It's quarantini time!

Home Story with our Product Manager Mobile. John-Paul Hermann

Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues master Working from Anywhere in times of Corona... this time with: JP!

JP, what is your everyday life at WFH like right now (with your kids)?

JP: The days are very well planned and almost like a workday at the office. Do you remember? Before? When we were still in the office ...

With kids? We each have at least one household task - and together it works out quite well.

8:00 a.m. Breakfast for everyone
8:30 the kids do their chores (table and dishwasher)
8:45 a.m. the kids go out to the garden - just like the way to school would have been in the morning.
9:00 a.m. I go to the basement office and the kids start their chores for school and their morning program
12:30 is lunch time and we eat together
1:30pm we all go back to work and are together again for dinner.
If I'm needed with the family in between, I set teams to absent and am still easily reachable in urgent (and all other) cases - it's working great so far.

What lessons have you learned from your first weeks at WFH? Any tips for your colleagues?

JP: Working from home is going much better than I thought. My main concern was that the kids don't separate it well: "Why am I there if I can't be with them then?"
But it works out great. The kids just have good genes....
Tip: Have lighting not only behind you, but also in front of you / above you. Otherwise you will be so gloomy in video conferences....
And if you long for the office as much as I do, you can simulate the 2nd floor here. 

What else can you improve?

JP: My desk is too high for a regular chair. It's fine for sewing respirators, but it's not a good fit for a regular keyboard. That's why I need a really good gaming chair. Let's see what the Easter bunny brings.

Are you team office outfit or more team comfy look?

JP: Team Office outfit on top

And finally: Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew? 

JP: I'm part of the desk crew, otherwise the kids would probably be working on the computer more than I would.

Thanks, JP!

Home Story with Nina Ennekes-Maier, our Director Technologies Global Automation, integrations & Operations

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our PAYBACK colleagues are coping WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona. How are they coping at WFA and what are their challenges - especially with kids? What does their everyday life look like?

This time with Nina Ennekes-Maier, our Director Technologies Global Automation, Integrations & Operations.

Nina, what does your day-to-day life at WFH look like right now (with your kids)?

NEM: Significantly more strenuous and even more precisely planned than it already is, in order to do justice to both my professional duties and the substitute teaching job. I juggle between what feels like 100 daily calls and getting the many school assignments done and uploaded on time, but allow myself the luxury of sometimes going for a run at 6:30am for an hour or joining a yoga class in the evening. Regardless of the current situation, the flexibility of being able to do some things outside of office hours helps me.

I really miss our cafeteria, the ESSZIMMER! Instead, I now hear "Mom, I want something special, creative, not always the same" at lunchtime. Since it has to be vegan and gluten-free for my daughter, definitely challenging 

What learnings have you taken away from your first few weeks at WFH? Any tips for your colleagues?

NEM: For all colleagues with children: prioritize mercilessly both professionally and privately/school and consistently ignore chaos as well as dirt. In general: WFH doesn't necessarily mean "work freely always", so plan breaks sometimes and take care of your physical as well as mental health!

A big THANK YOU at this point to the colleagues who have improved our technical conditions for the company-wide WFH so successfully and at short notice, works really very well!

What else can you improve?

NEM: More participation in courses offered by our great team at TURNHALLE - super how quickly they realized such a comprehensive online offering! Eating less chocolate would also be good...

Are you team office outfit or more team comfy look?

NEM: Definitely Comfy-Look!

And finally: Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew? 

NEM: Right now I would actually like a desk, have put a mini table in my bedroom as an alternative.

Thanks, Nina - great view you have there!

Home Story with our manager Conrad Pozsgai

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues are coping with WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with: our manager Conrad!

Conrad, what does your day-to-day life at WFH look like right now (with your kids)?

CP: Not much different than in the office, except that I usually manage to eat all meals with the family. In the morning I usually have a short stand-up with my teams and every evening the same with my manager colleagues. In between there are usually a lot of meetings and spontaneous phone calls.

What lessons have you learned from your first weeks at WFH? Any tips for your colleagues?

CP: Since our son is still quite small at 20 months, he doesn't quite understand yet why I'm there but can't play with him. Therefore, I say goodbye to my home office every morning and try to stay there. In addition, I do 1-2 calls in the fresh air every day so that I don't get cabin fever.

What can you still improve?

CP: My chair and my wifi!

Are you team office outfit or more team comfy look?

CP: It fluctuates depending on my mood of the day.

And finally: Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew? 

