The HOME OFFICE … Just Doesn’t Cut Ice!

Last year (Covid) started as a novelty for me, for the “working from home” concept.  With the pandemic just started, hotels, businesses & offices closed, transport largely banned, etc, sitting at home in my shorts & Sadrah (Zoroastrian religious vest) and working on my computer was truly a novelty.

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  (That’s NOT me! 😊
  Image credit- https://images.app.goo.gl/biSnJZgWRBy9CcxQA )

)

My wife & I still woke relatively early, as if it were a working day; but instead of going to the office, I made my way downstairs to the dining room with my laptop.

Come May 2020, my emotions got penned in https://dinshawavari.com/2020/05/20/a-case-for-not-working-from-home/.

From May 2020 to end December (businesses resumed around October), our corporate office changed the daily “suit” dress code to “very smart casual” attire (with a tie in our jacket pockets).  In between my brother started coming daily to office; and I started on an alternate day basis- just to keep ourselves somewhat in the “routine”.

Now as we sit in April 2021 and I have come to the realization that through all this time – the working from home concept; the alternate working days; the dress code, etc – took it’s psychological toll on me! 

Even though I was in office by 9am, my productivity actually dropped; I was lazy; day dreaming in office; procrastinating; and waiting to return home, with a glass of some “amber” liquid with ice & water … and then last week, someone brought it to my attention that this effect of the pandemic seems to be a general trend with others too.  GOSH 😱 !  It’s taken over a year for this realization to sink in to me.

… So, to hell with our own office rules; to hell with “working at home”; to hell with the pandemic!  My sanity was at stake – so back to office with full suit & tie 😊!!!!

… and yes, maybe it’s mental/psychological/what-not, I feel a physical and emotional change over my mental health, my outlook to life, my work habits and my productivity & output.

So, whatever the world at large may say about the benefits of “working from home” or the “home office”, my personal believe & experience says IT JUST DOESN’T CUT ICE!

Don’t get into the rut of the “home office” concept – GET YOUR ASS BACK TO WORK !!!

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A Silver Lining!?

December 10, 2020

Corona has brought regulations upon regulations upon regulations … leading to headaches upon headaches upon headaches for hotels!

Can’t complain though- restricted regulations are still better than a complete lockdown, which we faced  April to September.

Now, revised regulations restrict all indoor dining and activities but at least allow activities outside. 

My grandfather’s foresight planned large outdoor spaces for our Beach Luxury Hotel by the sea in 1947; the Avari Lahore hotel in 1978; and the Avari Towers in 1985.  Naturally, he had no knowledge about the calamity that would hit the world in 2020 then but his idea always was for large, green spaces.

Chinna Creek, Karachi

In a city like Karachi, our so-called autumns & winters (whatever semblance of “winter” one can call it in Karachi 😊) make it absolutely outstanding to be outdoors and not cooped up in an a/c environment.

The other day my father and I dropped by for a coffee to Avari Towers.  We made our way down to the gardens by the pool, which have been transformed into an all-day dining- menus from Fujiyama, Dynasty & Asia Live are available there.  We thought we were sitting in some tropical paradise- with the trees, greenery, plants, tree overhangs, etc.  Our Sky Grill restaurant continues operating for dinner on the roof of the Hotel, overlooking the lights of the sprawling metropolis.    

Avari Towers, Karachi

Skygrill Rooftop Restaurant

At Beach Luxury, a full day conference (with social distancing, I might add) took place on our Seafront restaurant- the only open air, floating restaurant in Pakistan – which we use for our buffet dinners.  In the past, we have used this venue for our breakfast and lunch buffets also – it is a sight for sleepy morning eyes to see the seagulls swoop down in Chinna Creek; school-going rowers in the first morning light (albeit being grumpy at having to awake at 5am 😊) on their Sculls, Doubles, Fours and Eights; the first morning fisherman throwing his net out in the dirty, still creek- to get small fish he can then sell to the large trawlers to use as bait … and if you come early enough, one of the best winter SUNRISES you can experience!  Our Casbah restaurant, the freshest seafood grill, has had outdoor dining 365 days.

Seafront Restaurant, Beach Luxury, Karachi

At Avari Lahore, our large lawns (which houses a small aviary too) now host our outdoor restaurants – Tollington combines Kims, Lakhnavi & Tollington menus; Dynasty & Fujiyama are combined at an adjacent garden venue.  With ample space to spare, the other parts of the lawns are used for weddings & related events.

