BALANCING WORK AND HOME AT McCORMICK TAYLOR

Natalie Murphy, Proposal Coordinator II, Glen Allen, VA

 

What do you like most about working from home?

I think my favorite thing about working from home is the custom environment I can be in - a room with windows, a candle, a desk lamp, and music just at the level I want. Oh, and my dog resting at my feet!

 

How does working from home fit your lifestyle?

Working from home not only fits, but truly improves my lifestyle. I’m able to schedule exercise, get up and stretch my legs, cook healthier meals for lunch, or throw in a crockpot meal for dinner. Being able to integrate wellness into workdays versus only on the weekends is great. Gone are the days of rushing in the morning to pack lunch, pack gym clothes, walk the dog, and get out the door by 7:30am. This makes me feel less stressed and leads to a happier, more productive day.

How are you staying connected to your coworkers?

I feel more connected to my coworkers now than ever! We can work directly with each other, face-to-face, no matter what office we’re in. I have weekly check-in calls with my manager and my department. Not only do we talk about workload, but we also get a glimpse of each other’s lives – whether it’s a pet hopping in front of the camera, or a child doing schoolwork in the background.

Samantha Chaudhari, Structural Designer II, Pittsburgh, PA

 

How does working from home fit your lifestyle?

Working from home allows me to have more free time, so I can have more hobbies, exercise, and spend more time with family and friends. It has also let me have more flexibility with travel because I can work pretty much anywhere I want.

 

How are you staying connected to your coworkers?

The projects that I’m working on always require interaction with my coworkers, so I never feel like I lose touch with them. We always try to chat about things other than work just to keep connected.

 

What is your daily schedule like?

I try to make my daily schedule fairly standard because that’s when I’m the most productive. I’m online during the same time every day with occasional breaks, which is pretty similar to what my schedule was when I was in the office.

Nan Krieg, Proposal Coordinator III, Columbia, SC

 

What do you like most about working from home?

The flexibility! As a mother of three, there is always something going on in my household. I like that instead of taking a day off or rushing home early to get the kids to an activity, I can take off 15 minutes here or there to be a “mom,” shuttling the kids to and from their appointments, and then make up that missed work time earlier or later in the day.

 

How are you staying connected to your coworkers?

Since I work in the firm’s marketing department, my coworkers are spread throughout our various offices. With this new work-from-home norm, our team meets through videoconferencing at least once a week to catch up (whereas we previously met in person once a quarter). I have enjoyed seeing my coworkers weekly and getting to know more about their lives and the projects they work on at McCormick Taylor.

 

How has McCormick Taylor made working from home easier?

From day one of working from home, the firm’s leadership and IT have done a phenomenal job of making this transition work. With most of the technology/software already in place pre-COVID, I was able to start working right away without any problems (other than having three kids with me 24/7!). McCormick Taylor’s leadership has continually communicated with us throughout this process and given us the tools and equipment needed to make working from home successful. In addition, our firm’s “Help Desk” is very responsive and easy to work with!

Aaron Bertoldi, Manager, Structural Engineering, Baltimore, MD

What do you like most about working from home?

The thing I like most about WFH is the time saved that would have otherwise been spent in the car commuting. I save about 6 hours a week door to door. 

 

How does working from home fit your lifestyle?

I have three children ages two, five, and seven. It’s nice being able to put my oldest on the bus in the morning and pick him up in the afternoon. This allows me to lower my childcare costs, since he does not need before or aftercare. The two and five-year-old also spend 1-2 hours less at daycare than pre-WFH.

 

What is your daily schedule like?

Pretty standard at this point. Wake up, feed and dress kids, make sure they are wearing socks and shoes, make coffee…lots of coffee…and drop off two youngest at daycare. My wife also works from home so it’s a team effort. 

Megan Welling, Manager, Environmental - Energy Services, Baltimore, MD

 

What do you like most about working from home?

I enjoy the flexibility and not having a commute. I was spending about 3 to 4 hours in the car every day!

 

How does working from home fit your lifestyle?

Working from home allows me to fit more into my day and not just related to work. I definitely have a better work-life balance now.

 

How are you staying connected to your coworkers?

Our group was spread out through many offices prior to working from home, so we were already using fuze and other platforms to stay connected and have continued to do so. We also have monthly Townhalls to get together as a larger group, which has been a great way to hear from coworkers I might not interact with on a daily basis as much.