CUBE LIFE! Office Etiquette

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Sat Jun 12, 2021 9:36 am

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 11, 2021 7:57 pm It was used very heavily at Microsoft when I was there. I think it had something to do with the original Out of Office Feature in Outlook/Exchange.

Ok...that makes sense now. This guy worked at Microsoft for a long time.

Post by **Shirley** » Sat Jun 12, 2021 10:54 am

Yep, it's the term everyone at Microsoft uses, although nobody I asked knew why.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Sat Jun 12, 2021 4:43 pm

Do new managers/directors do 'immersion' meetings when getting hired on? Like the new boss comes by the office to say hello and stuff and introduce him/herself to everyone?

Our new squadron superintendent did his immersion to all the different sections of my squadron this week. And I wondered if this kinda thing ends in the civilian world.

We make big deals with full pomp and circumstance when a commander changes. And the 'command team' drops by on official visits after the fact.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sat Jun 12, 2021 4:57 pm

Johnnie wrote: ↑Sat Jun 12, 2021 4:43 pm Do new managers/directors do 'immersion' meetings when getting hired on? Like the new boss comes by the office to say hello and stuff and introduce him/herself to everyone?

Our new squadron superintendent did his immersion to all the different sections of my squadron this week. And I wondered if this kinda thing ends in the civilian world.

We make big deals with full pomp and circumstance when a commander changes. And the 'command team' drops by on official visits after the fact.

It's not a policy or anything but the last time we got a new manager rifht away she took the team out for drinks, happy hour. We're also a small team of 7.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Sun Jun 13, 2021 10:01 am

At my place of employment, we have something called "smart starts" for new managers. They meet with their team (usually individually) and then over the course of a month or so, they meet with key senior managers that they'll likely come in frequent contact with outside of their department.

Post by **Shirley** » Sun Jun 13, 2021 2:33 pm

Of course. Why wouldn’t a new manager want to meet with all the people that work for them?

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:08 am

I'm sure these have been around in more advanced parts of the country for a while, but I just saw my first arm handle in the bathroom (not a euphemism). In a related story, first day back at the office.

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:17 am

Just learned on a Zoom that the office is reopening for vaccinated employees on 6/28. Optional.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:50 am

rass wrote: ↑Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:17 am Just learned on a Zoom that the office is reopening for vaccinated employees on 6/28. Optional.

Interesting. But at some point non-vaccinated people have to come back. My office plans to re-open in September but are really struggling to come up a plan.

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:52 am

Dunno. I'm vaccinated and never want to go back in, but maybe there are some twisted fuckers who hate science but love commuting.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:57 am

rass wrote: ↑Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:52 am Dunno. I'm vaccinated and never want to go back in, but maybe there are some twisted fuckers who hate science but love commuting.

When else would you have time to listen to the Joe Rogan podcast?

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 11:01 am

Driving to soccer practice, right syb?

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 11:36 am

working for the Fed here, nothing official but rumblings about going back have been going on for a month. Last week the national dept sent out a survey on telework (as it's called here) and all of us in our group made sure to put everything about how great we're doing. lots of questions like: "rate how your productivity is compared to when in the office" and i'd answer "substantially more at home" with little explanations. Still no idea (and Gov Cuomo just officially opened up the state yesterday) what will happen but i took it as a good sign at least that they're considering options.

but yeah, i'm good to never go back to the office ever again.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 11:56 am

rass wrote: ↑Wed Jun 16, 2021 11:01 am Driving to soccer practice, right syb?

Ha, while my daughter does love Joe Rogan, we only listen to Men in Blazers going to practice.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 4:20 pm

Just got an email that I am eligible for "voluntary return to office." I have been officially remote for about 2 years, and while we made a lot more people remote when we officially return to office in September, my role was designated as "must report to work 5 days a week except for emergency exceptions, subject to supervisor's discretion." Luckily my supervisor warned me before HR notified me, and she told me she doesn't care if I ever go in, but her boss wanted me to have a dedicated desk. Her boss said in a meeting she will never look to see if we ever go into the office, and she doesn't care, so I'll continue rarely going in, although I am kind of itching to get out of the house, so I might go in periodically. Anyways, this voluntary RTO is a lottery, and "signing up isn't a guarantee." Is anyone really that desperate to return to the office? I guess people living in a city apartment with kids home for the summer probably are, but they made it sound like an honor to get the opportunity to enter a RTO lottery.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Wed Jun 30, 2021 2:53 pm

In Zoom bingo I just crossed off "for all intensive purposes".

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:52 am

Some people are keen to back to the office to score points and get a leg up. Some people think they're super important.

