In Kitchens, Man Caves and Attics - How Workers Everywhere are Creating Home Offices, and Making it Work

The Edge for April 2020

In these trying times, many of us are getting a crash course on working from home. At the snap of a finger, we were forced to set up work spaces at kitchen tables, dining room tables, man caves and even attics. So we asked New Jersey Chamber of Commerce members to tell us how they are managing the change of scenery. Here is what they said:

From the Dining Room Table: Clear, Concise Communication Makes it Work

I’m grateful to have a comfortable dining room work space (my husband’s office is too messy!). It also doesn’t hurt that my kids are grown. I salute parents working from home juggling their careers and their children’s home schooling needs. In these challenging times, the safety of our staff, clients and the community is paramount. Thankfully, EisnerAmper has long been remote-work capable. What makes it work for us is that our teams have clear, concise and constant communication.

– Diane Wasser, Partner, EisnerAmper

From the Kitchen Table: Stay Connected with Zoom Meetings

With COVID-19, I had to switch to a completely remote environment quickly. My kitchen table is now a makeshift desk. This location allows me to be in the center of what’s happening at home, while still being able to get work done. In order to be the most efficient and avoid distractions, I utilize the entire day. I wake up early and get a few hours in before the house comes to life. I take breaks at meal times to enjoy family time. I finish the day back at the computer when the house is quiet again. A big challenge for me is not being physically present with clients and at the office. Zoom meetings have become a big part of my daily routine.

– Paula Ferreira, New Jersey Office Managing Partner, Mazars USA

From the Attic Office – Maintain a Consistent Schedule

I’ve worked from home in my attic office regularly before the pandemic. It’s all about creating and maintaining a consistent schedule but still being flexible. I start the day with an outside run and prayer. My children now attend school via teleconferencing so I’ve adjusted my schedule to eat lunch with them. During this time of uncertainty, it’s important to be more empathetic and responsive to colleagues’ emerging personal needs. Lately, I’ve found creative ways to boost morale. My company recently ran a campaign asking associates to share selfies from their home offices - mine included a painting of my great (x5) grandfather in the background. Check out my other work from home leadership tips on my LinkedIn Blog.

– Jamie Kalamarides, President, Prudential Group Insurance

From the Man Cave: Use Quiet Time at Night for Time-Consuming Projects

We don’t have a home office per se, so my wife is camped out in the dining room, my son is sequestered in his room, and my work space is actually three places — the couch, the kitchen and the man cave. I thought there was little chance of getting any work done but we’ve made it work by finding dedicated and semi-private work spaces. The biggest challenge is fighting the temptation to respond to every email. I’m not winning that battle, so I carve out quiet time at night for the more time-consuming projects.

– Don Meyer, Chief Marketing Officer, NJCPA

Take Breaks, and Return to the Dining Room Table with a Fresh Perspective

Working from home is definitely a new experience. Our team is responsible for providing internal and external communications for our firm of over 450 employees. I created a home office in my dining room, and once I got a rhythm going, I was surprised how productive I could be. To keep up morale, I’ve sent take-out from local restaurants to team members and clients. When I have early morning calls, I can stay in my pajamas. But I wear normal clothes for daily Zoom meetings which help to keep everyone engaged. I recommend being open to distractions while working from home. They can give you an opportunity to take a break, regroup and come up with a new perspective on strategy.

– Nicole Alexander, Director of Professional and Business Development, McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter

Work the Phone for Real Conversations

I have three rules for working from home:

1. Make a clear end to the day. If you don’t draw a line between work and private life you will quickly damage your private life and burn out. Let your colleagues know when you are available and when you are not. Go “home” for dinner and enjoy it.
2. More than two emails on a topic requires a phone call. Otherwise, you will be flooded with email and starved for conversation. Many studies have shown, anyway, that phone calls are much more efficient and productive than email.
3. Same as number one, but apply it to those who report to you: Let them have an end to their day. Give them time to regenerate at home without work.

– Peter J. Woolley, Founding Director, School of Public and Global Affairs, Fairleigh Dickinson University

Create New Routines and Stick to Them

UnitedHealthcare is well-known as a top employer for telework opportunities, so that has eased the transition for our workforce. Creating new routines and sticking to them are key. We stay connected with our teams through innovative means. For example, we recently launched an employee app called Sparq that provides employees with real-time information and intelligence. We’ve learned from experience that this improves workflow, ensures deadlines are met and makes the team feel united at a distance. We have managers check in to help people adjust and encourage all team members to speak openly and communicate any expectations or concerns.

– Paul Marden, CEO, UnitedHealthcare New Jersey