EQ at home – Liam Cruickshank

At EQ, our people are at the heart of what we do.

Although working from home means we are physically spread across our regions, our team are working hard to maintain regular communication with their clients whilst continuing to support colleagues by connecting with them daily.

We caught up with our Financial & Operations Manager, Liam Cruickshank to find out more about his experience working from home.

How are you finding working remotely?

Before lockdown was announced I made a list of the tasks performed by Finance, how Louise and I could split the work, what I needed to have at home (including all our folders) so we were as prepared as possible. I wasn’t prepared however for being involved in a car accident the weekend before so no car made it more stressful than it should have been! (Thanks IT for sorting out the laptop and printer and David for being a taxi service.)

I live on my own so miss being in the office around other people – the bustle of office life changed overnight.

What are you doing to keep in touch with the rest of the EQ team?

Just the usual really. Email, calls and I’m enjoying our weekly team chats.

How are you looking after your emotional well being?

For most of lockdown I’m lucky that I’ve been able to have my 2 dogs for company and they need to be walked. Being outside and open spaces helps. I’m in the country so can open the front door and I’m in the fields, into the woods or with a short walk up into the Sidlaws.

Have also re-discovered ‘UFO’ and ‘Whitesnake’ so dodgy music may be helping.

What advice would you give to others working from home?

Do what I say, not what I do! I work from the dining table in the living room so it’s always there, 7 days a week. I’m not great at switching off at the best of times so I’m finding the work/home and weekday/weekend distinction very difficult because there’s work to be done and as the laptop is on and there anyway…

If you can work in a room that you can close the door on, do. If you can move your laptop, screen and files away at the end of the day then do. Try and stick to a routine. If you start earlier than 9am because you’re not commuting, take a longer “lunch”, finish at 5pm and don’t do weekends.

Remember to shower (regularly, at least every 3^rd day), get dressed and not open the door wearing just a towel.

Tell us, what are your new co-workers like?

Molly and Meg’s conversation isn’t up to much but we’re unlikely to fall out. They can’t make a cup of coffee, pour a glass of wine and I have to pick up their poo but I’m so glad to have them here, even if one tends to stick a wet nose in my side at 4.30am thinking it’s breakfast time.

Our doors may be temporarily closed, but EQ are still here to support you. You can contact us on any of our usual telephone numbers and email addresses, which you can find on the Our People page on this website.