If you’re a Civil War reenactor — or hold strong North vs. South, East vs. West Coast opinions — you might want to skip this. If not…

Feds who work in areas that get some — but not a lot — of ice and snow often dread winter for a couple of reasons. First, there is the ice and snow. Even the toughest 4-wheel drive vehicle doesn’t do well on glare ice, whether its St. Paul or Atlanta. If snow blocks the cars ahead of you, or a tractor trailer jackknifes, you aren’t going anywhere even if you used to ski to kindergarten.

But while adverse weather is the obvious problem (for many) in winter, the childhood experiences (and memories, real or enhanced) of your boss also play a factor in your winter workplace survival.

Earlier this week we contacted two dozen readers and asked their opinions and thoughts on teleworking. The responses were fantastic. More about that later. Bottom line: Lots of good stories, and many pro and con comments over telework: Particularly in bad weather.

Turns out that one major factor, in some offices, isn’t the amount of snow, the thickness of the ice sheet, the humidity or lack of snow prep by your city. The key figure in the ice-and-snow drama, for many workers, is their boss. Specifically, where he or she grew up. Their experiences with winter life back-in- the day when real men were mini-Paul Bunyons. When traffic ran smoothly regardless of weather conditions and when schools never wimped out and closed. Where bold teachers and enterprising students started fires with flint and steel, where … well, you get the idea. It was better then, and there.

Some of the most interesting boss-to-weather conflict reports we got came from feds in the D.C. area, Cleveland and Atlanta. Some examples:

“I enjoy teleworking and I think the taxpayers get their money’s worth out of me and most others … who telework. This is especially true in winter. The problem is my boss, wa, wa, wa!! He’s from Chicago and he gets furious, and cranky, on days like (last) Wednesday.(When the government had an unscheduled leave, telework policy for metro D.C.) He flips out. Thinks that we should all tough it into work. There is a definite chill in the air for those who ‘succumb’ to the weather. Most irritating!” Snow Bunny

Compared to D.C., Cleveland has tough winters, right? Well, maybe so, but if you are a fed in Cleveland and your boss is from Buffalo, OMG! Example:

“I am only allowed to telework on specific days. Additionally, I must take leave if the weather is bad enough that I would consider it risky to get to work but our local office remains open. (The local manager is from Buffalo and sneers at our Cleveland conditions. I don’t like to venture out when the wind chill gets below -25.) Cold In Cleveland

As one colleague said, if Cleveland’s winter warriors are so wimpy, why doesn’t the supervisor shuffle off to Buffalo?

NEARLY USELESS FACTOID:

Compiled by Michael O’Connell

“Spelling Bee”, a 15-minute live television show that aired in 1938 in the United Kingdom, was the first game show to be broadcast on television.

Source: Wikipedia

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