When the lockdown kicked off in March, a lot of us had to make adjustments on how to work from home, connect with colleagues and maintain relations in our households. And by the look of things, we have come through unscathed.
Now comes the difficult part: returning to work after weeks of working in your pyjamas, constantly opening the fridge to see what next to nibble on and switching off the camera during Microsoft Teams so that your colleagues do not see you pick your nose during the digital meeting.
At home, everything was within easy reach, although the kids could at times be a little irritating. The microwave, the well-stocked fridge and the ever-ready toaster were at your service. Your word was their command.
Instead of flattening the Covid-19 curve, we’ve returned to work with more curves than we had when the lockdown started. Now you have to order deliveries from the canteen or come trudging your lunchbox to work. Limited choices are no fun.
The chatter-box colleague who used to listen to Kaya FM’s T-Bose Wetness Wednesday on full blast is back, yeah! The other one who used to do her whole nail routine: nail polish removal and new installation is also back with new hair imported not from Brazil but Braamfontein.
At the best of times, the world of work can be intimidating, humiliating, irritating but all of that vanishes into thin air when you receive an SMS alert on the morning on the 27th.
Because offices are shared spaces, be mindful of your conduct around your colleagues as we ease into working from the employer’s offices. Remember to maintain social distancing, no hugs and kisses, please, the coronavirus is real. Wear your cloth facemask and get used to the smell of your breath. Wash your hands regularly or if you still have it, use that sanitiser, and when you are feeling sick, head to the doctor first.
Let me pay tribute to colleagues who manned roadblocks, who ensured we never had to change our laptop passwords, packed and distributed food parcels, educated residents on the coronavirus, secured our buildings, picked our refuse, kept our lights on and water running, dug graves, processed our salaries, screened and tested us for Covid-19 and bravely navigated the deserted streets of Joburg at the height of the lockdown. Salute, guys.
Written by Mongadi Mafata
