Skip to main content
Applied Sciences › Mechatronic Systems Engineering
SFU Student

Large computer monitor with silver microphone to the right
Caspar Camille Rubin on Unsplash
Overall, I made sure that I had what needed, then I addressed the things I wanted... Change is inevitable. How we react to these changes will determine the outcome of the situation.

The workplace is constantly changing. Whether it’s through internal or external factors, tasks, goals, and the work environment will vary. Since March, I have been working from home for the most part. Throughout the last nine months, I’ve gained some insight into what is needed to be productive at home, as well as how to keep the friendly environment that is so vital to the people I work with.

1. Nine Months

The first thing I did was take everything I needed. Any documents, electronic files, pictures, even my favourite coffee mug. Whatever I used at the office I made sure to have it at home. A computer and VPN was provided for me to access confidential information. The goal here is to minimize the number of trips I needed to make back to the office if any is necessary at all. This way I not only ensure my safety, but also the safety of the people who are not able to work from home, and the safety of my family.

Throughout these nine months, I’ve had to go back into the office as well as into the field. During these times masks were worn, and touch points and equipment were sanitized. We were told to avoid public crowds during and out of work. The office capacity was also reduced to 8 people. These were both personal and company decisions. This essentially follows the hierarchy of controls. If a hazard cannot be eliminated, replaced, or controlled, then the workers must have the proper protective equipment. This is the standard for all work sites, and for COVID it is no different.

2. Staying in Touch

I made sure I was able to contact everyone I worked with. Whether through email, online chats or just having their phone numbers, it is vital to be able to talk to the team. The software was provided for me on my work computer for a formal means of communication. All meetings I had I either cancelled or changed to an online platform such as Skype. This was of course all discussed with the people I meet with through emails. It is important to make sure others in the meeting are all right with the proposed way of communication.

Informal communication should also be set up. Most likely this already exists in the workplace. My team and I use Discord and WhatsApp for casual talks, informal meetings, and just staying in touch. In the office, everyone has their bonds with coworkers. Meaning that rather than filling in a form, submitting it and wait for the formal process to take place, people will simply talk to each other. These informal interactions serve a vast assortment of functions and are used to accomplish complex tasks. Often the atmosphere of the work environment is determined by these interactions [1]. It is vital that these interactions continue, even when working from home.

3. Communication

The most important thing is to keep my spirits high. This ties in directly with informal communication. Being stuck at home is already bad enough. Being stuck at home and have to work is even worse. I made sure to keep in contact with my co-workers, even outside of work hours. This came naturally for me as I am friends with many members of the team. By sending each other memes, talking about random things, and playing video games together, our relationship improves on a personal and professional level. It also keeps us entertained.

That being said, these should not be distractions. I also made sure to eliminate distractions during work hours. I set goals for each day and make check them off as I go. While it is important to feel happy, it is also important to stay focused.

I am fortunate to be able to keep my job. I am also privileged that I already have my own computer setup, and have enough electronics to be able to go from the office to my room fairly quickly. A lot of work was also done on the employer side. I was provided with a work computer and procedures were quickly changed to ensure the safety of all employees.

Overall, I made sure that I had what needed, then I addressed the things I wanted. It is probable that another event will take place in the future and people will be a force to work remotely. Many people already do so on a normal basis. Change is inevitable. How we react to these changes will determine the outcome of the situation.

[1] M. J. Fay, "Informal communication of co-workers: a thematic analysis of messages," Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 212-229, 2011. 

Beyond the Blog

SFU Student
visibility  64
Dec 17, 2020

You Might Like These... Co-op Reflections, Professional Development, Career Exploration, Seeking, Work Term Extension

author, courtney, smiling
A Second Term in Government: More of the Same?

Having completed my first work term for Health Canada as a Communications Officer Intern, I was eager to try something new, and the government was not where I believed that was going to happen. That is until I was offered a position at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada...

picture of glichelle pondering a though
Surviving Workplace Politics

Ever been peeved with workplace politics? Have you ever been a victim of office politics? One student shares her experiences from the workplace with tips on how to survive.

 

person with their head in a book
Responsibility and Success

One of the most memorable parts of my time in co-op was the collection of accidents, errors, mistakes, and mix-ups that happened in the course of working in the laboratory.

 

You Might Like These... Co-op Reflections

Nathan Boey
How Asking Good Questions Can Advance Your Career

As a co-op student with little experience, it sometimes seems like all you are doing is asking questions. That is why it is important to make sure you are asking good questions. What are good questions? They are evidence of your thought process, ability to think outside of the box, and knack for problem solving. Read this article to learn more about what makes a question good, and how to make questions your competitive advantage.

Alyssa Chan and her team at work
From Doubtful to Confident: How I Adapted to Working Life

Sometimes self-doubt can get the better of us. Read Alyssa's article to find out how they were able to overcome feelings of doubt and transform them into self-confidence. 

A photo of the author
Perspective is Everything: Experiences from Training My Replacement

What happens when you are responsible for training your successor at your co-op job? What about when you are responsible for training your successor knowing that you’ll be returning to the same job the following summer and that their job performance will directly impact you? In this blog post, Garrett shares his experience training a replacement and how this taught him the importance of perspective.