Commute Haters: remote or nothing!

Lena, Gabriel, and Stuart are colleagues at a prominent tech company situated in Manhattan. Despite the odds, the three of them formed a strong friendship. Their mutual disdain for commuting has further cemented their bond throughout the years.

Lena particularly loathed her daily journey from New Jersey to Manhattan. Her parents had invested in an immense property during the '80s, which Lena treasured for its peacefulness and distance from the bustling city. The nearest neighbor resided three miles away. Every morning, Lena would drive to the closest station to catch her train bound for Penn Station. After work, she would make the reverse trip, often feeling drained upon reaching home. However, the joy of returning home was an unmatched experience. The harassment she experienced as a woman during her commute made her trips a headache. Lena exhaust herself by being in a constant of hyper vigilance checking all the exit and making sure she is not alone with one man. Over the years, men were her main concern and it did not matter what they look like. To her their cis appearance was enough to scare her. Once she was on late train back home and a man started to chat with her to which she did not respond. When her stop came, the man got off at the same station and Lena started running as fast as she could with her pepper spray ready. Once in her car, the man was right outside her window. Completely out of breath and paralyzed by fear, she called her father. Her father immediately called 911 and drove to her. When he arrived the man had left and Lena was crying in her car. Her father startled her when he knocked on the door. The police never showed up and Léna had to call in sick the next day. It was the most frightening thing she ever experienced. Apart from her dad, Gabriel and Stuart, Lena a profound phobia of men.

Gabriel secured a room in a loft in Brooklyn, which he had all to himself as the owner was frequently absent. This arrangement provided him with a sense of tranquility and the illusion of complete solitude. However, Gabriel's experience in the subway during his first week in the city left him with a deep-seated phobia. He was subjected to a violent encounter with a police officer who forcefully stripped and searched him, mistaking him for someone who had pushed a woman onto the rails. To clear his name, Gabriel had to enlist the help of a lawyer, an ordeal that forever instilled fear of both the police and the subway in him.

Eventually, the police agreed to release the video surveillance, revealing that the perpetrator responsible for pushing the old lady was a short, bald white man who bore no resemblance to Gabriel. This traumatic incident caused Gabriel to alter his daily routine. Each morning, he now takes a detour by boarding a ferry to Manhattan and subsequently taking two buses to reach his workplace, avoiding the subway altogether.

Stuart lives in his older sister's guest house in the backyard on Staten Island. The guest house serves as his sanctuary, a perfect hideaway. Nicole has no issue with his reclusive tendencies and appreciates having a free security guard, as Stuart rarely leaves the house. Additionally, Stuart takes on many responsibilities around the house, ensuring that the garden looks its best and taking extremely good care of the guest house. Nicole feels fortunate to have him around because he is not only a genuinely good brother but also an overall good person. However, she worries that his reluctance to venture out and his preference for staying home all weekend in between his errands might hinder him from finding someone deserving of his company. Although Stuart has never been diagnosed, he exhibits OCD tendencies in the way he approaches even the most basic tasks, such as mowing the lawn or cleaning the house.

During the pandemic, the gang had the opportunity to live their dream due to the implementation of mandatory remote work. Prior to the outbreak, the company had strict policies against remote work, but the alluring compensation made it worthwhile. After careful deliberation and thorough calculations, the group determined that if they continued working for another 15 years and made wise investments, they would be able to retire comfortably. As the pandemic took hold, the once vibrant city offices stood vacant, transforming Manhattan into an eerie ghost island. The company resisted the lockdown measures for as long as possible, but when the CEO tragically lost his younger brother and sister-in-law to COVID-19, his doubts vanished. This tragic event prompted the cancellation of mandatory office presence. Their death happened when the company could no longer circumvent the city's new regulations and ultimately allowed employees to work from home.

However, their relief was short-lived, as the CEO insisted that everyone return to the office on a full-time basis following the lifting of the lockdown. Slowly, the city began to regain its liveliness, and it was expected that the entire staff would be back in the office by the first week of March. This news infuriated the reclusive team, who could not bear the thought of leaving their home offices where they had thrived and felt safe from the outside world.

In response to this development, they convened at Gabriel's place to strategize how they could delay their physical return or maintain remote work. It was evident that each member of the group had undergone significant changes during the lockdown, having hardly left their homes since its inception. These transformations had gone unnoticed due to their unspoken no video rules during calls. Lena had cut her hair very short and appeared well-rested. Gabriel had grown a beard, which greatly enhanced his appearance and made him look much more cooler. Stuart had gained some weight, which suited him well given his naturally slender frame.

