RTO = Depression ☹️
Friends idk if I’m psyching myself out but I’m really afraid that once we return to office, I’ll end up depressed again (Pre-pandemic) Working from home has been the best thing to happen to my career and mental health since I graduated from college. Before the pandemic I was struggling work wise (CME on perf), I had no work friends, and I hated my soul sucking commute (Oakland to mtv...about 2.5 hours each way), no family in the Bay Area, financial trouble (literally couldn’t afford to live in the bay), dealing with issues that come from living in the hood (East Oakland), etc. Months of this lead to real depression. Depression lead to me picking up a habit of smoking mj and having su*cidal thoughts. As things seemed hopeless for me...boom comes the pandemic. I left California for the Midwest (home) about 3 months into the pandemic. My entire life has turned around. My productivity is better and I was able to get promoted (L2 to L3), I started to actually connect with my coworkers and others on the team I wouldn’t usually interact with. I was able to actually find a nice, spacious home to live in versus the bedroom I shared in some random guy’s East Oakland home. I’m closer to family. Ive cut this smoking habit and I’m sleeping better. I’ve paid off a lot of debt, literally Everything has been better. Honestly I feel like an awful person when I say I enjoyed this time because so many folks around me have lost someone to this pandemic. Hell, I lost my grandmother and still this has been a better time then what I had before. But sorry I’m ranting. Today is a bad mental health day for me. I’ve been told I have to return to California soon. Idk if I can do it.... But I’m so afraid of leaving google. I’d never have the opportunity like this somewhere else. Before joining google I was living in the Midwest unemployed for 10 months. Idk what to do y’all but I’d love any advice. Tc $125k
Talk to your manager, there may be an exception to the rule on return to site.
Google is allowing remote requests, right ? Why not apply
I’ve applied. My manager and team know that I want to stay remote or relocate to another office but our higher ups are really pushing the “let’s get back in the office” I’m an ABP so at the end of the day I need to sit where my manager does
What is ABP? And how’s your request status so far?
What do you mean you "would never have the opportunity like this somewhere else?" It sounds like a remote job is really good for you and G won't let you do it. With G on your resume you could have opportunities for plenty of remote jobs and probably with competitive salaries. I think of you rethink some of your assumptions and let go of fear it might be liberating.
Fear. I’m afraid of quitting and looking for new opportunities. Last time I gambled on myself I quit Amazon and ended up unemployed for 10 months.
Then if you're really concerned about moving back to the bay, take the few months you have now before it's forced and start seriously looking for another job. If you can't find something good, keep the job at Google, move back to the bay and see how that goes - maybe you can live somewhere better now that you have more money after promo, and/or maybe boss will let you WFH a few days a week. But the best way to look for a new job is while you still have your old job. It's safest, and you also can use your current job as a "competing offer" for negotiating on any other job offers you get (just make sure you DON'T tell other companies you're unhappy at Google - say "you're just looking around and seeing what your options are").
TC isn't everything, look for something remote or local.
I would encourage you to have a 1:1 conversation with your manager and help them by provide a solution instead of asking for their “approval” - Perhaps you negotiate remote set up with 1 or 2 times in the office each month or whatever is convenient for you - You ask for different opportunities within the team instead that could make you continue be remote Also, it doesn’t hurt to discuss with HR about remote options available - I have read that Google is offering a matrix of options for return to office! Please give your health and mental well being utmost priority - and get creative to make this work because it will work!
Bro u have Google on ur resume. Look for remote job right now. You can get 100k for sure in Midwest
Talk to your manager, explain difficulties. Arrange to go like 2 days a week
I also had the same feeling. Great time to spend with my partner and pets, and I grew a lot professionally. Agree with people above, I'd look for remote opportunities if your manager cannot accommodate you. Tons of great companies are hiring for remote positions.
I haven't moved but the wfh period has been the most productive and least stressed I've been at any job.
Same greatest time ever