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Posted
10 minutes ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Agree with this, and with generous flex for when things come up and there’s projects and tasks that can be dug into and attacked from home.

Yep. I go out of my way to meet my staff’s needs when it comes to flexibility. Family and life always come first. I’ve also found that when you treat folks that way, when shit does hit the fan and you need that little extra out of them they are happy to do it knowing you have and will have their back. 

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Posted
13 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Honestly, clerical and admin staff are the hardest to effectively manage and use via WFH.  Creatives, people with defined long-term projects measured by milestones, IT, number crunchers….sure, they can crank out stuff at home.  But the fact is you need the clerical and admin staff to be available to take stuff that just comes up, shift quickly when needed, and just in general be “admin.” Of course, clerical and admin is a big range and I don’t know the team specifics. 

It’s easy to say “just ask managers to plan better” but the fact is that piling up more emails, Zoom calls, check-ins, etc means that you’re shifting work from lower per hour to higher per hour and that is rarely a good value proposition.

I guess I follow you, but their job is to pull items out of a queue and work on them alone, with a Teams slack channel to ask any questions that might come up.  About as ideal as a WFH job could be.  Yet, because they are in the provost office, they have to fall in line with what the president wants.  

And regarding flexibility, there is none at UT.  Butts in seat 8-5.  If you have nothing to do and it is 430 and would like to get a jumpstart on beating traffic?  Tough, you're sitting there clock watching.

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Posted (edited)
13 hours ago, TexEx15 said:

Like most things, the right answer probably lies somewhere in the middle. I think a hybrid schedule like 2 days in the office that may slide a bit depending on specific roles is the right solution.

I think the "one size fits all" mentality is lazy.  It's up to management to assess the performance of direct reports and implement the practices that will best optimize results.  While some jobs require full-time on-site attendance, many don't.  Technology has changed the game in many ways.

Some people who in theory could work from home don't want to do that.  They want to be in the office.  Great.  Many others (like me) perform better working from home.  Not the same, better.  I report directly to our CEO, and when Covid forced us to require many of us to work from home, my quality of work and work output noticeably improved.  Part of it was the lack of wasted commute time.  Part of it was psychological -- the way my brain works, if I drive to the office, put in a day's work, and drive home, I'm done.  If I work from home, I not only work more hours M-F, I am much more inclined to put in significant hours on the weekend.  I'm not hamstrung by office hours, and I'm happy to work more.

Some people aren't like that.  Accommodate them accordingly, and do the same for people like me.

Edited by jimmyjazz
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Posted

My office has 180 cubes for 550 employees. Depending on your role, you go in 0-2 days per week.  There are like 20 people that go in 5 days a week by choice. As a consulting firm, I think our bean counters like the extra profit margin less office space creates. 

 

Posted
12 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

My office has 180 cubes for 550 employees. Depending on your role, you go in 0-2 days per week.  There are like 20 people that go in 5 days a week by choice. As a consulting firm, I think our bean counters like the extra profit margin less office space creates. 

It's a thing for sure, and it's not hard to understand.  Real estate is a lot more expensive than a VPN connection.

Posted
3 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

It's a thing for sure, and it's not hard to understand.  Real estate is a lot more expensive than a VPN connection.

This isn't about efficiency, it's about culture warring 

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Posted

I’m actually surprised UT had a WFH option for Staff (and I had no idea UT was doing this). It’s not really a thing in higher ed. 

The only state I know of that gives the option for WFH for staff and administrators is Maryland (and I think Massachusett) and even that is iffy by campus. 

What interesting is data has shown that as long as students have access in some way to the student services they need (advising, FA, TRiO, etc.) when they need then, they don’t care if the person is on campus or online. They just want the help.

Posted
4 minutes ago, Captainant said:

This isn't about efficiency, it's about culture warring 

I wasn't talking about the UT situation.  That one is political, and a classic "cut off your nose to spite your face" situation.

Posted (edited)
9 minutes ago, Pancho said:

I’m actually surprised UT had a WFH option for Staff (and I had no idea UT was doing this). It’s not really a thing in higher ed. 