CP: Definitely desk!

Thanks, Conrad!

Home Story with Sandra Prinzenberg, Division Manager of PAYBACK Multichannel Marketing

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues are mastering WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with: Sandra Prinzenberg!

Sandra, what does your everyday life at WFH look like right now (with kids, if applicable)?

SP: My everyday life with the whole family & WFH can best be compared to "agile development"/"agile way of working" - and probably that's why we're all doing very well together.

Especially the week after the Easter vacations was very varied and agility was in demand. Friday, 3/13, was the last day of school for both our kids and we thought that by now we had a well-rehearsed state with homeschooling. We were very happy with it.
But during the Easter break, all the schools came up with many technical innovations and rule changes. So teachers, students, and parents have been busy this week practicing new portal features, video calls with the class and teachers, instructional video downloads, daily homework uploads, weekly schedules, and papers. There is no such thing as a "weekly schedule" - even the school has moved away from that. They have become very agile over the last week - all video school lessons are posted on short notice in the morning. Teachers spontaneously call us - to hear how things are going. Am very curious to see if it stays that way after homeschooling time.

So we are still well advised to be agile on the road!☺️

What learnings did you take away from your first weeks at WFH? Any tips for your colleagues?

SP: Always look on the bright side of life!

The first week after the Easter vacations provided more variety. Routine wouldn't be my thing at all. For example, if you want to know what to do when the main fuse blows out at 6 a.m. and you can't push it back in and you have no power, please get in touch! Because without electricity there is no WLAN and no home office - but until the first Webex meeting you can manage it (and you just manage to keep the freezer, which is of course well filled at the moment, from defrosting...)!

In the home office I also work regularly in the evenings - the children are asleep, otherwise only the laundry mountain is waiting... However, it is really advantageous to be able to drink a cold white wine, rosé or beer at the computer at home. I didn't use that at all in the first Corona home office weeks - a real learning experience. 

What can you still improve?

SP: I definitely notice that from week to week, some things are running much smoother and I'm already somewhat "used to" the WFH. In fact, I think we all feel like we work a lot more/longer and I find that very helpful in the current situation, but it's probably neither sustainable nor desirable forever.
If one were to always work in the EFC, I would certainly need to improve the "office setup" at home as well (my workspace is sometimes here, sometimes there and never compliant with workplace safety training ).

With the relaxation of the Corona restrictions, the kids and I have expanded the radius of the apartment complex and ball games to the neighborhood. We highly recommend it! There are some pretty great "places & new ways" to explore. We have found a public meadow with slackline, different pieces of forest with mega climbing trees and cross-country paths for bike rides in the evening. There you can keep the minimum distance very well and it is now really long light.

And finally: Are you team office outfit or more team comfy look?

SP: More Team Office-Outfit (Friday-Look) and Team Camera-on-Fan!

Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew?  

SP: I would say "desk crew" (a mix between kids desk and dining table - always different).

And by the way, I'm also on the "cooking as fresh as possible" crew (vs. delivery service)!
In the week after the Easter vacations I ran to the butcher - with mask (you have to get used to it now). And something new was waiting for me here, too: the 24-hour butcher. What that is: a vending machine from which you can draw sausages like from a cigarette or beverage vending machine. I might try that one next week - but only if it works contactless. I'll save some "surprise" for next Corona & Homeoffice/Homeschooling week.

Thanks Sandra! It was great to get a glimpse into your "new" daily life!

Home Story with Nico Winkelhaus, our Head of Digital Marketing

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues master Working from Anywhere in times of Corona... this time with: Nico Winkelhaus!

Nico, what does your everyday life at WFH look like right now (with kids, if applicable)?

NW: My wife keeps telling me, "Work from Anywhere - but just don't work in a home office!" 

Luckily, she's on parental leave right now and does most of the childcare. Which, with three young kids under five, is a neat act. After Corona, I'll give the daycare inventor a medal.

For the children, it is also important to create clear time structures for everyday life, for example, to organize a Kita morning circle themselves. And for exercise, games and fun in really bad weather: Just Dance Unlimited on the Xbox with Kinect, e.g. at real.de or saturn.de.

What lessons have you learned from your first weeks at WFH? Any tips for your colleagues?

NW: Cable ties or Disney+. 

What can you still improve?

NW: Cable ties and Disney+.

And finally: Are you team office outfit or more team comfy look?

NW: Comfy look. What's the point of ironing shirts?

Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew?  

