OT: Career advice Part II

[will1066]

First day at new place tomorrow, less than 24 hours, back in an office environment, after 5 years at home. Like turning back the clock. I'm grateful to be working, but this is gonna be an adjustment. And I have to drive by the old place as I get to the new place, as it's just down the road lol.

 

[will1066]

I have 27 years experience as a IT Business Analyst, Data Analyst, QA Tester, Project Coordination, Project Management - both Waterfall and Agile, and SCRUM. Unfortunately, I've been pigeonholed as having work in banking.

As for other areas - smaller cities with less uncontrolled growth. These places like Charlotte and Raleigh become absolutely awful and overly competitive and make New Yorkers/New Jerseyans look Minnesota nice.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
Knoxville, TN
The Beach, NC

Honestly, things are extremely expensive down here - I MIGHT even consider moving back up to the NYC area if and only if, the package was worth it. The only real difference now are property taxes.

It's chaotic. There are so many opinions on the world of work and where it's going. It's scary, tbh. I think it's tough right now to switch fields and industries (my opinion). Employers want people with industry knowledge and experience to get going fast, and, for lack of better term, they have their pick of the litter with so many candidates applying.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I was debating about whether I should share this but everyone here knows I'm a crazy person already so not like y'all opinions of me can get any worse, lol.

So remember that contract job I got hired for? I got a call from the recruiter and kaput they terminated my contract 1 week in.

Their complaints:

1) I asked about WFH every day.

2) There was a lot of work and I was on my phone all the time and the work wasn't getting done as a result.

3) I left my computer on with sensitive material when I left.

My responses:

1) I asked about whether it was Hybrid was told to go to a particular person, I went to that person she told me to bring it up with the CFO in person, I brought it up with the CFO and he was very annoyed and told me to worry about the job. The recruiter never made it clear I got an email that said:

Ask for XXXX at Working in the office Mon-Thurs 9-5 Fri 9-1

While that points to it being onsite I felt that was ambiguous enough to confirm and people were working from home Thursday and Friday.

2) I won't say I was perfect with my phone but like 90% of my usage was when I had downtime. A few times I finished what I was doing and was told by the person whom I shared my deliverable with they were busy. So I had downtime and I was on my phone. As far as work not being done, I did everything I was given, perhaps there was more to be done and maybe I should have risked being annoying and asked but there was absolutely no work delegated to me that I didn't finish, much less not finish because I was on my phone.

3) Sure I should have locked the screen, but it seems a lot more appropriate just to tell me to.

All in all, it seems disproportionate to get fired ONE week in over this. I feel like having it be open ended the guy was treating me as a trial subscription to the New York Times. I had a contract role before that I was in over my head in because I had no background in project management and even there they kept me on for months and when they terminated my contract I go an offer in a different department through the end of the contract.

 

[Machinehead]

I'm at my max at my current position but my manager advocated for a performance based raise to upper management and I got it. It's not a terribly large raise, but it's not to be recognized.

The New York Liberty are thrilled about their new source of income!

 

[Machinehead]

I was debating about whether I should share this but everyone here knows I'm a crazy person already so not like y'all opinions of me can get any worse, lol.

So remember that contract job I got hired for? I got a call from the recruiter and kaput they terminated my contract 1 week in.

Their complaints:

1) I asked about WFH every day.

2) There was a lot of work and I was on my phone all the time and the work wasn't getting done as a result.

3) I left my computer on with sensitive material when I left.

My responses:

1) I asked about whether it was Hybrid was told to go to a particular person, I went to that person she told me to bring it up with the CFO in person, I brought it up with the CFO and he was very annoyed and told me to worry about the job. The recruiter never made it clear I got an email that said:

Ask for XXXX at Working in the office Mon-Thurs 9-5 Fri 9-1

While that points to it being onsite I felt that was ambiguous enough to confirm and people were working from home Thursday and Friday.

2) I won't say I was perfect with my phone but like 90% of my usage was when I had downtime. A few times I finished what I was doing and was told by the person whom I shared my deliverable with they were busy. So I had downtime and I was on my phone. As far as work not being done, I did everything I was given, perhaps there was more to be done and maybe I should have risked being annoying and asked but there was absolutely no work delegated to me that I didn't finish, much less not finish because I was on my phone.

3) Sure I should have locked the screen, but it seems a lot more appropriate just to tell me to.

