By Jade Fadrowski
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, business employees and students have had to find a new way to work. And Kailyn Jones of Reisterstown is confident she has the best solution.
In September, when the coronavirus forced schools, businesses, and retail establishments to shut their doors, Jones opened “The Pod,” which she describes as a socially distanced workspace in a clean and safe environment. Jones, who is co-owner and manager, said the idea for the business started as an escape for children after school, but since the pandemic, the owners decided to make it a place where people can telework.
Teleworkers traditionally work one or more days a week at home, at a local café with WIFI, or at a center using technology and telecommunications to remain in touch with employers or businesses. Today’s challenge is to work remotely every day, either from home or somewhere else.
“My entire family are educators who now have to navigate teleworking,” Jones said, explaining she has three siblings currently engaged in virtual learning. “Most of them have children and everyone is home. This pandemic has shown us that we really need our own space.”
“That’s why The Pod is so great because you can get your work done without distractions,” she stressed.
Safety is the No. 1 priority of the socially distanced workplace, Jones said. As soon as teleworkers walk in, they are greeted with a COVID-19 station. Customers must wear masks, have their temperatures taken, and wash their hands upon entering. All pods are sanitized and cleaned after each use with disinfectant sprays and wipes, she said.
Jones said there are five pods, an open area, and a conference room. Workspaces are equipped with tables, desks, supply drawers, and chairs. Most of the pods are closed door and can have up to 10 people, said Jones, noting that customers pay by the hour on a first-come, first-serve basis, or book space on a daily basis.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said about 25 percent of employees worked at home at least occasionally in 2017-2018, while 15 percent had days they only worked at home. However, in May, the number of teleworkers increased to 35 percent due to the pandemic, officials said.
“The Pod allows me to feel like I’m having a regular workday by recreating the routine of going to work,” said Catherine Robinson, a school counselor for Baltimore County Public Schools.
Robinson added that it’s a short commute from her home to The Pod. She said she brings her 13-year-old daughter, who works in her own virtual classroom space.
“Teleworking has granted me the opportunity to spend time with my family and pets, work in a comfortable environment and save money on transportation costs,” Robinson said. “When I don’t go to The Pod, my electricity and grocery bills are double than what [they] normally [are].”
Jones and other experts pointed to the benefits of teleworking. Teleworking offers flexibility, increased productivity, and significant savings, officials said. The downside, however, is that teleworking can be isolating. Also, some point to the self-discipline that’s required when a boss or peers are not around to monitor activity.
Teleworking can create a barrier between human connection. A study conducted by Buffer found that 19 percent of individuals who work remotely report loneliness. Research from Sage Journals found that isolation and loneliness can be “twice as harmful to physical and mental health as obesity.”
“We miss social and communication cues that we would otherwise be able to see and understand,” Robinson said. “Extra effort is required to maintain contact with colleagues. Also, zoom fatigue is experienced with teleworking. The time sitting in front of a screen is mentally and cognitively exhausting.”
Jones pointed to the benefits The Pod offers students who have parents called back into work with few options for their children. She said The Pod has facilitators for children participating in virtual learning. There are two facilitators at all times to make sure students are on task and focused. The facilitators are not teachers, however.
“It’s important for my 4th grader to have a level of structure, limited interaction, and a sanitized workspace,” said Carissa Wims, whose daughter Madison uses The Pod. “She’s gotten used to distance learning as a new normal. She sums up the experience as having ‘flexibility’ in learning.”