And this is going to sound mean, but working from home has really exposed some of weaker strugglers. Loging in remotely, zoom meetings, doing things on your own. At the office they can fake it or ask someone 5 feet away to help. There are people where I work who have been exposed and they can't wait to go back to get back to just getting by.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:58 pm

I will never make the mistake of taking a trip and thinking 'oh, I'll only put in 4 hour days while I'm remote'.

That's what I did this week, and I've basically been working my regular schedule.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Thu Jul 01, 2021 1:16 pm

This. I've been trying my hardest to unplug, and only barely log on. 10 minutes is at least 45.

Post by **brian** » Thu Jul 01, 2021 2:20 pm

If anyone's noticed me not being on here as much it's because I no longer have a job to spend on here avoiding.

I'm getting too strong of a taste of the retired life and fear I may like it too much. I had a goal of getting my LinkedIn profile in order and maybe even looking around for some opportunities but haven't even managed that.

And like an idiot I agreed to do some contract QA work for my former employer which they've taken me up on, so now I get to work next week (granted at the extortionate rate of $100/hour).

Since the state of Nevada continues to be fuckups and not process my unemployment, it's probably just as well. I'm not confident I'll ever see a dime of that sweet, sweet government money.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Jul 08, 2021 7:48 am

The Sybian wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 7:32 am
A_B wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 6:41 am I've recently helped take over the role of a colleague who resigned. As part of that I get his e-mails. Just got a notice that he signed up for a dating site. So far as I know, he is still...attached. I only checked the email because it was a payment that I didn't recognize and might need to be paid as part of a recurring cost.

None of my business, but a peril of using your work email for personal reasons.
My wife had a similar experience. A guy who reported to her left for another job, and she had to sort through his emails looking for something. She had the added twist of the guy dating another employee who also reported to my wife, and they got engaged shortly after.

Dude is spending a lot of money on this dating site!

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:01 pm

Employee of the month!

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Jul 16, 2021 7:53 am

Back at the office for the first time since this thing started. Surprisingly clean and not so dusty.
1.) My chair at work is WAY better than the one in my home setup.
2.) My big monitor at home versus the monitor setup I have at the office is going to take an adjustment.
3.) First reasonable opportunity I have had to put on searsucker pants since 2019.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Jul 16, 2021 8:03 am

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 7:53 am Back at the office for the first time since this thing started. Surprisingly clean and not so dusty.
1.) My chair at work is WAY better than the one in my home setup.
2.) My big monitor at home versus the monitor setup I have at the office is going to take an adjustment.
3.) First reasonable opportunity I have had to put on searsucker pants since 2019.

1.Same
2.Opposite
3. I wear seersucker exclusively.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Fri Jul 16, 2021 8:09 am

Seersucker SZN, bitches!

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Jul 16, 2021 8:26 am

And FUCK. I missed a deadline and it worked out badly. I'm so fucking disorganized these days.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Fri Jul 16, 2021 8:55 am

I don't think Searsucker has crossed the Mason Dixon Line.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:04 am

J Crew was really pushing that shit in the aughts. (Maybe still are?)

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:17 am

I'm sure its not always fair, but when I see seersucker I think "he's racist, but knows enough to not act it in polite company".

Post by **Shirley** » Sat Jul 17, 2021 12:20 pm

Mr Finch is disappointed.

Post by **brian** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:45 am

Looks like I might end up getting suckered back into working again a little sooner than I wanted. One of my best friends who was also laid off at the old joint ended up at a company that doing vaccine passport technology using distributed data so that there is no data storage nor any chance of hacking, etc.

They need some people, but they're waiting on another round of VC funding which seems likely (especially given the current shitshow/state of play in the US), but I'd have to work for two months for equity and then would like go to full salary and benefits (probably more than I was making at the old place).

Of course, I'm not hurting for money at the moment and have a side gig consulting for the old company, so there's some money rolling in. Still, I'm torn. In some respects I've enjoyed not having to work and just being able to do whatever (which hasn't been much to be honest, especially with the insanely hot summers here), but also find myself wishing I had some more structure that a job would provide. Anyway, just venting a little I guess. Carry on.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 12:02 pm

Seersucker helps with the summer heat.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 12:18 pm

brian wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:45 am Looks like I might end up getting suckered back into working again a little sooner than I wanted. One of my best friends who was also laid off at the old joint ended up at a company that doing vaccine passport technology using distributed data so that there is no data storage nor any chance of hacking, etc.

They need some people, but they're waiting on another round of VC funding which seems likely (especially given the current shitshow/state of play in the US), but I'd have to work for two months for equity and then would like go to full salary and benefits (probably more than I was making at the old place).