All in all, it seems disproportionate to get fired ONE week in over this. I feel like having it be open ended the guy was treating me as a trial subscription to the New York Times. I had a contract role before that I was in over my head in because I had no background in project management and even there they kept me on for months and when they terminated my contract I go an offer in a different department through the end of the contract.

This just sounds completely f***ing toxic.

At the very least none of this warrants termination. This is something you have you have a conversation about. Even as a new employee, if I did 1, my manager would have made damn sure she got me an answer because I have a right to an answer, and if I did 2 or 3 she would literally just be like "please don't do that," and it wouldn't even be a formal warning the first time.

As a matter of fact, she knows I take a minute to myself on the internet now and then and she said "as long as the work gets done."

Sometimes the vibes are off and it sounds to me like somebody with power said "I don't like that guy." Which doesn't mean you did anything wrong. Sometimes it's just like that.

If this is the type of culture they have, it doesn't sound like a hassle you needed in your life.

My job isn't perfect by any means, but I'll say this: the people responsible for me always treat me like a human being. You deserve the same.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

This just sounds completely f***ing toxic.

At the very least none of this warrants termination. This is something you have you have a conversation about. Even as a new employee, if I did 1, my manager would have made damn sure she got me an answer because I have a right to an answer, and if I did 2 or 3 she would literally just be like "please don't do that," and it wouldn't even be a formal warning the first time.

As a matter of fact, she knows I take a minute to myself on the internet now and then and she said "as long as the work gets done."

Sometimes the vibes are off and it sounds to me like somebody with power said "I don't like that guy." Which doesn't mean you did anything wrong. Sometimes it's just like that.

If this is the type of culture they have, it doesn't sound like a hassle you needed in your life.

My job isn't perfect by any means, but I'll say this: the people responsible for me always treat me like a human being. You deserve the same.

Thanks but I don't know I was getting a lot of "tough love" from friends today about this. But sure I f***ed up some things. But I think because I was a contractor they just viewed me as disposable. I liken this week to a trial for the New York Times and that's how I was treated. I just can't fathom how it's ok to just end the contract without having one conversation on any of these things. The only thing I had a conversation on was WFH and after I got a negative response in the conversation I never brought it up again. If you want to be unforgiving then give one warning, give me a week to improve THEN fire me. This was absolutely ridiculous.

Edit: They talked about the WFH more than anything. I feel like the CFO just has an outdated opinion about WFH and felt like I just wanted to slack off (the phone stuff wasn't helpful) and I'm just a new contractor. I feel like that caused him to dislike me on a personal level and that's why they pulled the plug so quickly.

 

[will1066]

Thanks but I don't know I was getting a lot of "tough love" from friends today about this. But sure I f***ed up some things. But I think because I was a contractor they just viewed me as disposable. I liken this week to a trial for the New York Times and that's how I was treated. I just can't fathom how it's ok to just end the contract without having one conversation on any of these things. The only thing I had a conversation on was WFH and after I got a negative response in the conversation I never brought it up again. If you want to be unforgiving then give one warning, give me a week to improve THEN fire me. This was absolutely ridiculous.

Edit: They talked about the WFH more than anything. I feel like the CFO just has an outdated opinion about WFH and felt like I just wanted to slack off (the phone stuff wasn't helpful) and I'm just a new contractor. I feel like that caused him to dislike me on a personal level and that's why they pulled the plug so quickly.

Sorry, man. Sounds like a raw deal you got.

 

[Takeahnase]

Thanks but I don't know I was getting a lot of "tough love" from friends today about this. But sure I f***ed up some things. But I think because I was a contractor they just viewed me as disposable. I liken this week to a trial for the New York Times and that's how I was treated. I just can't fathom how it's ok to just end the contract without having one conversation on any of these things. The only thing I had a conversation on was WFH and after I got a negative response in the conversation I never brought it up again. If you want to be unforgiving then give one warning, give me a week to improve THEN fire me. This was absolutely ridiculous.

Edit: They talked about the WFH more than anything. I feel like the CFO just has an outdated opinion about WFH and felt like I just wanted to slack off (the phone stuff wasn't helpful) and I'm just a new contractor. I feel like that caused him to dislike me on a personal level and that's why they pulled the plug so quickly.

It’s not my place to give you tough love or anything like that, but you have to start looking at contracting not through the lens of an employee. You *are* disposable. At the highest those first 1-3 weeks. Week 1 and 2 of contracting you are getting the lay of the land. You don’t even know who to trust at this point. Some employees may think it’s bullshit management is paying some dude to come in at a high rate to tell them how to do shit, etc. Knives may be out. As Norm said on Cheers, it’s a dog eat dog world and don’t don your milk-bone underwear that early in the game.

