that this desire is only to ensure that there is a "presence" within the department for students (essentially so there is a body in the office). I do not see why our staff should be pressured or required to conduct their work on campus, just to have a body in the room in case a student is lost or in case a faculty member cannot figure out how to handle a jammed copier, or replace toner. These "must be in person to help" tasks usually only constitute 5-10% of our staff work. It seems it would make more sense to collaborate with staff in other departments whose work already requires them to be on campus, or who do not have reliable internet at home and have to work on campus, who may have room for 5-10% more work. It feels like staff are not given the same protections and freedoms that students and faculty were given, to indicate our preferences of working from home or in-person during COVID.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
My ideal future Cornell work situation would be flexibility to decide when and how to be on campus vs. at home to enable me to best meet the needs of both my Cornell position and personal obligations. Cornell staff have had varied experiences working from home, and have varied commuting times/costs, personal responsibilities, etc., which is why I support the idea of staff choice whenever possible once that again becomes possible. I have greatly appreciated the ability to work from home myself over the past several months. I feel more productive with fewer distractions, but I also miss seeing people in person and the synergy from in-person networking. Once it feel safe to me personally to return to campus (so not on an institutional timeline but driven by employee choice), I will be most productive if given the permanent choice to work at home vs. on campus at any given time to best meet unit needs.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Although I live just downhill from Cornell in Fall Creek, I save almost an hour a day on commuting time when I work from home, which is an extra hour I have to work and/or to spend with my family, so I hope to continue to work at least part-time from home in the future even when Cornell is hopefully operating more normally again in the future. I both dislike the time it takes to commute but also appreciate the exercise since I walk and take the bus (which involves walking to/from the bus stops at either end.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
If we do allow employees who can productively work from home the flexibility to do so into the future, how could that work for staff who have Cornell desktop computers? Will it be allowed for them to work from home on a personal computer while at home (with Cornell VPN, access to secure online file storage, safety precautions, firewalls, etc.) and then use their work computer at work? Or migrate people towards all having laptops? (though I feel less productive on a laptop than on a real computer with big screen(s)).
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I enjoy going into the office but it is not essential. My ideal schedule would be a day or two in the office and the remaining days at home.That could change depending on what will happen with my children's school this Fall.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I only live a few minutes away so commuting does not play into my ideal scenario.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I think equipping employees with the essentials would be nice. I am fortunate in that I have a great desk but could use other work essentials.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would prefer to continue remotely. They may be a time when I have to go in for a few hours but most of my work can be done at home.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
How transportation is being set up with permits/park mobile for ADA compliance will be difficult for me. I would prefer not to purchase a permit if I only go in once in a while for a few hours. If the spring semester opens up fully I would then need a permit and it will be difficult with the lottery. I think this will be difficult for most people
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Since I've been working one or two days a week remotely for several years because of my disability I was prepared. It's difficult not going into the office to get something you need. We're spending extra money that we wouldn't have to in order to work.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
My ideal work situation in this context would be to work fully remotely, with occasional visits to the office only as necessary. While I do find personal interactions to be of value, my job does not necessitate being in person given present technology, and there is no tangible benefit or efficiency of coming in to the office for me personally, or the job I do.
To elaborate on this, there is definitely value in human interaction, but true work conversations can easily be accomplished via a purposeful Zoom call. And while I do like being social with folks in the office, the drawbacks of coming in with an hour commute each way does not really balance out (safety, environmental impact, cost). Several people in my office are already fully remote, living in other states, and it seems to be working fairly well in that we don't have to lose talent when folks leave with significant others as is often the case in academia.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I would love to not have to commute regularly. My drive is an hour each way, and there is a significant safety, environmental, and cost consideration in that long of a commute. I can start and end my workday without being drained from a lengthy commute when I am remote.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I feel as though given the present level of technology, there should not be any concerns of being able to trust good employees to do good work. Good employees will complete their duties responsibly from any location. Conversely, I don't believe sub-par employees necessarily perform any better in the office vs remote. I think the goal should be to hire good people, and they will be good to you. Given all the technology and metrics available, it should be relatively easy to measure the quantity and quality of work being done regardless of location.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Continue working remotely in full. Continue flex hours. Staff zoom meeting once a month to check in with each other. I would appreciate monthly partial reimbursement for my internet and printing costs, and I would like the desktop computer at my home workspace.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Not commuting is best for the environment and is a more efficient use of my time, both work wise and in the rest of my life. I don't have the tiring from the commute itself and parking. I also don't have the cost of gas and car use, or the added risk.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Working remotely enables me to give the ideal workflow to my position with flex hours, ensuring the fastest turnaround for my editors and referees, many of whom are located overseas. Partial reimbursement for my internet and printing costs would be good. I might need any important snail-mail forwarded to me every other week.