Of course, I'm not hurting for money at the moment and have a side gig consulting for the old company, so there's some money rolling in. Still, I'm torn. In some respects I've enjoyed not having to work and just being able to do whatever (which hasn't been much to be honest, especially with the insanely hot summers here), but also find myself wishing I had some more structure that a job would provide. Anyway, just venting a little I guess. Carry on.

Working with your best friend and helping a startup(?) would be fulfilling and provide the structure that you need. At this point you can pick and choose so try something you would enjoy.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 12:41 pm

brian wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:45 am Looks like I might end up getting suckered back into working again a little sooner than I wanted. One of my best friends who was also laid off at the old joint ended up at a company that doing vaccine passport technology using distributed data so that there is no data storage nor any chance of hacking, etc.

They need some people, but they're waiting on another round of VC funding which seems likely (especially given the current shitshow/state of play in the US), but I'd have to work for two months for equity and then would like go to full salary and benefits (probably more than I was making at the old place).

Of course, I'm not hurting for money at the moment and have a side gig consulting for the old company, so there's some money rolling in. Still, I'm torn. In some respects I've enjoyed not having to work and just being able to do whatever (which hasn't been much to be honest, especially with the insanely hot summers here), but also find myself wishing I had some more structure that a job would provide. Anyway, just venting a little I guess. Carry on.

I think it'd be rewarding working on something as useful and important as vaccine passport technology. If you could work remote and stay in PV, I'd say go for it. I think I'd get bored living the retired life at this point, but maybe not?

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 1:00 pm

The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 12:41 pmI think I'd get bored living the retired life at this point, but maybe not?

Yeah, I guess that's the big conundrum, right?

I'm happy as hell not doing any work as long as I have a job that I'm not doing. But I fear it wouldn't be the same without the job.

Post by **brian** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 1:00 pm

The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 12:41 pm
brian wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:45 am Looks like I might end up getting suckered back into working again a little sooner than I wanted. One of my best friends who was also laid off at the old joint ended up at a company that doing vaccine passport technology using distributed data so that there is no data storage nor any chance of hacking, etc.

They need some people, but they're waiting on another round of VC funding which seems likely (especially given the current shitshow/state of play in the US), but I'd have to work for two months for equity and then would like go to full salary and benefits (probably more than I was making at the old place).

Of course, I'm not hurting for money at the moment and have a side gig consulting for the old company, so there's some money rolling in. Still, I'm torn. In some respects I've enjoyed not having to work and just being able to do whatever (which hasn't been much to be honest, especially with the insanely hot summers here), but also find myself wishing I had some more structure that a job would provide. Anyway, just venting a little I guess. Carry on.
I think it'd be rewarding working on something as useful and important as vaccine passport technology. If you could work remote and stay in PV, I'd say go for it. I think I'd get bored living the retired life at this point, but maybe not?

Yeah, I wanted to go back to work eventually (for a few years because that's what it will take to put my retirement savings over the top) but guess I just thought I'd have more time. I knew my buddy's company was ramping up and this was a possibility, but the opportunity is likely to be too good to pass up.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 1:05 pm

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 1:00 pm
The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 12:41 pmI think I'd get bored living the retired life at this point, but maybe not?
Yeah, I guess that's the big conundrum, right?

I'm happy as hell not doing any work as long as I have a job that I'm not doing. But I fear it wouldn't be the same without the job.

Yes! You get me! Perfect avatar pic for your comment.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 2:42 pm

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 1:00 pm
The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 12:41 pmI think I'd get bored living the retired life at this point, but maybe not?
Yeah, I guess that's the big conundrum, right?

I'm happy as hell not doing any work as long as I have a job that I'm not doing. But I fear it wouldn't be the same without the job.

It took me awhile to quit chafing, and get comfortable and happy with the idea that I’m retired and not going to work anymore. I suppose it’s partly because I’m older than you guys, but now I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way. I do some regular volunteer work to feel useful and give back a bit, but I found my groove and new routine, and I’m loving the freedom of not having a job.

But, Brian, if I was you, I’d try out this opportunity!

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 3:55 pm

Big Room Planning (done over Zoom) is awful.

blundercrush · Post by **blundercrush** » Thu Aug 05, 2021 4:16 pm

My dad had one foot out the door well before he actually retired, he and my mom play golf, bike ride, and hike basically every day and chill out with their friends occasionally. They stay pretty busy.

My grandfather needed 10+ acres to manage and travel a whole bunch to stay busy so it just depends on the person.