THE ONLY BLACK GUY IN THE OFFICE

The 9 Things I Definitely Don’t Miss About Office Life

I may be stir-crazy, but these annoyances have me rethinking the end of WFH status

The Only Black Guy In the Office
LEVEL
Published in
5 min readMay 18, 2020

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Illustration: Richard A. Chance

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After you’ve been stuck inside quarantining long enough, getting your work done anywhere sounds better than your home setup. A coffee shop. A fancy hotel lobby. Even the office.

I love my apartment, but ever since Washington state officials enacted a statewide stay-at-home order — almost two solid months ago — I’ve longed for a regular change of scenery. Spending virtually every waking moment here makes my 600 square feet feel like half that.

I consider myself lucky to be able to clock in from my couch, especially amid reports of America’s workforce dwindling by the day. But I’m ready for a return to the office — barring the prying co-workers, overbearing bosses, and overall minutiae of cubicle life. As much as I want WFH to RIP, I definitely don’t miss the following nine agonizing aspects of the office.

1. Awkward elevator rides

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The Only Black Guy In the Office
LEVEL
Writer for

Do you know him? Is it you? The trials and tribulations of a Black man navigating corporate life.