I don't think I've mentioned it here on the blog; but the company has sold our building and we will be moving - most likely, sometime this fall.
As you might imagine, this has caused quite a bit of angst among the rank and file employees. Wondering how much our commute might change (not much, we are moving two buildings down), the thought of moving to another building that we (as a company) don't own, learning that we will only have two floors instead of the four we currently enjoy, so how will we all fit?, parking (this lot is going to be a challenge for sure) etc. Not to mention, the mere thought of having to deal with all the stuff (not to mention all the paper files) that has accumulated throughout this building in the last twenty-six years. And it's a LOT, and I'm just speaking about our tiny department. I know the amount of stuff that has accumulated at my desk alone in the past twenty-one years I've been with the company is hefty.
The news came down that once we are out the new owners plan to demolish the building. This was kind of shocking to me. I never really admired our building's architecture but, this building has been here since we moved to North Carolina (fun fact, this building was finished and the company moved into it the exact same year that we moved here), so it will be sad to see it reduced to rubble.
But I understand, the property is valuable and the cost of renovating a twenty-six year old building would be outrageous.
At any rate, I have been boxing up files (SO.MANY.FILES!) to be sent to retention; as I have been informed, that we will not have the same storage capacity in the new space (my poor arms are covered in bruises from assembling the boxes and carrying loads of files). Lucky for our department, because of the merger/buyout/transaction (whatever you want to call it) back in 2015 most of our files, not counting contract files, were already gone. And even though we have a group that has come in to assist with this arduous chore, I asked that they let me deal with the contract files; simply because I want to know exactly what the box numbers are for each of the files; in the event I need to have something brought out of storage...and I know that having that in my back pocket will come in handy someday in the not too distant future.
Earlier this week, the powers that be, sent out a couple of short videos giving us a sneak peek into our new space. And while it looks very nice and modern, it is also very open. And, if that rendering was true to life, it seems we may be sitting right on top of each other; I am already hearing concerns about privacy and confidentiality. But, as management rushes to say, every time these concerns are brought up, there will be "phone booths" and meeting rooms. I have a feeling those "phone booths" and meeting rooms will always be booked, and then poor Debbie, who needs to have a private conversation with her doctor, is out of luck.
In addition to the short video renderings, a link to an article about adapting to an open office floor plan was included. And I have to say, whoever thought that linking that particular article was a good idea, obviously didn't read it.
The first half of the article discussed how much employees (the rank and file that don't merit offices, of course) hate it and how much productivity was lost; the second half of the article discussed ways to work around the obstacles that come with an open office concept; all of which were ridiculous. So, yeah - that was soothing (not).
We shall see how this all works out, I suppose. In the meantime, I'll be over here boxing up files and sifting through years of stuff.