The only state I know of that gives the option for WFH for staff and administrators is Maryland (and I think Massachusett) and even that is iffy by campus. 

What interesting is data has shown that as long as students have access in some way to the student services they need (advising, FA, TRiO, etc.) when they need then, they don’t care if the person is on campus or online. They just want the help.

My mom runs UTs student services onestop and has been for a few years prior to COVID. She said since their move to virtual they've actually been able to increase call volume that their office handles and they went from being the finaid desk to the front door for all of student services. 

They moved her office to the tower out of SSB, and Lord knows there ain't enough room for all of the call agents clocking in and out. Having the home work environment combined with a modernized call platform meant her employees and student workers could serve the university from anywhere. It's a meaningful and significant constraint to force everyone back into the office 

Edited by Captainant
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Posted
1 minute ago, Captainant said:

My mom runs UTs student services onestop and has been for a few years prior to COVID. She said since their move to virtual they've actually been able to increase call volume that their office handles and they went from being the finaid desk to the front door for all of student services. 

They moved her office to the tower out of SSB, and Lord knows there ain't enough room for all of the call agents clocking in and out. Having the home work environment combined with a modernized call platform meant her employees and student workers could serve the university from anywhere. It's a meaningful and significant constraint to force everyone back into the office 

I believe it. Students today are more online and online whenever they can, whether that’s on their break at work or while picking up their kids or while helping their parents at home. They are more likely to get online for a service from wherever they can than to drive up to campus, find a parking spot, and then ask 2-3 people where is the office they need. And if they have to wait for 10 minutes online, that’s more appealing because you’re already doing something else within that 10 minute wait compared to being on campus where you’re just sitting there. 

I was surprised California didn’t lead the way in WFH for at least 2 days a week. For higher ed, it’s not as harmful as people think.

The problem are the constituents and alumni.

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Posted
56 minutes ago, Pancho said:

I’m actually surprised UT had a WFH option for Staff (and I had no idea UT was doing this). It’s not really a thing in higher ed. 

 

I've been somewhat considering moving back to Houston in the near future and UH does a hybrid schedule as well, as does UH-CL (which is a lot bigger than when I last lived there 15 years ago).

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Posted
52 minutes ago, Pancho said:

I believe it. Students today are more online and online whenever they can,

This is true.  My daughter is on track to graduate UT summa cum laude in 5 calendar years, with the delay due to her frequent touring in a rock band.  She has had a helluva time finding coursework she can do online, but she's made it work.  She "attends" class from hotel rooms and the band van all over North America, and then in person when they're back in Austin.  Kids are extremely adaptable.  UT needs to adapt, but unfortunately, Greg and the boys seem hellbent on not only not adapting but moving back toward the stone age.

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Posted
2 hours ago, hayden_horn said:

lol the old downsize via "voluntary attrition" move


all of this, the back fill with $12/hr part time employees 

21 minutes ago, BurdineBandit said:

I've been somewhat considering moving back to Houston in the near future and UH does a hybrid schedule as well, as does UH-CL (which is a lot bigger than when I last lived there 15 years ago).


uh-downtown 

Posted
23 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

This is true.  My daughter is on track to graduate UT summa cum laude in 5 calendar years, with the delay due to her frequent touring in a rock band.  She has had a helluva time finding coursework she can do online, but she's made it work.  She "attends" class from hotel rooms and the band van all over North America, and then in person when they're back in Austin.  Kids are extremely adaptable.  UT needs to adapt, but unfortunately, Greg and the boys seem hellbent on not only not adapting but moving back toward the stone age.

When is her band's new album "Greg Abbott And Jay Hartzell Can Lick My Taint" coming out?

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Posted
22 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

This is true.  My daughter is on track to graduate UT summa cum laude in 5 calendar years, with the delay due to her frequent touring in a rock band.  She has had a helluva time finding coursework she can do online, but she's made it work.  She "attends" class from hotel rooms and the band van all over North America, and then in person when they're back in Austin.  Kids are extremely adaptable.  UT needs to adapt, but unfortunately, Greg and the boys seem hellbent on not only not adapting but moving back toward the stone age.