Establish yourself as a contractor / consultant before asking for anything. The first few weeks is when you are the most easily replaceable on a contract. The longer you are there, the more they have invested (still never to the level as an employee) and the more trust you have. Once you get to that level of trust and know the people then you might be able to ask for some quality of life perks.

You’ll bounce back. The next gig might be better suited to you. Take some lessons from this experience, though.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

It’s not my place to give you tough love or anything like that, but you have to start looking at contracting not through the lens of an employee. You *are* disposable. At the highest those first 1-3 weeks. Week 1 and 2 of contracting you are getting the lay of the land. You don’t even know who to trust at this point. Some employees may think it’s bullshit management is paying some dude to come in at a high rate to tell them how to do shit, etc. Knives may be out. As Norm said on Cheers, it’s a dog eat dog world and don’t don your milk-bone underwear that early in the game.

Establish yourself as a contractor / consultant before asking for anything. The first few weeks is when you are the most easily replaceable on a contract. The longer you are there, the more they have invested (still never to the level as an employee) and the more trust you have. Once you get to that level of trust and know the people then you might be able to ask for some quality of life perks.

You’ll bounce back. The next gig might be better suited to you. Take some lessons from this experience, though.

What a thankless gig it is. 100% downside and no upside. This isn't freelancing from the local coffee shop and setting your own hours. I come in spend the same time as employees in the office but get treated as less than and don't get insurance subsidized and don't get holidays paid for. There is zero benefit and it's an exploitative relationship.

 

[NCRanger]

I was debating about whether I should share this but everyone here knows I'm a crazy person already so not like y'all opinions of me can get any worse, lol.

So remember that contract job I got hired for? I got a call from the recruiter and kaput they terminated my contract 1 week in.

Their complaints:

1) I asked about WFH every day.

2) There was a lot of work and I was on my phone all the time and the work wasn't getting done as a result.

3) I left my computer on with sensitive material when I left.

My responses:

1) I asked about whether it was Hybrid was told to go to a particular person, I went to that person she told me to bring it up with the CFO in person, I brought it up with the CFO and he was very annoyed and told me to worry about the job. The recruiter never made it clear I got an email that said:

Ask for XXXX at Working in the office Mon-Thurs 9-5 Fri 9-1

While that points to it being onsite I felt that was ambiguous enough to confirm and people were working from home Thursday and Friday.

2) I won't say I was perfect with my phone but like 90% of my usage was when I had downtime. A few times I finished what I was doing and was told by the person whom I shared my deliverable with they were busy. So I had downtime and I was on my phone. As far as work not being done, I did everything I was given, perhaps there was more to be done and maybe I should have risked being annoying and asked but there was absolutely no work delegated to me that I didn't finish, much less not finish because I was on my phone.

3) Sure I should have locked the screen, but it seems a lot more appropriate just to tell me to.

All in all, it seems disproportionate to get fired ONE week in over this. I feel like having it be open ended the guy was treating me as a trial subscription to the New York Times. I had a contract role before that I was in over my head in because I had no background in project management and even there they kept me on for months and when they terminated my contract I go an offer in a different department through the end of the contract.

I used to be a contractor from 2006-2013.

I then was FTE until 2023.

I went back to contracting in 2024.

Things are A LOT different now. You used to get treated as a team member. Now you're expected to do double the work with absolutely no learning curve.

The schedule should have been communicated to you by your account manager, and just because employees are doing something doesn't mean you can.

The phone thing seems stupid as long as you were getting stuff done, and in the first week, how much could you be doing?

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I used to be a contractor from 2006-2013.

I then was FTE until 2023.

I went back to contracting in 2024.

Things are A LOT different now. You used to get treated as a team member. Now you're expected to do double the work with absolutely no learning curve.

The schedule should have been communicated to you by your account manager, and just because employees are doing something doesn't mean you can.

The phone thing seems stupid as long as you were getting stuff done, and in the first week, how much could you be doing?

The WFH, I did get info in an email from the recruiter but it was a barely legible fragment: Ask for XXXX at Working in the office Mon-Thurs 9-5 Fri 9-1. I just wanted to confirm. The problem I have is not that they didn't let me WFH. The problem is they didn't even give me an answer and used that to let me go as if just asking the question was going out of my lane.

