Krishna Maurya, Marketing Technology Specialist

With the lockdown coming as a surprise, Krishna is currently staying with his family in a rural area of India.

How has your working life changed since the pandemic began?

Before the COVID-19 pandemic I was living with my colleague in an apartment near the Vadodara office. At the weekend we would both travel to our hometown, Mumbai, to visit our families. I would spend the weekend living in an apartment with my wife Pinky, our two-year-old son Athrav and other family members. However, the lockdown happened while on holiday visiting the family home in North India. Since then, we’ve been living with my grandparents, parents and uncle at the family farmhouse. It’s very different to our family apartment in Mumbai and my Vadodara apartment. Fortunately I have a laptop and my grandfather created a small office for me on the terrace made out of grass. It’s challenging to work in this environment because the temperature can reach over 40 degrees, and there are lots of mosquitoes here! Every morning at 5am, the family wakes and life on the farm begins. At 10am, when the farm is quieter, I can begin to work. Life is very different here compared to the city.

How are you striking a good work-life balance? 

Every day we sit together as a family and of course chat about the coronavirus. I share updates with my family about what’s happening around the world while my grandfather likes to talk about the farm and the crops they’ve been growing. I’m also enjoying hearing his old stories. Of course I get to spend lots of time playing with my son which I’ve been grateful for.

What is the biggest challenge for you right now?

The biggest challenge is working in the heat. My office is outside, and while my grandfather has created shade for me to work, the heat can be unbearable.

How is Civica supporting you?

I’m fortunate that while I didn't have access to my work laptop, Civica has enabled me to use my own laptop to be able to continue with my work. That is, until, the electricity can cut out! 

What are the upsides to your new working life?

The best thing about being in my hometown is the space we have. If we had been in either Mumbai or Vadodara we would have been in an apartment. Now at least my son has lots of space to run and explore.

What advice do you have for others who may be in the same or similar situation to you?

Travel with your work laptop!

What are your top tips for socialising and relaxing outside of work right now? 

WhatsApp has been brilliant to keep in contact with our other family members.