Avari Lahore, Lahore

I may be proudly boasting but we are really happy of what our GMs & teams’ have created within the parameters of these Covid regulations & restrictions.

So, I tell you friends, we don’t look at the glass as “half empty” … rather, look at it as “half full”; these days shall also pass – maybe slowly, but pass they shall !  As my father quotes “Smile, & the World Smiles With You … Cry, & You Cry Alone”.

(End note: fat lot me giving such advice … by nature I’m one of the world’s greatest pessimists 😊 😊 😊)

Avari Lahore

Avari Towers

Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi

Avari Lahore gardens

A Passenger’s Guide to Air Travel

August 12, 2020

….Hey!  Hold on!  I’m now a COVID expert!?  No but here are some practical tips for travelers to consider-

• Wear the COVID N-95 or K-95 face mask on board;

(If you are really paranoid 😊, add a cloth or surgical mask over that)

• Carry on board-
  • Wear mask continuously
    • Disposable surgical mask- (tie-on type- not behind-ear type)
    • Hand sanitizer & hand wipes
    • Hand moisturizer
    • Some paper disposable bags

• Before initially sitting, use the hand wipes –
  • Wipe down both arm rests, seat cushion & back
    • Wipe down outside of overhead bin and latch
    • Wipe down the tray and TV if it is one of those seat-retractable ones
    • (If you are on a window seat) Wipe down side of the plane (where you would put your head to sleep) and window shutter
    • Use a fresh hand wipe to sanitize your hands and bin all the wipes into a paper bag and dispose in lavatory (see below)
    • Use moisturizer on hands

^{(Photo credit- IATA)}

• Going to the bathroom-
  • Carry hand wipes with you
    • Use one hand wipe to open the door, get inside and lock the door and wipe the lock and door latch
    • Use another hand wipe to wipe the lid of the disposable bin and and flushing mechanism/button
    • Wash hands with soap
    • After using the bathroom, use hand wipe or sanitizer for a final clean.
    • Moisturize hands

• Continue wearing mask during entire trip

• Whenever you walk around, go to the food galley, open the overhead bin, etc, on returning back to the seat, use hand sanitizer and moisturizer

• Eating (my favorite experience on a plane! 😊)-

• Why I’m suggesting using the tie-on type of face mask is so that you keep the top portion tied on and open the bottom two ties, allowing you to feed yourself (and drink) without removing the mask portion covering the nose
  • Use hand wipes to wipe down all cutlery (we use hand wipes to wipe down thermometers, so I presume it’s safe for cutlery too)
  • Wipe down the plastic and foil covers of the food and drink
  • EAT … DEVOUR … ENJOY! 😊

• Enjoy the food … Enjoy the movie … Enjoy the flying experience … and most of all, Enjoy the sleep!

If you have any further suggestions, please do share.

BON VOYAGE!

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The Bad Eggs!

July 30, 2020

(photo credit- ar.pinterest.com)

COVID-19 struck and we did not lay off our staff or executives.  We did this openly, with our hearts in it, and fully mindful of the economic impact to our family & group.

Our reasoning … where will these people go, how will they live, eat, buy medicines – especially our Associates – as there’s no social network or institutionalized setup to support them.  It was (and is) our responsibility to look after them and their family.

We didn’t do this expecting anything in return – because that’s not what “helping” is about.

Trust & a helping hand is given implicitly – one should not do charity expecting anything in return. 

Little did we know, there always are the bad eggs … the back stabbers … those few people who would take advantage of this good will ☹ … and “stab the hand that feeds him”! 

After several months of this closed period, we decided to call back team members in batches from their homes & villages so as to continue – if nothing else – training programs so that people remain more productive.

What excuses did we get when we started …

• Some pretend to be ill and don’t submitting any medical proof so as to skip training;
• For some, they or their “dependant” were ill – for the last 2 months! – and so could not attend the job;
• Some responded that they are out of the respective city or in another province and due to Covid they can’t get transport … (hmmm, last I remember, Inter-province and Inter-city transport started before last Eid);
• This last one is classic – “schedule our duty for a continuous 2-3 weeks and then let us go back to our village”!  So, not only do we pay them their salary but, it now seems, they will even schedule their own work hours while on our payroll.  I’d like a job like that 😊!

My point is, why do we give our trust to others, our hearts to others, our energy and resources for others, only for these “others” to stab us in the back?

