I also agree, in a small "family" office children usually come with the territory. But I think it isn't fair to the children and the co-workers in a standard work location to allow them to hand out for periods of time.

Still hoping the best for you!

Since it is "quiet" this week, we took this opportunity to have a "filing party". Dress down day, pot luck with all the left over holiday treats, and review all our file drawers to get ready for end of year. It was a surprisingly productive and fund day!
Hope this post finds everyone relaxing and regrouping after the hectic Holidays!

My office has now ended up in the front of the building, where I have wonderful windows and fresh air, but constant interruption from the employees passing through. My bosses office is in the back of the building. we are tethered by our intercom system, though I find IM easier as she is frequently on the phone. I have worked with her long enough now that I now most of the time when I should "ask a question". I feel like though I am interrupted frequently, I am a lot more efficient having her office farther away. We started out years ago in her living room, practically on top of each other, so I am proud of how far we have come, distance wise and business wise.

Katie,  agree! the direction things are going now...I can't keep up with my boss's text messages to me. I end up calling her every time asking "what???" She types texts so fast and furious I can't respond, let alone, do I know what direction she is sending me. Common sense. Somehow we need to work that back into our work life, if not our regular live. I have so many client who are starting to only accept invoices through online services, it's becoming an issue at work, we have not converted completely online, so I have some work I do twice. I understand where you are coming from on the "small" issue, not only in equipment being used, but how much information you are expected to deliver now. It's a challenge to make it fit in the "online" form.
I see the next ten years as us having to condense, shring, and re-format.
Good luck to all!

I feel respected and taken for granted at the same time. However, for those file clerks and the dispatcher that I supervise, I make an effort to extend advice, train, and hand out kudos as necessary. I would have loved the same when I was starting out. I want to keep the support I have and need to give a little support to get some support. Unfortunatley, the boss does not always see it the same way I do. I try to gain respect by giving respect.

I have mulitpkle jobs, one from a home office that starts about 7am the other is three days a week in an employer's office that I get to sometime between 8 and 8:30. Fortunately I am able to be fliexible as long as I get my work done in the hours I have promised her. My boss, is always in later than me, if she is able to come in. I work late as needed, but find myself working into the evening at my home office job. Additionally, I am available to my boss from my home office, and can include this time in my weekly pay. It sounds like "the good life" but it's still work. Realistically though, I am fortunate to be able to have some "work from home" time, plus my commute is only 10 minutes. I do not miss the days when I had to clock in and out and be there five days a week, plus checking voice mail on the weekend.