The phone thing I honestly understand but they thought or just lied that I wasn't getting work done I was. In hindsight I should have been less shy about asking for work even though that could be perceived negatively as well.

As far as being treated as a team member, did I mention how I got MONTHS of rope at a role I had absolutely no expertise and no business at being in in my last contract role as a Project Manager? Then when I told my boss I wanted to quit he convinced me not to and told me something was coming along I'd be able to do. Then I got 3-4 weeks notice that my contract was being terminated. Then another team gave me an offer to finish the contract in accounting. Even I think all of this was more kind than I deserved but this was not some horsehit mission driven nonprofit. This was a Utility company and they treated me with the utmost respect and probably more than I deserved.

 

[Overcast]

The WFH, I did get info in an email from the recruiter but it was a barely legible fragment: Ask for XXXX at Working in the office Mon-Thurs 9-5 Fri 9-1. I just wanted to confirm. The problem I have is not that they didn't let me WFH. The problem is they didn't even give me an answer and used that to let me go as if just asking the question was going out of my lane.

The phone thing I honestly understand but they thought or just lied that I wasn't getting work done I was. In hindsight I should have been less shy about asking for work even though that could be perceived negatively as well.

As far as being treated as a team member, did I mention how I got MONTHS of rope at a role I had absolutely no expertise and no business at being in in my last contract role as a Project Manager? Then when I told my boss I wanted to quit he convinced me not to and told me something was coming along I'd be able to do. Then I got 3-4 weeks notice that my contract was being terminated. Then another team gave me an offer to finish the contract in accounting. Even I think all of this was more kind than I deserved but this was not some horsehit mission driven nonprofit. This was a Utility company and they treated me with the utmost respect and probably more than I deserved.

To me, the bolded highlights how shitty of an environment this most recent place was. It sounds like they expected you to be autonomous and dictate the amount of work you were receiving/doing..but it also sounds like they wouldn't have received anything you did positively, if their first reaction to you trying to get an answer to a question was to let you go (on top of the rest of the seeming lack of communication). Sounds like you dodged a bullet honestly. The lapse in pay might suck right now, but something better suited will come along.

 

[Gardner McKay]

I was debating about whether I should share this but everyone here knows I'm a crazy person already so not like y'all opinions of me can get any worse, lol.

So remember that contract job I got hired for? I got a call from the recruiter and kaput they terminated my contract 1 week in.

Their complaints:

1) I asked about WFH every day.

2) There was a lot of work and I was on my phone all the time and the work wasn't getting done as a result.

3) I left my computer on with sensitive material when I left.

My responses:

1) I asked about whether it was Hybrid was told to go to a particular person, I went to that person she told me to bring it up with the CFO in person, I brought it up with the CFO and he was very annoyed and told me to worry about the job. The recruiter never made it clear I got an email that said:

Ask for XXXX at Working in the office Mon-Thurs 9-5 Fri 9-1

While that points to it being onsite I felt that was ambiguous enough to confirm and people were working from home Thursday and Friday.

2) I won't say I was perfect with my phone but like 90% of my usage was when I had downtime. A few times I finished what I was doing and was told by the person whom I shared my deliverable with they were busy. So I had downtime and I was on my phone. As far as work not being done, I did everything I was given, perhaps there was more to be done and maybe I should have risked being annoying and asked but there was absolutely no work delegated to me that I didn't finish, much less not finish because I was on my phone.

3) Sure I should have locked the screen, but it seems a lot more appropriate just to tell me to.

All in all, it seems disproportionate to get fired ONE week in over this. I feel like having it be open ended the guy was treating me as a trial subscription to the New York Times. I had a contract role before that I was in over my head in because I had no background in project management and even there they kept me on for months and when they terminated my contract I go an offer in a different department through the end of the contract.

#1 That should be clarified before you even start. If the recruiter didn't give you sufficient information, always follow up with an email clarifying your point. It goes further than you can imagine.

Seems like it was a issue with both parties. However, I will say, if someone brand new is asking about WFH during their first week, regardless of circumstance, I would probably have done the same.

There are vastly more job seekers than there are jobs and the simple solution is to find someone else. I hate to say it but it has been that way since the end of 2023.

#3 If #1 didn't exist, they probably would have talked to you. But when you start by asking for WFH every day, it just adds fuel to the fire.

Add in #2, and it gives the perception of laziness. While that may not be the case, you have to think about how your actions create an image of you, to the employer. Many people don't think about this piece.