One by one, they presented their research on how to avoid returning to the office, displaying their passion and determination during their presentations. Lena was the first to propose a plan: obtaining medical documentation stating that they were medically unfit to work in the office. While it appeared to be a straightforward option, they knew that submitting identical paperwork would raise suspicion. Lena suggested claiming it was for her parents, while the others could provide different justifications. However, they were aware that the company might take action against them if they failed to show up for work.

Gabriel's idea involved orchestrating a "fake" COVID-19 outbreak in collaboration with their colleagues on the first day back, resulting in a significant number of people appearing to fall ill and leading to the office being shut down. Although the idea seemed tempting, they began discussing the potential risks, including the possibility of someone actually contracting the virus and the serious consequences that would follow if the truth were to be discovered. Moreover, they acknowledged that they could not trust the other employees as they trusted each other.

Next, Stuart presented his proposal: rendering the entire building dysfunctional to make it impossible for anyone to work in the office. The initial phase would involve strategically causing multiple power outages throughout the day, completely disrupting work. The idea resonated with the others since it wouldn't immediately raise suspicions about their involvement. Leveraging his skills as a white-hat hacker, Stuart believed this plan exemplified the essence of ethical hacking.

Stuart's idea emerged as the preferred option, and they began devising strategies to execute the plan without detection. Once back in the office, Stuart easily gained access to the power system. To avoid drawing attention to themselves, the group decided to target a different floor first. When the power outage affected that floor, the affected employees were instructed to relocate to other floors, disregarding social distancing protocols. In the midst of the chaos, Lena discreetly captured photos of the crowded workspace. Later, she anonymously shared these images on Reddit, intentionally omitting any context. The post was titled "Social Distancing..." and quickly garnered attention, with people starting to recognize the office space depicted in the photos.

The following day, an urgent Zoom call was scheduled for noon, summoning all employees. Unbeknownst to them, Chuck, the CEO, had come across Lena's post on Reddit as he was an active user. The meeting began with the Legal team cautioning everyone about the legal consequences of sharing unauthorized company pictures. Chuck, filled with remorse, apologized for the failure to adhere to social distancing guidelines the previous day. He acknowledged that in times of unexpected crises, people sometimes make poor decisions. Towards the end of the meeting, an opportunity was given for questions and comments which was never the case before. Usually, the questions are filtered and prepared beforehand.

Paulina, from the marketing department, unmuted her microphone and expressed her frustration. "I was furious when I heard about people disregarding social distancing in the office. It didn't even happen on my floor, but it's irresponsible and puts people's lives at risk. I've noticed that many colleagues don't even bother to wear masks or properly was he their hands. I live with someone who is immunocompromised, and if they were to contract COVID, it could be a matter of life or death. So, my question is: Why can't we continue working from home? The lockdown demonstrated that teams can effectively complete their tasks remotely, ensuring safety and productivity. I'm not suggesting a fully remote setup, or maybe I am—I don't know. Forcing us to come to work in these conditions is criminal!"

A profound silence filled the space as all employees looked at one another. Suddenly, a message notification pinged on everyone's computer chat: "I am going home." Quickly, multiple messages followed, each echoing the sentiment, "Me too." The trio, Lena, Gabriel, and Stuart, gathered their belongings and left the office, overwhelmed with joy and disbelief at what had just unfolded. Employees rushed to the stairs, pouring out of the building. Lena felt a twinge of guilt about the power outage potentially endangering individuals like Paulina and her partner, but the boys reassured her, emphasizing that the higher-ups had mishandled the situation, and without the incident, Paulina might never have found the courage to speak up.

The employees returned home and continued working remotely until management eventually yielded to their demands and offered remote work options. The CEO, feeling trapped by his own mistakes, gave in. A new agreement was reached, allowing people to work from home as long as they showed up in the office at least one day per week.

Lena, Gabriel, and Stuart were on cloud nine, opting to be in the office on the same day. They coincidentally missed each other. Outside of work, the group began socializing during weekends. Nicole, relieved to see Stuart with genuine friends, appreciated how their shared disdain for commuting had brought them closer than ever before.

AUTHOR: FATIMA MOUDJAOUI

LAST EDITS: JUNE 14TH 2023