I think your daughter might be in our department (or at least contacted us about a class). My coworker was telling us a semester or two ago about the cool student she spoke to that was working around a touring schedule. That's awesome, congrats to her and you.

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Posted
52 minutes ago, BurdineBandit said:

I've been somewhat considering moving back to Houston in the near future and UH does a hybrid schedule as well, as does UH-CL (which is a lot bigger than when I last lived there 15 years ago).

Very surprising for Texas as a state.

I know the big issue during the COVID WFH situations was faculty and staff moving out of state and still working in state. (Another big issue was faculty and staff having 2nd full time jobs but that’s a different story)

Posted (edited)
On 6/14/2024 at 11:31 AM, South Austin said:

When is her band's new album "Greg Abbott And Jay Hartzell Can Lick My Taint" coming out?

lulz, nice reference to her previous band (Sludge, she wasn't the singer) . . . the current band is way less B-52's/Cramps and way more Nirvana/Black Sabbath, but here's Sludge anyway (they now have a new drummer and are called Farmer's Wife):

 

Edited by jimmyjazz
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Posted
3 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

lulz, nice reference to her previous band (Sludge, she wasn't the singer) . . . the current band is way less B-52's/Cramps and way more Nirvana/Black Sabbath:

 

Ha!  I seem to remember you posted that video a while back.  Your girl is living her best life.

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Posted
1 hour ago, jimmyjazz said:

UT needs to adapt, but unfortunately, Greg and the boys seem hellbent on not only not adapting but moving rolling back toward the stone age.

Fixed

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Posted

UT Austin going full MAGA … SEC SEC SEC out front should have told ya. 

Lulz to anyone who thought it was only about “big boy” football. 

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  • 5 weeks later...
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Posted
18 minutes ago, pacman said:

Screenshot_20240814_144451_X.jpg

Did they move it somewhere else on campus?  I recall seeing lines their on Election Day so it’s not like it’s poorly used…

Posted
On 6/13/2024 at 3:36 PM, Js1 said:

Our board activity would go down 50% if people who claim not to care about something just didn’t post about it 

 

It would also go down a significant percent if people posting from work didn't bitch-post about people working from home

 

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Posted
20 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

Did they move it somewhere else on campus?  I recall seeing lines their on Election Day so it’s not like it’s poorly used…

UT Austin just posted it will be moved to the Student Union.

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Posted
12 minutes ago, pacman said:

UT Austin just posted it will be moved to the Student Union.

Call me jaded, but I just don't trust this abbott directed admin to not be attempting voter suppression in some form with this move

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Posted

there's 12 days of early voting. someone on campus needs to get a campaign going where they divide the campus up by last name to not overcrowd the polling location. A-C go on day 1, D-F on day 2, etc. if they're going to bottleneck the process then best to plan ahead and be smart about it

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Posted
3 minutes ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

there's 12 days of early voting. someone on campus needs to get a campaign going where they divide the campus up by last name to not overcrowd the polling location. A-C go on day 1, D-F on day 2, etc. if they're going to bottleneck the process then best to plan ahead and be smart about it


We strict the vote like crazy in this state but I’ve never waited in a line of more than 2 people when early voting in Texas. It’s the people that wait until Election Day that run into the clusterfuck. 

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Posted
Just now, Firemans4Horn said:


We strict the vote like crazy in this state but I’ve never waited in a line of more than 2 people when early voting in Texas. It’s the people that wait until Election Day that run into the clusterfuck. 

but if they're changing it to the Student Union that is a MUCH smaller space than the FAC

Posted
5 minutes ago, Firemans4Horn said:


We strict the vote like crazy in this state but I’ve never waited in a line of more than 2 people when early voting in Texas. It’s the people that wait until Election Day that run into the clusterfuck. 

This.  When they reduce or get rid of early voting (and they will), that is when I will fight back.  Go vote early you dumbshits.