NW: Desk. When I sit down on the sofa, like right now, my Taliban boys immediately come and want to scream on the keyboard44vbi!!nÜsbcää#sdxvhtzdnbbdasifhdaef8z83b

Thanks Nico! Fingers crossed that the Kitas will open again soon ;) 

Home Story with our HR-colleague Doreen Dambacher

Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues master WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with Doreen Dambacher!

Doreen, what does your day-to-day life at WFH look like right now (with kids, if applicable)? Do you feel like you have the situation under control or is it tugging at your nerves too much? Are you a good teacher or is your child happy to go back to school? 

DD: Which version do you want now? All kidding aside. I'm trying to be as upfront as possible about what my day-to-day life is like with a child and working at WFH.

After all these weeks in the new situation, at least you have found the new rhythm. No long commute to the office (about 2 hrs), but some additional TO DO's: Homeschooling, homeworking, homecooking, etc. To be honest, with kids you don't really have everything under control all the time and so I just let each day unfold. One day goes great, the other day everything is different and chaotic.

The homework arrives daily via email. Then it depends on the form of the day how my little one works through it. In the second grade, of course, he still needs guidance and to work on the homework together. Our son doesn't always like it when we play teacher. Sometimes pencils fly through the air or there are discussions. #keepcalm 

We start the day with a joint breakfast (not on bad days), then the first call with the office, from 10 o'clock a short tutorial on the homework (and the possible late breakfast). And at noon again common time with a midday snack. The afternoon calls can usually be scheduled flexibly, and we handle the current increased operational business together as a team. We currently have a lot of new questions or topics that we are working on. Of course, I often switch on my laptop in the evening and do some work.

The new way of managing one's own job purely online and virtually is already working very well technically at LP. THANK YOU! The first virtual consultations were unusual and new, which for us HR people usually only took place in person and face-to-face. For example, I now advise colleagues on maternity or parental leave exclusively virtually. But that also works really well, and you can still see each other on camera. However, I really miss the direct contact with the team and my colleagues.

Unfortunately, I can't completely separate myself spatially at work. I can't just close the office door and concentrate purely on the job during the day. I am always available for the family -sitting in the middle of the living area- and that is definitely exhausting at times.

It's wonderful when I start my free time right after work. We have discovered many new corners in Ingolstadt with the bike and are much more on the road in the area with the wheels than before. Just recently we flew our kite again, spend a lot of time in the garden and are always organizing supplies of books, because our son is a real bookworm right now. So it was a nice surprise when my colleague sent a box of books from her kids. These are the special Corona moments

What lessons did you take away from your first week at WFH? Tips for colleagues (especially with kids: How do you manage the double burden of WFA, homeschooling, and household)?

DD: Take half a vacation day more often to equalize the double load. I'm in part-time work at 80% anyway. Letting the kids play it out and being a kid myself for a change. Not too much pressure with homework. Prepare meals together, everyone helps. We decide together and discuss every day: what's on the agenda today, what are we cooking, who's vacuuming, who's taking care of what, what are we doing after work.

Perfect household? #notreally #eyesight #legoeverywhere #egal - and very important, never forget the Windows+L keys #smallchildrenhands. Otherwise one day our kids will hold the video conferences. (but that would be a cool idea #bringyourkidstowork2.0)

What else can you improve?

DD: Increase my sitting posture on my non-existent office chair and my own quality time.

And finally: Are you team office outfit or more team comfy look?

DD: More Comfy but never in sweatpants

Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew?

DD: Dining room desk

Thanks Doreen, for your candid answers!

DD: Thanks too, stay well!

Home Story with Olaf Briese, our Head of Digital Direct Marketing

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues are coping with WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with Olaf Briese!

Olaf, what does your day-to-day life at WFH look like right now (with kids, if applicable)? Do you feel like you have the situation under control or does it wear on your nerves too much? Are you a good teacher or is your child happy to go back to school? 

OB: My day starts, as it did before Corona, with a look at the news and social media world, breakfast and - if things are going well - some sport. Since I don't have to go into town and it's still quiet at home, I sit down at my notebook around half past seven. Especially important for me are the regular morning update calls with Sandra and the other TL in our department, as well as with the newsletter team #bestesteam.

So far, I have shared the dining table with my daughter Paula in the mornings. The day is determined by many meetings, so actually like in the PAYBACK office too, except that I just stay seated and don't have to run back and forth between lakes. In between, I help Paula with questions about classes or take care of lunch, at least on the days when my wife goes to work.

