One Year Later
Andrew Answers WFH Questions
April 16th, 2021
Last year during Earth Week and early in the Covid-19 pandemic, we asked Andrew from Taco Bell about this work from home experience.
One year later, we checked in with him to see how it's going. What is different, and what he has learned over the past year. Here's what he said.
2020
2021
Previous to the outbreak, was WFH part of your normal work schedule?
It was not part of my normal work schedule. But I do have to admit, Taco Bell Corp. does an amazing job of a home/work life balance.
2020
2021
What benefits come from working from home?
Of course what I mentioned before, staying home w/ my son. Let alone, being SAFE, not going out in public, adhering to Gov. Newsom’s mandates of staying quarantined. I have older family I’m around. Knowing I’m not out there daily, with a chance of catching Covid-19, kind of eases their mind. The team meetings have gone without a hitch, Zoom/Microsoft Teams meetings work really well.
2020
2021
What struggles have you encountered working from home?
Honestly, working from home has been a blessing. With my son out of school, I’m not worried about his daycare or trying to find a family member to watch him. But I do miss my 24-inch double monitors. For the programs/apps I work on, I need a huge screen. My little 15-inch laptop does not cut it. Definitely going to need glasses after this. LOL
2020
2021
Do you have any WFH tips that you've found helpful for yourself?
Make sure when you have your virtual meetings your microphone is on, or the video is off when it needs to be. It's funny to see someone’s bedhead, or talk and no one hears you. And make sure pets are in another room or outside.
2020
2021
What kind of policy has your company put in place for this WFH situation?
Only mandated policy that I know of, we are not going back to work until June now. But the company has been doing positive things in midst of this Covid-19: weekly company updates on our Intranet, posting work-out sessions, and casual live meetings about peoples worries about whole situation, how to cope and family needs, etc. Really positive things.
Your Turn
What insights have you taken away from the past year? What are you looking forward to when you return to the office?