After more than a year of Covid and working remotely there’s a growing nostalgia for our old workplaces, writes Ufrieda Ho
We miss the affirmation of who we were refracted through the community at work. We measured ourselves up against allies, adversaries and even frenemies. Office politics, hierarchies, office dynamics, also the rules and knowing how we could bend them were the challenges we rose to. We found our competitive spirit and some fight too, and when this all imprinted on the making of our identities.
At work we made connections and bonds; we became insiders who could decipher unspoken codes. We shared in gossip, mindless people-watching and pranked the OCD team leader by rearranging all her desktop figurines — all of it made meaningful because we were included. Office dynamics meant we knew when it was our turn to do the coffee run or to volunteer to rinse out the mugs for the celebratory dop for an impromptu account that the company landed. We'd pool our R50s because it was someone's something special, and we'd sit through smoke breaks to hear someone's worries even though we weren't smokers.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hamilton suspects long Covid after suffering fatigue, dizzinessSeven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said he suspects he has long Covid, after suffering dizziness and fatigue in the aftermath of a hard-fought Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday
Read more »
Rights commission treads fine line on Covid vaccineAs the government accelerates its vaccine rollout and industries prepare for a possible return to work, a growing number of employers and employees have approached the SA Human Rights Commission to seek counsel on how resolve an impasse over those who refuse take the jab.
Read more »
KZN Health Dept concerned about steady rise in new COVID cases in provinceThe number of daily infections in KwaZulu-Natal has started increasing following the two weeks of unrest in that province.
Read more »
Covid test result bungle costs businesswomanA mix up of laboratory test results for Covid-19 cost a Gauteng woman a business trip worth R42,000 after she was stopped from travelling to Nigeria in May at the airport due to her results being old. LindileSifile
Read more »
From the president’s desk: Only 1 in 10 South Africans believe Covid-19 vaccines are unsafeI am encouraged that so many South Africans accept the need to be vaccinated. The latest National Income Dynamics Study Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey found that there is increased public openness to accepting a Covid-19 vaccine.
Read more »
Most Western Cape schools cannot comply with Covid curbsSchools who applied to remain using the rotational timetable were sent letters that have conditions including that they agree to take responsibility to ensure every learner maintains a minimum of 50% attendance over a 10-day cycle.
Read more »