When I worked on site for many years around some of the best sysprogs in
the business, such as Skip Robinson and Stuart Holland, about the only
technical benefit was the ad-hoc meetings. I might have a question in
my head and I'd just yell over the cubicle walls. Or someone would call
me or ask a question at my desk that I couldn't answer, and Skip or
Stuart (or someone else) would hear and pop up and join in the conversation.
So I always envisioned some kind of communication system that would
simulate that environment at home. Maybe have a mic and speakers always
on, for example. Or a video of the back of my head that the boss could
check (I think the main reason managers don't want people working from
home is because there's no way to check on what people are doing).
Neither of those are great ideas of course, but you get the picture.
I don't do much real sysprog work anymore but basically everyone I work
with is at home or traveling. That's because we're spread out across
the USA. The two offices I could drive to are about 2-3 hours away - no
thank you.
Basically, I'm expected to answer the phone and have a screen up if I'm
home, respond reasonably quickly to emails, attend screen-share
meetings, etc. The TV is on a lot here, but I just put it on mute when
the phone rings. And of course there's the dog barking or other home
activity that I have to contend with. But I have a rule that I never
take my phone or laptop to the bathroom :)
I have a decent cable internet connection which is up at least 99% of
the time, but my cell phone always got 1 bar at home and would often
disconnect multiple times in the middle of meetings. A few months ago I
bought a cell phone signal amplifier (about $300 so it's not trivial -
antenna on roof, cable to small box about 10 feet from my desk) and
wow... works great and no more disconnects.
On 8/21/2019 1:45 PM, Charles Mills wrote:
I am doing a favor for a friend who is writing a blog article on the above
subject, with an emphasis on the effect of the shrinking mainframe personnel
pool. (This is NOT some disguised headhunter pitch. Reply to the list or to
me personally. I will take full responsibility for "sanitizing" your e-mail
address and so forth out of what I forward to my friend.)
Does your employer allow mainframe sysprogs and developers to work from
home?
Any particular restrictions or qualifications?
Have they changed their policies specifically to address the shrinking
mainframe personnel pool?
Roughly what percentage of your colleagues work from home?
Thanks!
Charles
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