I know I'm going to get flamed for this response but as a Senior HR Leader who has nearly 15 years of recruiting/HR experience... it is just the reality of the situation. It isn't a toxic work environment. There is ownership needed on your part of this failed working relationship and then learning of what not to do next time.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

To me, the bolded highlights how shitty of an environment this most recent place was. It sounds like they expected you to be autonomous and dictate the amount of work you were receiving/doing..but it also sounds like they wouldn't have received anything you did positively, if their first reaction to you trying to get an answer to a question was to let you go (on top of the rest of the seeming lack of communication). Sounds like you dodged a bullet honestly. The lapse in pay might suck right now, but something better suited will come along.

The bolded was a different place, sorry I wasn't clear. And I was just trying to compare it to this place I just got let go from. I was trying to show how they were trying to make it work in this other place and even convinced me not to quit and kept me on for months and then gave me weeks notice when my contract was terminated. My point was it was a different contract place where they treated me very differently and didn't just terminate my contract without a word spoken in a week.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

#1 That should be clarified before you even start. If the recruiter didn't give you sufficient information, always follow up with an email clarifying your point. It goes further than you can imagine.

Seems like it was a issue with both parties. However, I will say, if someone brand new is asking about WFH during their first week, regardless of circumstance, I would probably have done the same.

There are vastly more job seekers than there are jobs and the simple solution is to find someone else. I hate to say it but it has been that way since the end of 2023.

#3 If #1 didn't exist, they probably would have talked to you. But when you start by asking for WFH every day, it just adds fuel to the fire.

Add in #2, and it gives the perception of laziness. While that may not be the case, you have to think about how your actions create an image of you, to the employer. Many people don't think about this piece.

I know I'm going to get flamed for this response but as a Senior HR Leader who has nearly 15 years of recruiting/HR experience... it is just the reality of the situation. It isn't a toxic work environment. There is ownership needed on your part of this failed working relationship and then learning of what not to do next time.

The idea that asking about WFH is so offensive to companies that to me is toxic. Now maybe attitudes have shifted since 2023. But 2020-2023 showed people can be productive working from home. Having someone in the office is about control and nothing else and plenty of companies still are remote. It's an outdated way of thinking that working from home results in less productivity and personally I have found out to be the opposite. If I was told no and I insisted on it it's one thing but just being honestly asked I don't see the problem. The only way it's a problem is if you have toxic untrusting attitudes about the people that work for you. Because otherwise a simple no would suffice rather this best big offense and seeing it as a red flag.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

And without trying to be offensive here just because you would do the same doesn't make it any less toxic. Especially from HR's perspective who are all basically shills. Now I have to take into consideration practical realities of the CFO and HR and change my behavior accordingly but that doesn't make companies' current attitudes or the behaviors of this org in this situation not toxic. Or at the very least the system is toxic. You have years of evidence of WFH working and many people have very valid reasons for it. The fact that they were highly offended by the questions shows that their attitudes have not kept up with realities and their default is "well this guy must not want to work". It's not 2019. I'd understand it if it were, it isn't. It's an outdated take. And notice I'm not complaining about any policy they have. If they told me "it's onsite", I wouldn't say a peep. It's the attitude of that just asking means this guy is not loyal, insubordinate, and lazy. That's f***ing toxic and outdated.

 

[will1066]

First day at new place tomorrow, less than 24 hours, back in an office environment, after 5 years at home. Like turning back the clock. I'm grateful to be working, but this is gonna be an adjustment. And I have to drive by the old place as I get to the new place, as it's just down the road lol.

It's going well. I'm not coming off like someone who hid in a bunker the last few years. My boss resembles Darren Pang.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

It's going well. I'm not coming off like someone who hid in a bunker the last few years. My boss resembles Darren Pang.

So when you say you worked from home but have to drive by the old place there's an office but the work was remote? And you either rarely or never went into the office? I had this type of environment in my last two jobs. I worked remote most of the time and came in for team outings. It was nice for team building but I loved WFH after Covid ended and I could actually leave the apartment for fun. During Covid I wanted to go back to the office. And then I got used to remote work when I could leave the house (during Covid I felt trapped by working remote). I still think if I didn't want to travel to the DR to see my wife I'd probably in some ways prefer hybrid. But with the caveat that every time I have a choice, I choose remote work out of sheer laziness.

 

[NCRanger]

#1 That should be clarified before you even start. If the recruiter didn't give you sufficient information, always follow up with an email clarifying your point. It goes further than you can imagine.