As a teacher, I'm probably not very good ("Dad, Mrs. H. explained it quite differently"), so we're all glad that she, as a fourth grader, has been allowed to go back to school for 3 hours a day since Monday. This gives her and our day a little more structure again, which was very difficult during the entire homeschooling time. She is also happy that she is now allowed to meet with a friend again. I moved my WFH office into another room and freed up the dining room table again, which is also relaxing. Sitting on top of each other for such a long time has already worn on the nerves of all three of us.

What lessons have you learned from the last few weeks at WFH? Tips for colleagues (especially with children: How do you manage the double burden of WFH, homeschooling, and household)?

OB:

  • An extra monitor is worth its weight in gold.
  • So is the PAYBACK dining room!
  • Blocking out times on the calendar more often for childcare, exercise, eating, or just to be able to work something away. And somehow try to get a structure in place with set school/work/play times.
  • #hashtagforthesakeofhashtagsisalsonota solution. 

What else can you do to improve?

OB: Check in with colleagues virtually more often. In the office, I like to drop in on others and poke my head into the office. Or meet up in the coffee kitchen. I really miss this spontaneous informal exchange in between.

And finally: Are you team office outfit or more team comfy look?

OB: Jeans and T-shirt or sweater - as always. Sweatpants only for sports!

Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew?

OB: Before, dining table crew, now desk crew. I need space for the monitor, notebook, coffee cup, phone, headset and various cables. And I also sit better on a real chair than on the sofa!

Home Story with Nadine Polte, our Lead HR Relationship Manager

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues are coping with WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with Nadine Polte!

Nadine, what does your day-to-day life at WFH look like right now (with kids, if applicable)? Do you feel like you have the situation under control or does it wear on your nerves too much? Are you a good teacher or is your child happy to go back to school? 

NP: The first few weeks were not easy. From one day to the next, instead of being in the office and at school all day, we were together as a family in our apartment. Due to the situation, each of us had new challenges, a different rhythm and, not least, different needs. In addition, I had an immense workload due to the Corona issues that suddenly had to be dealt with and my own demands to perfectly balance job, family and household. It quickly became clear that it wouldn't work that way. Our otherwise almost always relaxed composure and our good mood began to falter, and we reacted - otherwise rather uncharacteristically for us - increasingly irritably. The solution: I called a "family council" (my daughter rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, Mom, you're always with your HR stuff"), in which everyone put on the table what was important, who needed what, and how the situation could work for each individual. And that helped: with a lot of understanding for each other, but also with rules and clear agreements, we have now settled in well and - despite WFA and home schooling - have our relaxed family life back.

And not only that: My 13-year-old daughter has suddenly and miraculously developed into a largely structured and disciplined teenager and does all school things on the "mebis platform" (which now no longer crashes daily) completely independently, I don't have to worry about anything.  She is also in regular contact with her class in zoom conferences and with her friends at "house parties", so she is relatively emotionally balanced ;-)

So fortunately I can concentrate on my work very well and mostly undisturbed. In the team, things are going well, we have adapted our processes and workflows well to the new situation, we use our daily webex calls for coordination and information exchange, but also sometimes for lunch or the "HR mountain party". In this way, we also stay in close contact as a team.

What lessons have you learned from the last few weeks at WFH? Tips for colleagues (especially with children: How do you manage the double burden of WFH, homeschooling and household)?

NP:

  1. Get a wifi repeater! The first few days our wifi regularly went down when 3 people were online at the same time. With the repeater it works much better.
  2. It helps to have a family that loves to cook: we have something delicious cooked or grilled almost every day. If not, I get something to eat at one of the numerous Schwabing restaurants.
  3. I always change my workplace within the apartment. The new surroundings and views relax me when I'm working. And in the evening, really shut down the notebook and put it away, otherwise the "switching off" doesn't really work.
  4. Go for a jog in the morning before work or join Uli's HIT courses online - the perfect balance to the acute lack of exercise in the EFC.
  5. When the grumbling and grumbling from the teenager's room about the amount of school material gets too loud, take a short break if possible and go for a walk in the park with the annoyed pubescent, listen and give him a hug. Then it usually goes again :)

What else can you improve?

NP: Accepting voles as new roommates and overlooking lime stains in the shower and sink.

And finally: Are you team office outfit or rather team comfy look?

NP: Definitely: Comfy look.

Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew?

NP: Desk! And sometimes balcony desk :)

Home Story with Thomas Falkenberg, Lead Solution Architect

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues are coping with WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with Thomas Falkenberg!

