For decades, technological advances have allowed more workers to perform their jobs remotely than ever before. But in March 2020, the work-from-home movement gained an immediate and unprecedented following when the COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of U.S.-based workers back to their homes and apartments under shelter-in-place orders.
Live Oak Contracting participated in this shift to telework for our entire team, helping our Project Estimator Ryan Osborne keep himself and his family safe while continuing to provide the highest quality service to our clients. Read Ryan’s thoughts on his transition to remote work and learn how Live Oak’s team has navigated this crisis.
“WE HAD SOME ADJUSTMENTS, BUT DIDN’T MISS A BEAT”
Ryan’s job involves putting together multiple project estimates, communicating with subcontractors for bids, and assisting operations in lumber logistics for all projects. When the COVID crisis hit, Ryan raised his concerns to Live Oak regarding his wife’s high-risk pregnancy. He wanted to avoid the exposure risk inherent in traveling to and working in the office. Live Oak’s management told Ryan to go for it and he began working from home effective immediately.
Ryan began teleworking with the laptop he already had, and Live Oak quickly found a monitor set that could be shipped to his home, providing him with three separate screens to use. To maintain the same sense of collaboration seen in the physical office, Ryan and his team rely on software such as Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting, and Plangrid. These types of software allow Ryan and Live Oak to check in on each other multiple times per day, whether for quick questions or more in-depth discussions. Team members can collectively markup and review plans or drawings, leave comments, or even share their screens to provide a more interactive experience.
Though this transition was easier than expected, it didn’t come without some hiccups. Ryan misses the ability to simply walk down the hall to chat with teammates about an issue. “Being home can be a good and bad thing,” he continued. “It’s easy to get distracted, but the hours are more flexible.” Losing his 45-minute commute has given Ryan more time with his family, and as a result, he’s more willing to work late or get online early to start on projects.
CONTACT LIVE OAK FOR YOUR PROJECT NEEDS
For Ryan, Live Oak Contracting helped make the transition from office work to telework an easy one. Let our skilled staff of project managers and estimators work with you on your next multifamily construction project to achieve your goals.
