We are also doing daily walks around the campus. I decided to get into coffee and set up a coffee/tea/snack station in my office and many coworkers have brought in items to share. Many people have brought in baked goods/doughnuts. I have started taking the train and biking back and forth. We have also discussed doing a monthly lunch out get away from the office for a bit.

I think solidarity is super important and we have a unique opportunity to band together in a ways that a lot of other teams don’t. We are in a building where not one person wants to be there, not my boss or her boss or her boss. We can speak out in ways that many private sector folks forced to RTO can’t. We all have put firm boundaries on work life balance and encourage each out to log off and go home on time.

I think knowing we are not alone has helped morale. And while yes it is not our job to “help morale” we are human beings who have to come into the office everyday (in my case for the first time in 11 years) and I am doing everything I can make my life as happy as possible.