TZL 1384 (web)

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O P I N I O N

N ow that we have been working from home for almost a year, we are used to this new way of delivering projects and reporting for duty. Let’s unpack the pros and cons of our new lifestyle. Now that we’ve been working from home for a year, let’s unpack the pros and cons of our new lifestyle. Everything we’ve gained and lost

WHAT IS WORKING? Working from home gives us increased flexibility. You can work when you’re sick. You can work when your kids are sick. It reduces schedule-stress and enables us to work around “whatever.” We no longer drive in rush- hour. We are spending less money on gas and reducing our carbon footprint, which is good for the environment. We can also take our work to remote and exotic locations with the all-powerful combination that is a laptop and Wi-Fi. Some organizations are starting to consider the option of downsizing office space to reduce costs. This change has forced us to collectively adapt to technologies that had already existed but were being underutilized. Virtual client meetings/ interviews have become the norm across the industry. That means no wasted time traveling and fewer lunch or cocktail expenses.

“Had it not been for the pandemic, we would never have fully adopted the new technology. Now, you have no choice but to get on board. I have seen some of our project managers get really sophisticated with how they use the tools for collaboration. It’s been cool to watch people do that – reviewing drawings and red lining edits together in real time.” – Timothy Lindholm, PG, Senior Executive Officer, Capital Projects, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority We can be thankful this much needed progress and innovation blossomed out of unmistakably tough times. WHAT’S NOT WORKING? Now that we have scaled the hurdles of home-office setup, I often hear people say they can “complete all their work from home.”

Talin Espinoza

See TALIN ESPINOZA, page 12

THE ZWEIG LETTER MARCH 22, 2021, ISSUE 1384

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