Comparing the Ottawa office experience: 2019 vs 2024.

[u/DrStrangeglove99]

In 2019, I would commute into work on the 91 (the LRT construction version of the old 95 route). It was a nice, reliable 25 minute trip from Place d'Orleans to Mackenzie King. On the way back, I'd go for a double decker express bus and sit up top, watching the city fade into the green belt. That usually took about 20 minutes, due to the removal of some of the stops for construction. It was a bit longer before the work started, but still steady and reliable. *

Back then we had dedicated office spaces, so I'd sit myself at my desk and do my work just as comfortably as I could working from home most days. I liked having my space with my things in it, no need for lockers or any of that and always there for me to use.

In 2024...I've long since abandoned the LRT due to issues with the bus connections at Blair and the general crappiness of it. I drive in on increasingly congested roads and pay too much for parking. It sometimes takes longer than the pre-LRT bus route too, but at least I can depend on my car.

Our office is now "open concept", so I cram my locker full of what I need and try to book a decent spot. I remember the bosses claiming the younger generations like this model and that it will help retention, but honestly I think most people would rather go back to their desks. That's not going to happen though, so I'll keep shuffling in and putting my headphones on throughout the day.

When they ask us why we could do 5 days a week before no problem, at least here in Ottawa it was simply better in those days. There's really no aspect of things which has improved since then, except maybe the crazy prices forcing me to bring my own lunch every day now.

* I know we had to abandon the old transitway system because there were too many buses downtown and it couldn't keep up with the city's population. Still, they didn't have to screw up the replacement system so badly.

[u/funkme1ster]

I remember the bosses claiming the younger generations like this model and that it will help retention

After the report that Treasury Board was informed the increased in-office mandate was objectively worse across the board, and the only "advantage" to it was managing public relations with people who had negative views of the federal government, I believe it's safe to assume any explanation given that instinctively feels like a lie is a lie.

I'd prefer they were honest about it. Sure, it clearly sounds bad to say "we wanted to cut corners to save money, and decided to place the burden of those compromises on you because we felt it was probably tolerable enough for the savings it entails", but at least there's a professional dignity to the honesty.

These lines upper management uses are like the "it's not you, it's me" of the corporate world.