by Pamela Alberca

Work from home.

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It didn’t feel real, at all. Not until I was wrapping my monitor and keyboard in a bubble wrap ready to be packed in a huge box, waiting to be delivered on my front door.

 

I was one of the last batch of employees to go on work from home. I used to laugh at the thought as my eyes followed my workmates out the door – I watch them as they bid goodbye as if it will be their last for a very long time. Silly, right? I know they’d be back in no time. Well, wishful thinking.

 

The next day, another batch were called to join the ones who left yesterday. My boss would repeatedly ask if who were the ones still willing to stay because we can’t be sent home all at once; I raise a hand every time. Yep, read that again – I raise a hand every damn time; because I know there’s no way they’d be shutting down the whole building. Again, wishful thinking.

 

The next morning, the ground floor was quiet. No late comers rushing through the elevator or running up the stairs to beat the 5-minute grace period after six. All there was were hand sanitizers and alcohols, a guard holding a thermo gun at the entrance and a logbook asking your travel history for the past 2 weeks.

 

Have you felt my internal panic right there? Nope? I didn’t, too. Not until we were hunting the nearest grocery stores to buy as much alcohol (as much my money could buy, atleast. And I tell you, it ain’t much) as we can.

 

They say, “You wouldn’t know the last time would be the last.” I know, too metaphorical, I’m not dying or anything, it’s the quarantine effect, I guess. *winks* But I didn’t know that morning would be my last transpo struggle to the office, that breakfast would be my last meal at the pantry, my last biometric scan, my last badge in, the last time I’m getting annoyed by the smell of the 2nd floor restroom --- the last time … before the next; and by “the next” I mean, we really don’t know when. So on the third day of the work-week, I brought home my work with me. In just three days, PEO was already hitting the 100% WFH goal. What can I say? We at PEO, we got ourselves an A(mazing) Team. Kudos, Leaders! And thank you!

 

So … it’s been a month.

 

A month since the four corners of Richmonde Tower became the four walls of our homes. A month since the noise and chaos of the prod floor turned into email and group chat notifications. A whole month where the closest to laughter, banters, and affection we have are in the form of emoji reactions and GIFs. And a month sitting in the comfort of our homes, still with a job and getting paid.

 

So a massive THANK YOU goes out to the whole REPH Community. From our top-level management down to our very hard working Facility and IT Teams, and everyone else who made this WFH initiative possible and working.

THANK YOU for your endless support and seeing us through this transition, for putting us in the forefront of your concern, and for all the risk you took to keep everyone afloat.

THANK YOU because when other companies were still deciding between WFH or send their employees home with no work no pay, we are already sipping our morning coffee far from the fear of getting infected with the virus, far from the fear of starving ourselves and our families. How can I even complain; I’m one of the lucky ones – blessed even.

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REPH, thank you for valuing your people.

 

And to you, yes you, you deserve a pat on the back for putting up with this whole new normal we are currently living in. It’s never been something close to smooth sailing but since the boat has left the port, we seem to keep up with the current whatever the weather – great job, fella!

 

But I can’t wait for things to get back to ‘our kind of normal’ and see everyone around the office premises again. When this is all over, let our hugs be tighter, smiles be wider, laughter be louder, because surely, our days will be brighter. But until then, keep safe, stay healthy, love hard, pray harder, and let’s continue to keep this business alive and value our job more than we ever have.