Seems like it was a issue with both parties. However, I will say, if someone brand new is asking about WFH during their first week, regardless of circumstance, I would probably have done the same.

There are vastly more job seekers than there are jobs and the simple solution is to find someone else. I hate to say it but it has been that way since the end of 2023.

#3 If #1 didn't exist, they probably would have talked to you. But when you start by asking for WFH every day, it just adds fuel to the fire.

Add in #2, and it gives the perception of laziness. While that may not be the case, you have to think about how your actions create an image of you, to the employer. Many people don't think about this piece.

I know I'm going to get flamed for this response but as a Senior HR Leader who has nearly 15 years of recruiting/HR experience... it is just the reality of the situation. It isn't a toxic work environment. There is ownership needed on your part of this failed working relationship and then learning of what not to do next time.

The WFH thing should have been either clarified with the account manager before he even walked into the place day one, OR, if he was told to talk to XXXXX, XXXXX should have told him no, we don't WFH. It shouldn't have been ambiguous. Not getting a yes or no answer to a yes/no question, is a bit toxic. Yet, it probably would have been better for him to just assume no.

Contracting is a completely different world that in was pre-COVID. It's like you can't do anything right no matter what you do right.

I actually signed up to drive Uber and got approved this morning, just so I can put a couple dollars into the bank account each week.

The job market is absolutely stupid right now. There's absolutely no way the unemployment rate is under 5%.

 

[NickyFotiu]

First day at new place tomorrow, less than 24 hours, back in an office environment, after 5 years at home. Like turning back the clock. I'm grateful to be working, but this is gonna be an adjustment. And I have to drive by the old place as I get to the new place, as it's just down the road lol.

Do you think there is any chance you will like working around other people? Does it seem to make your day go any faster or slower?

 

[NickyFotiu]

The WFH thing should have been either clarified with the account manager before he even walked into the place day one, OR, if he was told to talk to XXXXX, XXXXX should have told him no, we don't WFH. It shouldn't have been ambiguous. Not getting a yes or no answer to a yes/no question, is a bit toxic. Yet, it probably would have been better for him to just assume no.

Contracting is a completely different world that in was pre-COVID. It's like you can't do anything right no matter what you do right.

I actually signed up to drive Uber and got approved this morning, just so I can put a couple dollars into the bank account each week.

The job market is absolutely stupid right now. There's absolutely no way the unemployment rate is under 5%.

The way we measure unemployment is not very good. Last year they had some crazy revisions to previous months announced numbers. I would follow the actual percentage of working Americans more than the unemployment claims or telephone surveys.

 

[NCRanger]

The bolded was a different place, sorry I wasn't clear. And I was just trying to compare it to this place I just got let go from. I was trying to show how they were trying to make it work in this other place and even convinced me not to quit and kept me on for months and then gave me weeks notice when my contract was terminated. My point was it was a different contract place where they treated me very differently and didn't just terminate my contract without a word spoken in a week.

2017/2018 might as well be the 1950's when it comes to work environments now.

Employers used to try to make things work with hires. Now, employers blame contractors for employer errors.

 

[will1066]

Do you think there is any chance you will like working around other people? Does it seem to make your day go any faster or slower?

I think I will like working around other people. Was assigned a buddy who will get me acclimated to the environment, had lunch together yesterday, which was nice, and enjoyed short walks/breaks with my new teammates. I like working from home as well, but after 5 years, it's time to go back to the office. I'm 3 days office/2 home, and I'm home today, it's a good balance. I'm home Fridays and Mondays too, so it's a nice bookend to the weekend.

 

[NCRanger]

The way we measure unemployment is not very good. Last year they had some crazy revisions to previous months announced numbers. I would follow the actual percentage of working Americans more than the unemployment claims or telephone surveys.

Well, I do know that the official measure before the mid-1990's was the U6 number. It was changed to U3 then.

I think "officially" the U6 number is somewhere around 8%, while the U3 number is in the 4's.

I can't claim unemployment because I didn't work long enough.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I think I will like working around other people. Was assigned a buddy who will get me acclimated to the environment, had lunch together yesterday, which was nice, and enjoyed short walks/breaks with my new teammates. I like working from home as well, but after 5 years, it's time to go back to the office. I'm 3 days office/2 home, and I'm home today, it's a good balance. I'm home Fridays and Mondays too, so it's a nice bookend to the weekend.

That is great to hear. My dad used to say moderation with most things. Jamie Dimon and some other CEOs have said its time to get back in the office. I can see both sides and obviously different industries have different fits.