Jackie Niles, Industrial Hygienist
“My name is Jackie Niles and by profession, I am an Industrial Hygienist working for the Federal Government. In short, I assess building conditions and conduct exposure assessments, to ensure office spaces rented to government agencies are safe for human occupancy.”
“When asked what makes my job meaningful, I struggle to respond appropriately. I don't find any aspect of my job to be particularly meaningful… What I do find meaningful in relation to my work, and perhaps invaluable, is my newfound flexibility. Like many privileged individuals, not only did I get to keep my job through the pandemic, but I was granted the opportunity to work from home—something I've always yearned for.”
“Teleworking has allowed me to prioritize my day based on my workload, my personal needs, and the needs of my friends, family, and relationships.”
“If I am tired or stressed (which inevitably results in a lack of productivity), I can take a midday nap or hit the reset button with a trail run. If the day dishes an unforeseen problem (such as waking up to a flat tire) the stress related to resolving that issue around a packed 9-to-5 schedule is significantly diminished. If a friend needs a shoulder, I can be there for them, regardless of the time of day.”
“In addition to this, as an introvert, working from home has significantly improved the quality of my social life, both personally and professionally. Pre-pandemic, when we were all crammed in an open-office workspace 40 hours per week, packed like tuna fish and subjected to a constant cacophony of chatter, it was necessary for me to carve out large swaths of time to decompress from the social strain of the day. Conversations with coworkers were obligatory, tiresome, and a distraction to my work. And, as a domino effect, the energy required to maintain personal relationships was depleted before punching out for the evening.”
“Now that I am largely teleworking and spend the majority of my day in a quiet, solitary space, I am genuinely excited to see and interact with coworkers when granted the opportunity. This has resulted in more engaging and thoughtful conversations, creating authentic professional ties for the first time in my career. Simultaneously, I have had the social capacity to invest in friendships for the first time in my adult life. I have found the latter to be indescribably necessary and unexpectedly refreshing.”
“I may not find meaning in my job description, but the flexibility this position has granted me is invaluable. My career allows me to prioritize my personal well-being and the people that I love most in this world—what could be more meaningful than that?"