Working remotely does entail some extra tasks we have transitioned to fully remote, so I am working a bit more densely, but I don't mind the trade-off of knowing I don't have to go in to the office.
I feel liberated from the worry of health concerns related to being in a building that has thousands of undergraduate students going through, whether or not the coronavirus is a concern, although I will also miss seeing the students with all their creative energy and joyfulness.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
work remotely 100% of the time - I have been doing that for 18 years
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
no commuting - work remotely 100%
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I am more productive; can access my work 24/7
Consider providing remote employees with equipment, or reimbursing them a portion of their costs
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I have enjoyed working remotely and am fine continuing to do so. I would prefer full remote work this fall.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Commuting cuts into work time for me a half hour each way so not commuting is nice.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
It works well in my position. I would like the current situation to influence future policy to allow for remote work even after the pandemic is under control.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Ideally, I would like to be able to spend some time each week in the office, maybe a day or two. Until we have a digital solution to our department's paper files, I need to be able to access files at work. The difficulty with this is the amount of equipment I have brought home with me. I use a desktop scanner almost daily and that is at home with me, though I can use the copier at the office. But I know people who have brought their desktop calculators home too. My desk chair is at home. I can carry my laptop back and forth, but the chair, especially, is trickier.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I live 5 minutes away so commuting doesn't really impact me.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Most of us are not working with idea set ups - on dining room tables that aren't the right height for keyboarding, etc. I worry that, like me, people are beginning to feel the effects of a not-very-ergonomically-correct work environment. But I don't know what can be done about this (and neither does the injury prevention program).
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would work remotely in all capacity! It is a great fit for me and I wish to always pursue remote work for the remainder of my career. I have filled out the other survey inquiring about this enthusiastically as to how important this is to me.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Not commuting is great, I live in downtown Ithaca and even though I am about a 10 minute drive from my office, it takes about 45 minutes commute time on the bus. This immediately results in time savings each day and I just have more "breathing" room in my life without commuting. I also do not have to worry about commuting in the winter weather, as someone who broke her ankle slipping on ice (commuting from Cornell) this is very desirable to me. Snow days wouldn't be as necessary if we are working from home anyway. Working remotely allows me to have more flexibility with where I live to find more affordable housing because I would not need to factor a regular commute into my day.
Also I do not have a car but I know parking is a huge issue on campus and many would love to avoid that hassle if they could. Transportation could sell parking to students as an option to generate income.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
This is the wave of the future. Many people are learning from quarantine that this is how they wish to work moving forward. I do have a couple of other questions regarding remote work as follows:
-How would office supply management, printing, etc. work? Are these items provided by Cornell?
-Do we get a stipend for a desk, chair, etc.?
-How would faxing/office phone access work?
-IT help - if work computer goes down, do we get provided desktop, etc.
-How would office supply management, printing, etc. work? Are these items provided by Cornell?
-Do we get a stipend for a desk, chair, etc.?
-How would faxing/office phone access work?
-IT help - if work computer goes down, do we get provided desktop, etc.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
The ideal would be a continuation of my current arrangement. Working remotely is something that I have adapted to, and it has been successful and productive to date.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I would continue to not commute.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
It takes a lot of planning and support, but staff in our unit have proven that it can be done successfully. All staff that I have "spoken" to, in various ways and both inside and outside of our unit, have expressed their desire to continue working remotely. All cited fear of COVID-19 as the primary reason. Many miss the connectivity of seeing colleagues in person, but we all feel the risk to ourselves, and to our families, is too great.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Have been working every day
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
n/a
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I have not worked remotely. I have been working every day. I have been there every day through it all.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Working remotely is OK. Need stable internet; appropriate home setup space/equipment.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Unit “culture” is changing by working remotely. How do units/teams develop new cultures. Informal connections are missing working remotely.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Right now the only thing I lack is a good chair/stool. I have a standing desk station I had built for myself already so am set ergonomically in that regard. However, I did not anticipate having to spend 7.8 hours/day at it and even with a floor mat, I still find I need to sit at times.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I don’t mind commuting, but still need to take public transit for personal and economic reasons when I do need to come in.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
For my position, it is necessary to come in to the office at least some of the time. We have active projects that require hands on work.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I have adjusted to working remotely and would like to continue to do so with only having to come into the office once a week or once every two weeks. I’ve only found that there is one aspect of my job that I’m not able to completely perform due to my internet/WiFi and slow upload speeds – otherwise, I have been able to perform all of my job responsibilities remotely. My work area could stand some improvement as I have taken over my dining room table; fortunately, I was able to bring home my office chair and monitor at the beginning of the pandemic so I’ve made it work.