Thomas, what does your day-to-day life at WFH look like right now (with kids, if applicable)? Do you feel like you have the situation under control or does it wear on your nerves too much? Are you a good teacher or is your child happy to go back to school? 

TF: Our Romy is in first grade, Mathis is in his first year of kindergarten. This combination is proving to be conditionally compatible in the current situation, as Mathis needs more attention and doesn't quite realize that the rest of the family has to work/learn and he would have to do it on his own.

Nevertheless, the reason why it has worked out quite well so far is that my wife can (and has to) use her flex time account and thus takes over home schooling, kindergarten and household 80% of the time. The moments when we've been in calls at the same time can probably best be described as a cross between stand-up comedy and Armageddon. The teacher tries hard with emails, dropbox, video instructions, worksheets, etc. - which works, given the circumstances, but will hopefully lead to better digitization in schools in the future.

With flex time soon to be used up and no prospect of the childcare facility opening for our children, things are about to get even more exciting for us. The part-time option is well-intentioned, but it won't make the work any less and I don't think it would make any difference in real terms (other than salary sacrifice).

What learnings have you taken away from the last few weeks at WFH? Tips for colleagues (especially with kids: How do you manage the double burden of WFH, homeschooling, and household)?

TF: My tip is to keep or expand your sense of humor while lowering your standards. Maybe the quality of schooling suffers, but that is far less consequential than if the family breaks up because of it. The children can and will make up for the former. It's also great that the company and colleagues don't have a problem with a child hammering on the keyboard in between or if you have to leave for a moment (pro-tip: don't forget to mute then)!

What is currently going down well are the online lunch circles that our kindergarten started this week. The teacher reads stories and all the children can see each other again, at least virtually. The children really miss playing with their peers.

The children's media consumption has increased in general (Disney+ came in handy) - by the way, our TV broke the week before last, which is the worst thing that could have happened at that time. Fortunately, Media Markt has delivered on time new and the points are also already on the account ;) After 4 days, the old TV suddenly went again. My wife claims I planned this from long hand, but this is unconfirmed speculation. Does anyone need a TV!

What else can you improve?

TF: I keep resolving to use the TURNHALLE 3.0 offerings more often (even with the kids), unfortunately I often have meetings at those times and haven't found a good way to reduce them yet. As a result, I move extremely little during the day and usually drink too little (water) - instead, I now go jogging late in the evening more often when the kids are asleep, which is good.

And finally: Are you team office outfit or rather team comfy look?

TF: Definitely Team Comfy Look, although I did wear a shirt last week. That irritated my colleagues a bit though.

Are you more part of the desk crew or the sofa crew?

TF: Since I also sit at my PC from time to time in my private life, I fortunately have a well-equipped workplace with a desk, chair, etc., which is definitely a sensible choice. - That's definitely a sensible investment if you have the space.

Thank you, Thomas!

Home Story with Caro Schlegtendal

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues are coping with WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with Caro Schlegtendal

What does your everyday life at WFH look like right now (with kids, if applicable)?

Every day a little different. In any case, I get up early so I can be at the computer by 7 at the latest and have some time to work before the kids (4 and 7) are awake. On days when dad can be there for the kids (and fortunately that's most of the time), I can then work well the whole day. Of course, the one or other call still takes place with my little colleagues. They are already curious. And when they know I'm there, they take advantage of it.

It's stressful on days when I'm also taking care of the children. I often have to put them off, ask them not to disturb me, let me work and of course devote myself to them in between and then put off work. Then it's back to work, especially in the evening, when the kids are in bed.

What lessons have you learned from your first weeks at the WFH? Any tips for your colleagues?

Practice composure. Set clear priorities (private and professional). ;-) And be realistic about the demands you make on yourself. I was (and am) unhappy that in the current situation (at least in my own perception) I don't manage the same workload in the same quality as before all the additional Corona issues, EFC with kids and much more household.

What else can you do to improve?

The above is a big challenge for me: balancing everything and then being happy with what I can create and accomplish.

I would like to have a clearer structure and boundaries, which I can't manage because I don't have someone to look after the children all the time and always at different times. If I could, I would make a plan. Especially to schedule breaks and lunches.

And finally: Are you team office outfit or more team comfy look?

Sometimes like this, sometimes like that.

Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew?  

That also varies. I always look for the quietest place, the couch is it at most in the evening. Otherwise, I need a table to work at.

