Working from home improves traffic, stress and air quality

QTo all the stupid, insensitive jerks thinking tech workers should continue working from home during the coronavirus lockdown, where do you think the spouses were while the workers were at home? Apple doesn’t let spouses overhear company business, so we had to be out of the house. I spent my days at Starbucks and the mall until they closed. Now I’m stuck in my room most of the day.

If my husband continues working from home, he’s either quitting his job, or we are getting divorced.

— Name withheld to save a marriage

AShe’s kidding, I hope. These are stressful times like we have never experienced. If your husband reads this, he might be smart to cook a candlelight dinner.

But how are others coping with their spouse or kids rattling around at home? Any suggestions?

QThis is an excellent time for employers to revisit working from home. My daughter is a tech writer. She’s allowed to work from home every Friday. In this current environment of technology, there is no reason that employees should be shackled to their desks nine hours every day. If every employer allowed one to two days working from home, it would solve so many problems: improved air quality, less burning of fossil fuels, less stress on drivers — productivity would soar.

So here’s hoping the CEOs of Silicon Valley can learn something from this new way of working.

— Kathy Furtado,

Hollister

AFor medical reasons, I have been working at home for over a year and mostly love it. But no TV is allowed. The VTA once studied traffic congestion on Highway 87 and concluded that if drivers carpooled, rode light rail or telecommuted just one day week, delays on Highway 87 would go away.

QBased on the suggestion that we all need to keep our social distance from each other during the COVID-19 outbreak, I would like to entertain that while driving we should maintain one car space for every 10 mph we are traveling to protect ourselves from each other. Wouldn’t that be novel?

— Jeffrey Nott

ANovel and so welcomed. Let’s slow down and free first responders for more important matters.

QWhy on Highway 17 can’t they start work before 8 a.m. and stop at 2 p.m. when the commute starts?

— Dimitri Al Baker, Sunnyvale

AThis is moot. Caltrans has suspended tree trimming until the stayat-home edict is lifted.

QMy husband’s car needs a smog check next month, but he has asthma and we are both nearing 70, so we need to shelter in place. Is there anything in place to help older folks with this issue? — Elizabeth Winslow,

San Jose

AYes. The state has extended smog check deadlines for 60 days.