Conference 7.286::digital

    >I was wondering if anyone besides me commutes 50 or more miles to work?  I 
    >won't be able to move closer for a while, but I feel DIGITAL is worth the 
    >52 mile drive.  So far, I think I am correct...
    

    Working in the Field, it's not too unusual to see commutes at
    least that far.  My personal record for distance to work is 75
    miles ( one way, daily ).  Thankfully, that was only a month and
    a half.  I have also had a couple of stints at >140 miles ( one
    way ), but stayed overnight for those.  The norm here in Houston
    is probably 25-30 miles which is the distance from the edges of
    town into downtown.

Last year, there was some sort of contest/search that was done nationally.
As I recall, they found someone who commuted 250+ miles each way.

I have also encountered somebody in AZ who commutes over 100 miles each way, I 
forget the exact distance.

    I drive 104 miles one way.  The drive doesn't bother me and
    fortunately, my car gets 45 mpg on the highway.  Of the 104 miles, only
    10 are not highway.

    I drive 50 miles each way.  But, then again, I have a Plan A company
    vehicle which I burn out in less than 2 years.  If I had to drive my
    own car, I'd switch offices (Baltimore is a little closer to me than
    Landover), try for an assignment closer to home, or consider a position
    with another employer.
    
    The drive itself for me is no big deal, but I really could use the
    extra time with my children.  But, no, it's not driving me crazy
    (no pun intended).
    
    -- Russ

    I drive east on the Mass Pike to 290 to 495 to Rt2 to go from
    Sturbridge to Acton. Is it worth it????? Some days yes some days no.
    My 1987 car has 125k miles on it.

    Up until two weeks ago, I drove 45 miles one-way and now that I
    have escaped from Mass to NH I drive 62 miles one-way.  Is it 
    worth it, like the previous reply sometimes yes, sometimes no.
    My 1989 van has 56K miles on it!

    I have about a 75 mile/day round trip commute from Acton to MKO, but
    I'm in a Digital Vanpool.  If you'd like to join, or form a vanpool
    contact Dave Costanzo at the Commuter Transportation Dept. in Maynard,
    or check out the notes conference ZONULE::COMMUTING.  Press KP7 to add.
    

       Interesting stories about the Commutes, but the dialogue probably
    belongs in the ZONULE::COMMUTING conference...
    
    							regards,
    								Bob
    
    					who_used_to_commute_30K_miles_year
    

    The question that must be asked, if this is only your 3rd day as a
    Digital employee, what do you do and where did you work before?
    
    Jay

    And why are we hiring when upwards of 8,000 people are in
    
    
    	"TRANSITION"
    
    
    Jim
    

    I am an Info System Specialist at SSB in Westminster, and I graduated
    from the MBA program at UMass this past May (thus making me a "college
    hire").                                 
    
      

    
    
   >And why are we hiring when upwards of 8,000 people are in
   >
   >
   >	"TRANSITION"
    
    
    I would hope DEC hires/retains the people it DOES need
    and puts the people it DOESN'T need in "transition" (not that
    I have to justify why I was hired to YOU).
    
    
    

    RE:  .13
    
    Please don't take the "transition" note to heart......I'm
    sure the author of (i-forget-the-note-number) wasn't directing
    fury at you personally, but making a rhetorical statement
    (i think). You see, some people in some mfg plants were "volunteered"
    as excess and were offered the option of the buy-out package. Some
    of these people have been with the company for many years. Of the
    people currently remaining, there are still some hard feelings
    on the subject of "transition". Please check elsewhere in this
    conference for discussions of the buy-out package etc. It might
    help you understand where some of these folks are coming from....
    
    And I welcome you to DEC, best of luck in your position!
    
    pat

    RE: .10
    
>    The question that must be asked, if this is only your 3rd day as a
>    Digital employee, what do you do and where did you work before?
    
    No, no, the question that should be asked is how did he find out about
    Notes so quick.
    

    
    
>      And I welcome you to DEC, best of luck in your position! 
    
    
    Thank you very much, I'm glad to be here.  I appreciate your
    consideration in explaining the "transition" program and I can see
    how it would be a sensitive issue.
    

    Some companies have programs where they encourge employess to work from
    home using high speed dial in, this could be done for a few days out
    of the week and go to the rest of the week. of course this depends
    on the nature of the work you do. But with E-mailing, Faxes, Phones,
    Notes conferences, etc.. we can see that you physically do not really
    have to be "in the Office" to do your work  every day.
    
    think of all the saving you and your company could have by the time
    saved driving, less frustration, less OIL consumption, Less
    enviromantal impact, etc, etc..
    
    But you might have a Boss who have to see a "body" at a desk to be
    beleive that you are "working" .
    
    also the house might be quiter to do your work in , right ?
    
    /naser

Re: working at home:

   I have that option, and I commute about 70 miles each way, daily.  The
problem is being in a position where you're able to separate yourself from 
the rest of your organization and be able to work from home.

   Speaking for myself, typically I have to talk to several people, be
involved in what's happening in many conferences (directly and indirectly
related to projects I'm working on), and probably even attend a meeting or
two.  It's rather hard to be available when you're working from home.

   Now, a guy I know who works for Oracle in Calif. lives in San Carlos and
has a leased 56KB line to his house so he can work from home.  I live in Dover,
NH, and work from Littleton, Mass, so if I could get enough bandwidth, it'd
probably be worth it.  But given the (relatively) short supply of good hardware
to take home and lack of bandwidth to the home, it's not that feasible for the
long-haulers today.  At least it would cost Digital so much that I'm not sure
that it'd be worth it for Digital, so I'm hesitant to ask for it.

					-mjg

    Re: a few back, .10-.15 I think.
    
    I simply asked the question rhetorically. 
    
    As an 18 year employee of this fine company, I take EVERYTHING we do
    to heart. I've seen at least 6 "transitions" and each time I ask the
    same questions.
    
    MBA College hires are great. Most of the one's I've been associated
    with were fine, well educated and easy to work with. SOME were complete
    ^%#^@@... 
    
    The IMMEDIATE response to my question was very defense. This is an 
    indication of the attitude in the company at this time. The first
    reaction to many questions, not just this one , is very,very defensive, 
    and always taken personally. There is currently quite a bit of pressure
    on many people. This pressure can sometimes, usually does, if it
    doesn't, you must be dead, cause frustration, anxiety and
    defensiveness.
    
    The big question is what do we do about it.
    
    I do not have the answer. 
    
    Jim Stevens
    Augusta, Maine