An added benefit of working remotely has been that I have been very intentional about making sure that I get up and away from my “desk” rather than working through lunch or eating at my desk. Lastly, while I completely enjoy having students, staff and faculty come in or the day to day interruptions, I am finding that I can put my head down, focus and be more productive than I would be in my office on campus.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Given that I live 35 miles away and was taking the bus in for an almost hour commute each way, I would prefer to not commute. The time I have saved by only having to walk downstairs to my dining room has been valuable and knowing that I am done at a certain time and then don’t have a long ride home ahead of me is a plus. Additionally, not having to worry about travel in treacherous weather conditions makes it worth it.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
It would be helpful to know what sort of items staff might be able to purchase for their “home office”. For example, it would be great for me to have a plastic protector mat under my chair so I’m not ruining my dining room floor – is that an acceptable purchase via eShop or using my procurement card?
The other aspect to keep in mind is that some individuals thrive on person to person interaction. That is truly the one thing I miss – being able to go across the hall for a quick chat or having a conversation with someone in the hallway. Those informal chats are healthy and sometimes even lead to potential collaboration.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
I would like to continue working remotely full-time, except for occasional meetings or trainings. My ideal work situation would also include a balanced family-friendly and work-friends time schedule. For example, flexibility in start/end times.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Not regularly commuting saves me two and a half hours per day, which is a lot when you have a family (even when you do not have a family, it is a lot of time).
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
I would like you to consider the preference of the employee, but also the needs of his/her specific position. There may be positions at Cornell for which working remotely is not a feasible option because the employee has to interact with people in person in order to perform his/her tasks, or the employee has to be in a specific place to do his/her job. However, there are many positions that are suitable for working remotely. I think mine is one of them for example.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
My preference for our current circumstances is a combination of two or three days on site and the remainder working remotely.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I live outside of Ithaca and plan to drive. One question is whether the University might consider any changes to the current parking/permitting policies if many staff will not be on campus every day.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
High-speed internet is not universally available for residents of Tompkins County (or nearby counties).
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Yes. Going into the office occupationally for needed supplies, and remotely is ideal.
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
I do have a longer commute than most of my coworkers. About 45 mintues on a good day. If I am not needed at the office, it makes sense to save the gas.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Keep up with wellness programs. Working remotely can lead to some ups and downs, especially for those with family to consider.
What would your ideal work situation resemble, if you have the option of continuing to work remotely in some/all capacity?
Ideally, I would only be working remotely/from home a couple days per week and would work from the office the remaining days. In addition, there would be flexibility in determining when to work from the office and when to work remotely. When working remotely, I would ideally have a separate, private room from which to work and a more comfortable workspace with an adjustable standing desk. (Currently, I work out of a share living room/kitchen in a 3-room apartment, on a small, too tall desk that is very uncomfortable to work at.) My ideal work situation would also have high-speed, reliable internet and cell phone service (both of these services are spotty where I live).
How would commuting or not commuting play into your ideal scenario?
Commuting doesn’t factor into my ideal situation, as I had a short commute to the office. I would rather commute to an office everyday than work from home.
What would you like us to know and consider related to working remotely?
Consider the potential longer term negative impact on the physical health of staff who work from home. Many staff, myself included, do not have an ergonomic work station nor the financial means to create one. I have experienced increased back and neck pain over the months of working from home because of this. I have made what recommended adjustments I can in my current situation, but I don’t have the financial means to purchase, for example, an ergonomic desk, which would make my at-home station much more comfortable. I have a laptop, but much of my work requires that I use a large monitor, so simply relocating to another space throughout the workday is not feasible. (I also live in a small apartment and there’s not another place for me to work within it.) If staff continue to work remotely, I would like Cornell to really consider issues of access to reliable services (i.e., internet and cell), ergonomic furniture, privacy, etc.