It’s sad actually …

it does shake the trust we put in humanity and in our team members

(photo credit- english-the-easy-way.com)

Black Money Love- more than just a movie review!

June 26, 2020

One of the effects of the COVID lockdown was an increase of movies my family was watching, primarily being Black Money Love, a Turkish soap opera.

Besides the ‘eye-popping’ beauties (which I won’t go into in this paper 😊), the serial is actually very interesting to watch.

(photo credit- youtube.com)

Its directing and acting is on par with any Hollywood soap; alongwith scenes, production sets and story line; and the actors … 💓💓💓💓 va va voom!

Naturally, like many soaps, there were moments of being “over the top” 😊 and crying ☹ (the latter, not my cup o’ tea) … and my!  LOTS OF SMOOCHING 💓!

However, besides being an action drama it shows the culture and character of modern Turkey –

• It is a conservatively run country
• A moderate society
• A MODERN society!
• Western & Eastern cultures exist together
• Conservative & Liberal outlooks live alongside each other
• High standards of living
• Educated & talented youth

Turkey is a Muslim state, with a conservative government, but a progressive & modern outlook.

No country is ideal but similar cultures can adapt best practices and standards from each other. 

It is not an overnight change- it is a generational one

…but it can happen.

(The villain’s acting is SUPER! 😊 – he absolutely outdid himself!)

(Photo credit- https://anne-raevasquez.com/?s=black+money+love , http://www.Whatsnewonnetflix.com, http://www.shutterstock.com)

Is COVID, Thanos’ Snap?

(…and Yet Further Tirades of a Layman [COVID] – 4)

June 12, 2020

(Do you follow Marvel Cinematic Universe?)

(Photo credit- https://images.app.goo.gl/ceGmi8qAB9ZarsTbA)

With one snap of his fingers, Thanos eliminates an arbitrary 50% of the world’s population; according to him it was to correct Nature’s imbalance … he was “trying to save the universe from itself”. 

Yeah, right!!!!

Compared to any other living being on Earth & the seas, humans’ capacity to harm & kill each other, and exploit & destroy the world’s resources, is unlimited.

Is the Coronavirus pandemic nature’s way of correcting our exploitation of the World?

               Is the Coronavirus pandemic a lesson to humans about the value of Life?

               Is the Coronavirus pandemic here to give mankind a taste of its own Medicine?

Whatever the reasons, we need to sit up, learn and rectify our ways.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe this is going to happen in this lifetime!  As I said, our capacity to harm others gets in the way of all the good that we, as a human “community”, can potentially do for each other.

In spite of this global pandemic, which continues to rise, these last four months have shown that we continue with strife, war and conflict; instead of banding together as one community regardless of nationality, creed, caste, religion, colour, gender to solve this threat.

In spite of this global pandemic, most countries continue to approach this threat with internal strife, no unified policy and no cohesiveness.

In spite of this global pandemic, politics and “big” business still comes in the way of human life and morals.

Few countries, like New Zealand, seem to have overcome these obstacles & been successful …

For others, is “Thanos’ Snap” imminent?

(Photo credit- https://images.app.goo.gl/92txtDavR37rkGtW6)

“Lockdown or Not to Lockdown – That Is The Question”

(Further Harangues of a Layman [COVID]- 3)

(photo credit- webmd.com)

May 30, 2020

(This is a long article)

Since my last “diatribe” on this topic (https://dinshawavari.com/2020/04/19/imitation-is-the-sincerest-form-of-flattery-further-ramblings-of-a-layman-covid-2/), we have opened a lot of our lockdown sectors, retail outlets, business, etc. 

Now comes the question- has lockdown helped or not.

Personally I believe that lockdown was an important strategy at the outset of this pandemic- however, it should have been all encompassing and stricter.  Our businesses have been closed for last two months instead of 2-3 weeks – and that is due to a “hybrid” system instead of “total” lockdown.

However, dynamics have changed.  Two months without income cannot sustain any economic band of society- it’s just not possible.  Giving credit where it’s due – to the State Bank and the Federal Government for supporting companies and businesses – is important but it isn’t enough for someone to feed 4-5 mouths on a daily basis in a population of 250 Million!

(1) Part of the problem lies in partisan politics. 

Australia, with its diverse political structure and strong provincial autonomy, banded together like no other in this crisis.  Partisan politics were set aside for a country-specific policy.  Consensus-based decision making was the norm.  The PM and the coordination committee with representatives of all provinces made JOINT decisions.  This is not so in Pakistan!