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Posted
2 minutes ago, Longhorn_Fan68 said:

but if they're changing it to the Student Union that is a MUCH smaller space than the FAC

I’ve voted in the last 8 elections in the FAC, as my office is in main. They use maybe a fifth, of half of the first floor. The building design does allow for shaded wrap around line. But the union also has large enough spaces for them to use the same amount of voting machines in multiple spaces of the union. Now, if they would use a larger space, and used more machines, the lines on Election Day would be much smaller. But they have used the same footprint and number of machines for at least 5-7 years.

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Posted
9 hours ago, Captainant said:

Call me jaded, but I just don't trust this abbott directed admin to not be attempting voter suppression in some form with this move

 

abbott hates the university voting block

honestly, UT Austin students are damn lucky that they're not dealing with restricted hours or days of early voting. the kids are prairie view have been fighting this for many year.

 

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/25/waller-county-texas-voter-suppression/

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/24/voting-rights-lawsuit-waller-county/

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Posted (edited)
5 hours ago, UnivTex34 said:

I’ve voted in the last 8 elections in the FAC, as my office is in main. They use maybe a fifth, of half of the first floor. The building design does allow for shaded wrap around line. But the union also has large enough spaces for them to use the same amount of voting machines in multiple spaces of the union. Now, if they would use a larger space, and used more machines, the lines on Election Day would be much smaller. But they have used the same footprint and number of machines for at least 5-7 years.

 

they're not going to expand voting on any university campus in Texas

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/27/texas-a-m-brazos-county-early-voting-2022/

The Brazos County Commissioners Court has decided to take no action on bringing back the on-campus early-voting location at Texas A&M University for the 2022 elections, despite admitting that they made a mistake in removing the site at last week’s meeting.

Edited by tx 3 putt
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Posted

restricting voting access in Brazos county seems like a strange move. 2020 election...

image.png.d484f6e4abe084c6ea9d935d7070bbc8.png

I cant imagine A&M students vote much differently

Posted
13 minutes ago, Blotto said:

restricting voting access in Brazos county seems like a strange move. 2020 election...

image.png.d484f6e4abe084c6ea9d935d7070bbc8.png

I cant imagine A&M students vote much differently

They did. It was blue around the university.

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Posted
Just now, Blotto said:

I'll be goddamned! https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.html

image.png.dde16e019b1ad0bdb1852675c7498a89.png

I appreciate you correcting me on that, as I was clearly talking out my ass. I guess that's what happens when my only exposure to aggy is observing the mouth breathers on Texags.

It's a vicious cycle. Go to college--even a comparatively conservative one--start to question all the stereotypes preconceived notions that your parents saddled you with, start thinking for yourself, then go hang out with fattie and friends in the oil fields and Houston suburbs for decades making the same handful of dumb jokes/complaints, join Texags, become your parents.

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Posted
1 hour ago, Blotto said:

restricting voting access in Brazos county seems like a strange move. 2020 election...

image.png.d484f6e4abe084c6ea9d935d7070bbc8.png

I cant imagine A&M students vote much differently

It’s not your father’s red ass student body

Posted
1 hour ago, aggie08 said:

It's a vicious cycle. Go to college--even a comparatively conservative one--start to question all the stereotypes preconceived notions that your parents saddled you with, start thinking for yourself, then go hang out with fattie and friends in the oil fields and Houston suburbs for decades making the same handful of dumb jokes/complaints, join Texags, become your parents.

Way to break the cycle. Proud of you

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Posted
4 hours ago, Blotto said:

restricting voting access in Brazos county seems like a strange move. 2020 election...

image.png.d484f6e4abe084c6ea9d935d7070bbc8.png

I cant imagine A&M students vote much differently


per texags, it’s 100% woke 

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
UT Austin just posted it will be moved to the Student Union.

Or they can vote at the LBJ school on campus, which is a ten minute walk east of the Union, or at the Travis County Civil Court, which is six blocks south of the Union. All are open 7-7 Mon-Sat and 12-6 on Sun during early voting.

The Union location is open until 10pm on the last two days of early voting.

If you want to hang out with frustrated coeds, get in line at the Union an hour before they close on Election Day.


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