Home Story with the Kleinfelder family

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues master WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with the Family Kleinfelder!

Marion and Markus, what does your everyday life look like right now (with kids, if applicable)? Do you have the feeling to have the situation under control or is it tugging at your nerves too much? (With children: Have you accepted the part-time offer and if so, how does it work? Are you good teachers or do the child/children complain? Are they happy to go back to school?)

We both feel comfortable, still happy to see each other daily, but we miss the colleagues, the office chair, the EATING ROOM... Our daughter has been homeschooling since the lockdown. She is 16 and independent, so fortunately we don't have to support her much at school. However, we realize that even though there are two of us at home, she sometimes doesn't get enough attention because we both have busy schedules and even though we are so close, we are then far away.

The happiest about the current situation is Emma, our dog, now that someone is always home.

What learnings have you taken away from your first weeks at WORKING FROM HOME? Tips for colleagues (especially with kids: How do you manage the double burden of working at home, studying, and household chores)?

We have set up a lunch blocker and split up tasks, e.g. cooking or fetching food - this works out sometimes this way, sometimes that way. When Marion or Cara cook, there is usually something fresh, when Markus "cooks", the motto is usually #supportyourlocals with pizza or burgers. 

What can you still improve?

The working situation could be improved, i.e.: desk, chair & monitor (editor's note: there's something in the menu #officetogo). 

And finally: Are you team office outfit or rather team comfy look?

Marion: Office outfit 

Markus: As always Comfy Look in PAYBACK Shirt like mostly in the office #WELIKE 

Are you more part of the desk or sofa crew?

Desk Crew 

Home Story with the Project Pioneers

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues master WORKING FROM ANYWHERE in times of Corona... this time with a group of special interviewees: the Project Pioneers!

What exactly do the Project Pioneers do?
At the Project Pioneers, you can exchange ideas with experienced project managers about the various aspects of professional project management, and receive coaching and further training. 

What does your everyday life in the WFH look like at the moment?

PP: We have a lot of meetings, usually the day starts with a daily - or several. A lot of exchange in virtual meetings with colleagues, more professional than private.

At the Pioneers, we always have lively discussions about new training formats in our meetings and have already started with a format. We want to try out one or two other things here, such as a virtual Project Pioneers event in the format of a digital exchange platform.

How do you manage your projects? 

PP: As always, of course, everything has #structure - as is the case in projects. You need a good daily routine - which includes lots of appointments and (very important!) breaks, even if that often involves cooking food.
And of course don't forget to change your WebEx status after the breaks.
We try to create a clear separation between private and office or to change the workspace or rooms if possible.

You can still have fun while working, even if your colleagues are often missing. You can dance away stress with a Pamela Reif workout or go for a walk in the fresh air or jogging. By the way, this also works very well virtually - and the puffing doesn't bother you as much.

What specific lessons have you learned from the last few weeks at the WFH?

PP: There are quite a few, so here are a few of them.

  • Arrange virtual coffee dates or lunches to stay in touch with other colleagues!
  • Jogging is my new hobby and is so good to get away from it all!
  • Set lunch and after work as blockers. Consciously take coffee breaks. If you have questions, instead of chatting, just give me a quick call and make some small talk.
  • Create clear and delimited structures: Start the working day consciously in the morning, take a clear lunch break away from the computer (with a walk if you like, to freshen up your mind) and end the working day clearly (e.g. with sport).
  • Exercise (especially for the back and neck) at least every 2nd day!
  • Shut down the computer in the evening and start your free time.
  • It is a bit difficult for me to distinguish between work and private life. However, after some time I have found a good rhythm to delimit this better: After work, just clean up everything and the place at the table is the dining table again!
  • Meetings have to be prepared a bit better. Important is the group of people and especially the distribution of tasks. I always summarize the important information at the end of the meeting to create clarity.
  • It's nice to be able to organize my time more flexibly and to be able to work evenings!
  • Sometimes it's more difficult to coordinate because things get lost over the phone. Also, it's really super important that all the technology works. Problems with access to Y or non-functioning internet, Global Protect, Webex or similar would make the work more difficult. 

What can be improved when WORKING FROM HOME?

PP

  • Specify desired goal of a Webex meeting more concretely at the beginning.
  • Define dates that are too vague even better, structure them, define responsibilities.
  • Write the meeting minutes during the meeting in the shared screen, this increases the attention.
  • In large meetings, appoint a moderator who also gives the floor, because it sometimes goes haywire!
  • Create space for yourself so that topics can be dealt with during the day and not just in the evening.