(2) As long as citizens of a country do not cooperate with the government, no amount of the “stick” or “carrot” will work.  The administration can beat their head against the wall creating SOPs but if in our own heart we don’t follow them, then it’s as good as a failed policy.

Sweden’s “partial lockdown” system worked due to the Swedish people’s sense of responsibility in social distancing.  They took it upon themselves to ensure they followed the government’s policies in return for a more open society.  This is not so in Pakistan!

(3) Successful countries have followed the advice of scientists and doctors.  Government policies, politics, [maybe] some personal freedoms have been set aside to listen to, and implement, actions recommended by “virus experts”.

Here again, Australia, Korea, New Zealand, etc followed what experts in this field advised them.  It may have run contrary to their own thinking or policy but they listened to people who knew what they were talking about.  This is not so in Pakistan! 

(4) I do not support pollution or lack of hygiene & sanitation!  However, can a fair case be made that in countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, while there is a high Corona Virus count, the death rate [to overall COVID cases] ratio is not as high as in the developed world?  Why?

Let’s look it like this- the pollution, smog, vehicular emissions, sewerage, slums, lack of sanitation, etc in the general populace is the “norm” unfortunately; food is prepared over open sewages; generations are born and die in slums in the center of our cities; 50% of the population drink polluted tap water directly; flies are our regular lunch & dinner dates; mosquitos thrive on our blood … whose immunity will NOT be built?  These are the living standards in Pakistan!  However, this should not be the case in Pakistan!

All these factors and more – cash economy, daily wagers, population density, public transport, education levels, etc – play their share on a macro basis in determining whether to lockdown a country or not.  We lack in so many of these areas that I do not believe Pakistan can afford to lockdown the country further. 

Smarter policing is required – political partisanship has to be shunned – geographical and economic aspects should be accounted for – and based on these aspects an all-inclusive, sustained policy be devised.

Can Pakistan please band together!?

(photo credit- sciencemag.com)

A Case for … Not Working from Home!

May 20, 2020

Yawn … Yawwn … YAWWNNNN

It’s almost two months for our lockdown in Pakistan and working from home.

The first month went well, working from home I mean.

Started waking up at 7am, instead of 6

You find the time to exercise more

                              Lounge in your shorts and socks

                                             No shirt, just your vest (in my case, Sadrah)

                                                            Come 5pm, put on your shirt and shoes (stay in your socks) and sit in the garden

                      … It’s fine as long as you keep working, keep at it, stay busy!

But now, now, now …. YAWNNNNNN ….

^{(Photo Credit- thelabradorsite.com)}

               (forgot what I was thinking!)

Oh yes, I’VE TURNED LAZY!

Today, as I write these words, I realize that working from home is NOT AN OPTION.  There is no such successful concept as “an office at home”.  The novelty wears away.  So does one’s creativity.  Office interaction.  Office dynamics.

Actually, now to think of it, it felt good going to office – sometimes even being first to open the doors – sticking to a ROUTINE.  You then actually enjoy your weekends at home more. 

Go figure

No Two States are “Cut From The Same Cloth”- (Yet More Ramblings of a Layman [COVID]-3)

May 2, 2020

To arbitrarily attack the World Health Organization that it “flip flops” is unfair. 

As WHO puts it- “What it has done differently is it has very much relied on its relationship with its citizenry and the ability and willingness of its citizens to implement self-distancing and self-regulate” (https://nypost.com/2020/04/29/who-lauds-sweden-as-model-for-resisting-coronavirus-lockdown/).   Besides this, Sweden has issued rules for social distancing and encouraging working from home- they haven’t arbitrarily opened up their society.

While that strategy seems to work for Sweden, Australia & New Zealand’s strategy of lockdown has worked for them (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/world/australia/new-zealand-coronavirus.html).

So, WHO’s statement on Sweden’s strategy should not be taken out of context.

Practically speaking, none of us alive today have EVER faced a pandemic like this in our lifetime.  Nations, leaders, scientists are all feeling the waters, testing strategies, changing guidelines…there’s nothing wrong with that.  None of us will get it right.  We will falter and that’s where our leaders & scientists have to learn, amend strategies and move on.

Philosophically speaking, I believe we are being tested so that we are ready for the real disease yet to come!

Even the most educated of us do not follow guidelines and rules laid out by our governments, so how can we be trusted (unlike the Swedes) to follow protocols a government would lay down similar to Sweden’s? 

