Downtown: how will it do?
While some would like to force a complete return to the office, it seems we’re likely to see hybrid work patterns into the proximate future.
Although I understand the economic pressure to make people go downtown and spend money, nobody is mentioning the environmental cost of all that commuting. Plus, it’s a break for workers, who – as we’ve learned – don’t only save money on expensive coffees and restaurant lunches, but don’t have to spend so much on office clothes either.
We’re also not coming to terms with how much office time is empty make‑work – so many bullshit jobs, as the fellow said. But that’s a bigger problem.
Metro notes that the STM is hoping to see its ridership recover by this fall.
Kevin 12:37 on 2022-02-25 Permalink
I think the city, and the Chamber, would be better off building better neighbourhoods and developing some entrepreneurial spirit.
Ditto for the Committee to valorize French, since the Census is going to show just how many francophones have left.
steph 13:06 on 2022-02-25 Permalink
My whole department has been working from home for 23 months. 100% of our work gets done. Everyone in the department, including my boss, is happy to maintain the status quo. But his boss told him we have to start returning, because his boss said so, because his boss said so, because Leagault said so
What a waste of everyones energy.
But if I have a runny nose or a light cough, those count as covid symptoms and I can stay away from the office for two weeks for everyones safety, no need to get tested. cough cough. So we’ll see how I’m feeling next week, cough cough. Hopefully this cough goes away in time.
Blork 13:55 on 2022-02-25 Permalink
I’m glad I no longer have to commute, although I was typically only doing it about three days a week even before the pandemic, because I have the great privilege of full control over my work schedule, plus a cool team and company that has always allowed a great deal of flexibility.
That said, I do miss the casual social contact. I’ve worked for companies where there were very few people I wanted to be social with, but my current gig is the opposite. I also miss the after-work drinks and dinners, which were not frequent but were always loads of fun when they happened.
I also miss eating lunch downtown. I loved going to Bhandari on de Maisonneuve for a Thali plate, and would go there almost every week. The guys at Boustan always knew my order as soon as they’d see me, which was fun. For years I’ve complained that there were no good pizza slices anywhere near Guy and Ste-C (the Double Pizza at de Maisonneuve and Pierce — now permanently closed — was OK but not great), but a Soda+Slice has recently opened a block from my (old) office. (Isn’t that typical; I spend 8 years there with no slices, and as soon as I leave, boom! Slices!)
JoeNotCharles 18:30 on 2022-02-25 Permalink
I’ve also been working from home for 23 months, and it was awful. Can’t wait to get back to the office to see my co-workers in person.
I get that other people have the opposite preference, so employers should be flexible. It would suck to be ordered back if you really dislike it. But at the same time, “everyone” should not be forced to work from home (past when public health reasons require it) if they don’t want to.
Uatu 18:34 on 2022-02-25 Permalink
I like leaving the house to work just to keep my relaxation time and space my own. But if I could get away with working in some shared telework area near my house without going downtown then that’d be great. I heard an interview this morning on the CBC with the downtown chamber of commerce head and he was hoping the rem would bring more folks into the city. He also noted that it could backfire and make people head to the burbs instead which made me think of the people I know who work for Bell on nun’s island and who go across the bridge to Champlain mall for lunch at the restaurants and food court. He’s interested to see how it goes