And finally: Are you team office outfit or rather team comfy look?

PP: 50/50 (Stopper socks are the order of the day for the Pioneers).          

Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew?

PP: 60/40 - who would have thought that #Strukturundso

Thank you, dear Pioneers!

Home Story with Matthias Weber, our Head of Reach & Permission

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues master WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with Matthias Weber!

What does your everyday life at WFH look like right now (with kids, if applicable)? Do you feel like you have the situation under control or is it tugging at your nerves too much? 

MW: It works. Better than I thought. I do miss my colleagues, the social environment in the office, the conversations in the hallway or in the kitchen, and the lunch breaks together in the cafeteria. But I save myself the commute to work and gain time either for work or for my private life. My partner also works at home two to three days a week. We sit together at the dining table, work on the computer and coordinate who has to make a call and when. Since we have a 1-bedroom apartment, the only way to get out is to use the balcony. My children are grown up and have no influence on my new work routine.

What lessons have you learned from the last few weeks at WFH? Any tips for your colleagues?

MW:

  • I try to separate work and private life as much as possible. I clear my computer and equipment out of sight in the evening.
  • I feel that the work itself is more effective. You can reach colleagues better via video calls than in the office, or you can see more quickly the status of whether you can reach someone.
  • Video conferences are more disciplined than live meetings, but they also need to be better prepared.
  • WFH is more than an alternative.
  • Our IT did a mega job and got everything up and running very quickly and well.
  • With my team, there is fifteen minutes a day for chatting and general exchange. That's more regular than in the pre-Corona days!

What can you still improve?

MW: Take breaks more consistently. And not eating at the computer.

And finally: Are you team office outfit or more team comfy look?

MW: Office on top and comfy on the bottom: my obligatory black shirt and sweatpants.

Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew?

MW: Due to the lack of a desk, I'm part of the dining table crew. When the weather is good, I'm also part of the balcony crew.

Thank you Matthias

Home Story with the Hildebrandt family

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues master WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with the Hildebrandt family!

Hilde, what does your everyday life at WFH look like right now (with kids, if applicable)? Do you have the feeling that you have the situation under control or is it too much of a strain on your nerves? 

Hilde: Basically, everything is going well for us. Everyday life has settled down. Everyone has their tasks, just like before Corona. Gabi takes care of the household and homeschooling and I do the caretaking (repairs in the apartment, disposal of garbage and garden waste, setting up the office, etc.). I also ride my bike to the office once a week, clears my head!

I am a bad teacher because too impatient, so Gabi has taken over homeschooling (successfully). Moritz is in 4th grade and it was about transferring. We are lucky that Moritz is a child who is very good with himself, so the supervision is rather easy even in times of contact restrictions. Nevertheless, Moritz was happy to see his buddies at school again.

Along the way, we did a lot of things in our apartment and garden that we had planned to do for a long time but kept putting off.

What lessons have you learned from the last few weeks at the WFH? Any tips for your colleagues?

Hilde: Because Gabi works 20 hours a week and is now on sabbatical, the situation was and is not so dramatic for us. That's why we can't give any helpful tips.

What could you still improve?

Hilde: I could do a cooking course.

And finally: Are you Team Office-Outfit or rather Team Comfy-Look?

Hilde: Team Comfy-Look!

Are you more part of the desk crew or sofa crew?

Hilde: Desk crew.

Thank you Hilde & Gabi!

Home Story with Alexander Strauber, Application Network & Infrastructure

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues master WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with Alexander Stauber!

Alexander, what does your day-to-day life at WFH look like right now? Do you feel like you have the situation under control or is it tugging at your nerves too much? 

AS: Not much different than in the office. However, I can now move my sports to the morning hours because I save the time I spend commuting to work.

During the day, lots of different project topics or calls come in, which also sometimes ends up with the laptop ending up in the kitchen with me. I don't discipline myself enough, but of course I always want to be available for my colleagues.

As far as nerves are concerned, I have to say that I took a lot of composure with me from my previous consulting days. Automatically, you quickly learn to be able to work anywhere, especially in IT with all the given tools.

What lessons have you learned from the last few weeks at WFH? Any tips for your colleagues?

AS: Things are always hot in projects. Trust is good, but even more trust is better.

Team structure is the knockout criterion for me for the current situation. Keeping an eye on the timelines, not getting on your colleagues' nerves vehemently, and still understanding where the shoe pinches without coffee shop talks. It's already a challenge in the office and now it demands perfection!