The concept of “Herd Immunity” (first time I ever heard of it!) is a practical one- and I truly believe that countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh are ahead of the game as far as this immunity is concerned due to the environment our people live in.  However, like all strategies, in my mind, it would be incorrect to practice herd immunity willy-nilly.  WHO is also learning through this pandemic and it’s a thankless task with 7 Billion eyes on them, so let’s not be too hasty in passing judgement.  A combination of face mask, social distancing, contact tracing & “smart”, geographic lockdown is the correct way to go.

Who are we not to give WHO a chance!?

“Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery” (Further Ramblings of a Layman [COVID]- 2)

April 19, 2020

Well, we are in a Pandemic and it’s not really about “flattery”- it’s more about …

COPY WHAT SEEMS TO WORK from past and current experiences, regardless of personal or political conflict, geographical boundaries or religion!

So, what seems to be working?

1. Mitigation strategies-
   1. Scale up COVID tests & diagnosis- doing large number of lab diagnoses allow authorities to slow the spread of the infection by isolating known cases while they are infectious, enabling treatment to be administered at a far earlier stage
   1. Increase easily available, random & free testing
   1. “Test and trace for the high-at-risk groups”, which means increasing the manufacture of local test kits
   1. Continue to maintain social distancing
   1. Limit contact with older people, they being more susceptible to the Virus
   1. Two types of testing is required-
      1. Serology tests- which will identify infected patients with antibodies (this will help determine who is immune and help people get back to normal life)
      1. Rapid-antigen test- to diagnose those who carry the virus (without or with minimal symptoms)
2. Open testing & drive-through centers in each of Karachi’s – as an example – 178 Union Councils to screen as many people, as quickly, as possible.  All tests would be recorded through their CNICs, immediately tested with temperature scan and throat swab.  People who may have interacted with an infected patient should report to testing centers for checking.
3. “R-0” (R-naught) is the number of new infections an infected person passes on.  Only when R0 is less than 1 will the pandemic start reducing.  So, all mitigation strategies should continue “one month after you drive down the R-naught to zero”.
4. Increase LOCAL supply chains so as to provide protective gear, supplies & equipment to front line health workers & hospitals; and going hand-in-hand, continuous monitoring and protection of all medical and other essential workers.
5. Contact Tracing- tracking travel history & all movements of every COVID patient so as to find & test every person in contact with the patient.  This will identify transmission networks and preempt possible further carriers.
6. Use of Modern Technology & Communications-
   1. *An accurate communication system that disseminates the movements of potentially infected people, in which geographical areas, etc.  There should be ONE SOURCE of this information and all you need to do is push it out to each of the Telco carriers in the City for onwards distribution to the public.  This will enable less contact between possible affected and those not. 
   2. My brother’s suggestion was to use “easy-paisa” & other such portals to disseminate the Federal & Provincial funds to the needy & poor instead of cash payouts.  With almost 80% mobile subscribers in Pakistan, majority of the recipients will be documented, leading to less fraud.

A macro shift is needed from a patient-centered model to community-system care that offers pandemic solutions for the entire population (with a specific emphasis on home care).  As mentioned in my earlier article (https://dinshawavari.com/2020/04/07/a-laymans-thoughts-on-mitigation-strategies-covid/), self-quarantine & home care should not be discounted- it will relieve the strain on hospitals & health workers.

As before, the views in this Paper are personal, from a series of publications I recently studied-

• (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/opinion/coronavirus-immunity.html)
• (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/opinion/joe-biden-coronavirus-reopen-america.html)
• (https://time.com/collection/finding-hope-coronavirus-pandemic/5820596/taiwan-coronavirus-lessons/)
• (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/as-social-distancing-shows-signs-of-working-whats-next-crush-the-curve-experts-say/2020/04/08/3c720e06-7923-11ea-b6ff-597f170df8f8_story.html)
• (https://hbr.org/2020/03/lessons-from-italys-response-to-coronavirus)
• (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/world/europe/germany-coronavirus-death-rate.html)
• (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/28/opinion/germany-coronavirus.html)
• (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/world/asia/coronavirus-south-korea-flatten-curve.html)
• (https://www.wired.com/story/the-asian-countries-that-beat-covid-19-have-to-do-it-again/)
• (https://time.com/collection/finding-hope-coronavirus-pandemic/5820662/bill-frist-washington-first-responders/)
• (https://time.com/collection/finding-hope-coronavirus-pandemic/5817922/science-collaboration-global-covid-depression/)