For over four decades, I got up every morning and headed to an office. No matter where I was living or where I was working, it was an office—commuting to four walls, windows and set working hours. 

It’s been two and a half years since the old dog learned a new trick. I left the day-to-day office grind for the virtual office. After only a couple of months or so of conducting meetings in a dress shirt and pajama bottoms, COVID-19 hit the country’s workforce with a vengeance. Shortly thereafter began a mass exodus from the old, boring and non-socially distanced office to online commuting.

As the vacancies in Class A office space suffered, stock in Zoom rose and sales in pajama bottoms skyrocketed. 

Over the past several months, like Punxsutawney Phil searching for his weather predicting shadow, I slowly began venturing out into the real world for business meetings. Still, I remain fiercely loyal to my primary workspace. And for that reason, I offer my winners for NKY Magazine’s 2022 Best Places to Work.

Best Places to Work – Bronze Winner – My Upstairs Office

With a music theme, the walls of my Upstairs Office are lined with musical instruments and autographed posters of my favorite bands and performers. Two mandolins hanging on the wall not only provide a unique backdrop for Zoom meetings, but also allow workers (me) to pick one up and play whatever three chord song comes to mind.

Upside: The commute time to my Upstairs Office is under one minute. Actually, it’s on the level where I sleep, so the commute is really under 10 seconds.

Downside: As this Best Place to Work is the first place I visit every morning, it has the highest probability of catching me online in a plush bathrobe and fuzzy slippers.

Best Places to Work – Silver Winner – My Basement Office

This silver winner features a fireplace surrounded by sports memorabilia. As such, my Basement Office establishes a creative corporate culture that allows workers (again, just me) to build fires and post sports memes on Facebook and Twitter.

Upside: My Basement Office is located right next to the laundry room, allowing workers (you guessed it, just me) to multi-task throughout the day.

Downside: Being two floors below the bronze prize winner, the commute to my Basement Office is by far the longest of all the award winners. 

Best Places to Work – Gold Winner – My Living Room Office

Located alongside a full kitchen and neatly appointed with leather chairs, couch and recliner, my Living Room Office offers the best of home office accommodations. As every day is “Bring Your Dog to Work Day,” my Living Room Office has easy access to the dog park just outside the main entrance. 

Upside: My Living Room Office includes an outside cigar lounge and deck perfect for post-work employee (still just me) Happy Hours. Oh, did I mention the bourbon bar?

Downside: The wide screen television in my Living Room Office creates unnecessary distractions impacting productivity. This is especially true around the time that The Jerry Springer Show airs.

Thank you to NKY Magazine for honoring these Best Places to Work in Northern Kentucky award winners. Alas, it is time to close this column. The dog needs to be walked and my cigar is waiting on the deck.

Rick Robinson’s latest book, A Fish Ate My Homework, is available on Amazon.