What can you still improve?

AS: Get up more often. So often I catch myself that 4 hours have flown by and I haven't moved. Hardly ever happens to me in the office.

Calls that don't require documents, simply make them with the cell phone while walking.

Have you been back to the office? How did it feel? #goodtobeback

AS: Unfortunately I have to answer this question in the negative. Have to go to the office to print documents the next few days though. Have paperless WFA on my end. I'm looking forward to it!

And finally: Are you more team WFO or WFH?

AS: WFH/WFO - 60/40

I feel very comfortable working from home, but also miss the lively work with colleagues in the office Face2Face.

Thank you Alexander

Home Story with Veronika Keller, Talent Acquisition Manager

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues master WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with Veronika Keller!

Vroni, what does your everyday life at WFH look like right now? Do you feel like you have the situation under control or is it tugging at your nerves too much? 

VK: Even before the lockdown, I kept saying "I am CERTAINLY NOT going to the home office for a WHOLE week!" ...until we actually had to
The beginning was ok, then came a few depri days when I didn't feel like sitting at home anymore and missed my colleagues a lot. I still do, but you just get used to everything.

In the meantime, WORKING FROM HOME has settled down very well. I am also glad that I have a very nice roommate with whom I have converted the dining table into a desk. So it almost feels like being in an office.
I do miss the commute, but I make up for it with a very long walk along the Isar every day. Walking has definitely become my new hobby since Corona! At the beginning I found it quite exhausting, but now I have a good routine.

What learnings have you taken away from the last few weeks at WFH? Any tips for your colleagues?

VK: My learning: you get used to everything and can adapt to any situation. Having the right mindset is important!

Tips: Structure your day so that you get out a bit and move around. Cook something delicious for lunch and NOT eat at your laptop (A bit stupid for me because my dining table is now my desk.

What else can you improve?

VK: Take longer breaks more consistently.

Have you been back to the office yet? How has it been feeling? #goodtobeback

VK: It's really good to be back! I still miss my colleagues because of course our whole team can't be there at the same time, but it's nice to see at least some of them again! I think the solution of our EATING ROOM is really great and especially when the weather is nice you can sit outside and eat. We have quite a few options there!

And finally: Are you more Team WFO or WFH?

VK: Before Corona I was definitely WFO, but in the meantime I have come to appreciate the advantages of WFH. It works out much better than I expected! I've been able to work in my parents' garden for a few days, and in order to give my yoga classes in between, I only have to change the room and not the building. Not to forget: The yoga clothes, I leave them thereby equal the whole day on, which I would not necessarily do in the WFO.

Thank you Vroni & strike that Yoga pose!

Home Story with Björn Klement

It's quarantini time! Sit back and read for yourself how our colleagues master WORKING FROM HOME in times of Corona... this time with Björn Klement!

Björn, what does your everyday life at WFH look like right now? Do you feel like you have the situation under control or is it tugging at your nerves too much? 

BK: Of course we have everything under control at home. First thing in the morning we have breakfast with the kids and get them ready for kindergarten and school.  Then we take the first one to kindergarten (fortunately it's back to normal), then to the first calls and at the same time do home schooling with the school child, since she's only allowed to go to school every other day and then only at 11 a.m.. After that, bring the big one to school and then use the rest at home for work. Always cooking fresh food at lunchtime so that you can get some other ideas. And yes, sometimes it is unfortunately a bit much to answer the questions of my kids and listen to the colleagues in the calls at the same time. One thing you definitely learn in these situations is how to multitask.

What learnings have you taken away from the last few weeks at WFH? Any tips for your colleagues?

BK: It should already be a proper office chair. In the first week, I sat on a dining room chair every day, which is really not good for my back. You also have to make a social call from time to time so that you don't lose touch with your colleagues. In addition, schedule daily jour fixe with the team so that you can exchange information about current topics and also discuss one or two private matters.

What else can you improve?

BK: Schedule more time for lunch and get back on the road bike more often, since I miss the way to work right now!

Have you been back to the office yet? How did it feel? #goodtobeback

BK: Unfortunately not, due to the daily schedule with the kids it is almost not possible to go to the office at the moment. But for August during the vacation season I have already planned a whole week to go back to the Office and I'm already looking forward to it.

And finally: Are you more Team WFO or WFH?

BK: WFH, since the current challenges with school operations unfortunately don't allow it any other way.

Thank you very much, Björn!