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October 1, 2010“Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof…”
“I’m sorry but I just can’t keep the dog quiet. I’m going to have to sign off the call.”
There was once a time when people came to work for the purpose of working. Distractions were minimal. You couldn’t surf the net for tickets or news. You weren’t a slave to a handheld that interrupted every meaningful thought. You didn’t think of posting personal information or pictures for the rest of the world to see. You didn’t have the option of staying in your pajamas until noon. There was nowhere to hide. Your designated area - be it the office or the conference room, the construction site or the classroom - was the only acceptable place to work.
I’m all for progress. Unfortunately, work has taken several giant steps backward. Virtual workplaces often mean that workers are virtually non-existent. Home offices provide ready access to the family dentist, the mall, home improvement projects in the garage or basement, and pets. While i-“fill in the blanks” make the world our workplace, I often wonder if it is better to be 80% effective for 8 hours or 40% effective for 16.
Shortly after the virtual office had been around long enough for people to begin taking full advantage of it, a group of us joined a teleconference. The number of “beep ins” indicated that there were probably enough of us on the call to get started. Roll call was taken. The meeting began. Within five minutes, we were having trouble hearing the “host” of the call. Every time she spoke, her dog would wail. Had we not been trying to work, it would have been quite comedic.
The barking continued for a few minutes. The comment that followed stunned me. “I’m sorry but I just can’t keep the dog quiet. I’m going to have to sign off the call.” Without further ado, a recorded voice notified us that the chairman had left the call and that it was ending. I pictured the other participants staring at their phones. Eight of us had been trumped by a barking dog.
The virtual workplace continues. Perhaps I need my goggles to find reality.
Craig Halsey
They Said It
October 1, 2010 |
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