Viral lessons: What has working through the pandemic taught you?

By Marco Buscaglia, Tribune Content Agency
Published in the Chicago Tribune, Oct. 25, 2020

We wanted to know what you’ve learned about your work-related life during COVID-19 and the answers were as varied—and random—as you might expect. Some people touted their undiscovered strengths while others discussed their bosses’ weaknesses. One lesson stemmed from a potential case of age discrimination while another was prompted by committing to creating the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. And in many cases, people responded with answers that they admitted caught them by surprise—they miss people. And when the time is right, they look forward to joining their co-workers in person again. 

“I've enjoyed the small talk at the beginning of meeting more, as it is one of the few times to connect with co-workers on non-work related stuff. In the past, you're able to connect while getting coffee, having lunch, stopping by a cube—and all of that is gone, so the non-work-related interaction to begin meetings is very much appreciated.”
-Matt J., Business Valuation Associate, Minneapolis

“I learned there is no loyalty. None. I worked for a company for 22 years and they laid me off after putting me on furlough while people with less experience and much less competent never stopped working. I learned to save every email to your personal computer, especially the ones from bosses who joke about your age. Save them because the second you’re let go, those emails disappear into the mist. I learned that I’m not the type of person who takes age discrimination lightly. And I learned my former employer knew they were wrong, even though they made a lot of noise. And finally, I learned that attorneys are easy to joke about but absolutely essential when you want to make your former company sweat, sweat some more and eventually pay.”
-Name withheld by request, Jefferson Park

“A majority of my work tasks can be completed from remote.”
-Ron, non-profit director, Columbia, Missouri

“I learned I’m a good cook. I started making my own lunch every day and while I started off strong—as in healthy—I eventually ended up in a pattern where I’d only make a grilled-cheese sandwich. But instead of denying it, I embraced it. I can now cook 14 varieties of the gooey treat. With a pickle and some chips, it’s the perfect lunch. I make a grilled cheese with pineapple and red jalapeno peppers that would rock your world.”
-Tracy Anderson, guitarist, Los Angeles

“You cannot underestimate the amount of stress people are feeling. Teams must make an effort to find ways to release and relieve the stress in ways big and small. This can be as simple as a heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to more planned efforts like regular Zoom Happy Hours, one-on-one check-ins, and 2 p.m. dance breaks. Leaders must be challenged to listen, understand and acknowledge what a strange and difficult time we are all facing.”
-Mark Des Biens, product specialist, Crystal Lake, Illinois

“I am learning that the energy I cannot use in body language and running up and downstairs with clients all day must now be used to “captivate” the audience-of-one, via Zoom therapy appointments, with extreme ‘screen-filling,’ a term I made up to indicate making it visually captivating for a person to pay money for video chat. I experiment with altering what they see behind me, lighting and lots of motion, like leaning in close, hand movement and exaggerated facial expressions. I do voices now.”
-Joanne, psychotherapist, Lawrenceville, New Jersey

“I have enjoyed the trial of learning to reinvent ways to do what I have always done. It has made me analyze what is important and what I can throw away as really not necessary. I really do miss creativity and overall creation of a product in my line of work. Students really do rely on the product to help them enjoy themselves.”
-David S Duffy, band director, Buda, Texas

“I learned I miss people. In-person. Just talking to someone about a movie or my kids or their dog. Anything. I realize I’m one of those people who needs human contact.”
-Linda Y., marketing specialist, Chicago

“This is going to make me sound like a horrible person but I think what I’ve learned the most is that I hate people. Not all of them. Just most of them. I hate them because they’re petty, obnoxious and just kind of dumb. Some of the things you gloss over when you’re in an office with people are hard to ignore when you work from home. Petty emails, ignorant comments on Zoom, lazy work. I mean, this whole thing has really shaken my faith in humanity.”
-W.D., Rolling Meadows, Illinois

“I now know that I hate commuting and I don’t think I can ever do it again, at least not five days a week. I love working downtown but by the time I get to the Metra station, take the train and walk to work, it’s 90 minutes. Twice a day, that’s three hours. And for the week, 15 hours. It’s insane. I’m so much more productive now that I don’t have to go into the office. I don’t want to ever go back.” 
-Charles W., accountant, Naperville, Illinois

“I learned that I actually like my husband. Of course, I love him. But I like him a lot, too. After nine years of marriage, he has been the best co-worker I’ve ever had. He brings me coffee, let’s me bitch to him about my job, makes me get up and go for walks and even sits in on some meetings with me—off camera—so he can make fun of people later. Just a good dude.”
-Mary V., IT specialist, San Jose, California

“I learned I miss the city. I miss walking around downtown. I miss waiting in line for food and squeezing myself onto the L. I miss working in the city. My bedroom, by comparison, is just lame.”
-Randy Evans, paralegal, Des Plaines, Illinois

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is 90 percent of online meetings are a waste of time. My boss is meeting-crazy, which doesn’t help. Just spectacular amounts of wasted time. He doesn’t even notice that we all tune him out. He likes having a post-lunch meeting each day to cover what we’re doing and it’s absurd. When I get his job—and I will get his job—those meetings will be the first thing that goes.”
-O.L., traffic coordinator, Chicago