The Reality of a Return to Office Work

“Back to the office” continues to look a little different for everyone. Some employees are enjoying hybrid at-home and in-office work while others are now working in person full time. Others have opted for jobs that allow them to work permanently at home.

Each choice has a variety of benefits and challenges. A recent survey by software company Glean showcases some of the issues that workers are facing with a return to work.

Wellness issues. When employees lose the ability to set their schedule, get in a workout over lunch and enjoy a casual dress code, they sometimes struggle with mental, physical and emotional wellness. A return to the office is reportedly more stressful for many workers. Naturally, some also struggled with the isolation of working at home—making the case for the flexibility of hybrid work. Likewise, companies must prioritize employee wellness.

Communication challenges. When some employees are in the office and others are at home, communication issues can rise to the top. Not only do at-home workers miss out on the social aspects and water-cooler conversations of office work, they also have a harder time reaching team members and managers and may miss out on key information and news.

Lost connection and collaboration. Simply put, it is harder to connect, communicate and collaborate when workers are in different places, time zones and mindsets. Employees in the office typically have better available resources and a more regular schedule. Teams must make collaboration a priority if workers are continuing to adopt hybrid schedules.

Other reported challenges include lack of networking for at-home workers, varying levels of accountability and families that struggle with establishing boundaries. Teams may need to continue to adjust schedules and plans accordingly to maximize productivity, efficiency and employee satisfaction.

Is It Time to Return to the Office (Most Workers Say No)?

After nearly a year-and-a-half of remote work for many U.S.-based employees, is it time to return to work in the office?

The answer is an overwhelming “no,” according to a recent survey by Harvard Business School of about 1,500 remote workers. A full 81 percent of those surveyed who worked from home during the pandemic noted that they do not want to go back to the physical office or that they prefer a hybrid option that involves a mixture of remote and in-person work.

According to the survey of remote workers, more than one-quarter would like to remain remote indefinitely while another 60 percent wish to go into the office a couple days a week and work from home the rest of the time with a flexible hybrid schedule. Respondents noted that they appreciate the more flexible working schedules they have enjoyed and would like to continue a similar work environment going forward.

Only 18 percent of the workers surveyed indicated that they want to go back to the office full time following the pandemic – although parents who have kids living at home and married people are more interested in returning to the office than their single counterparts.

Finally, more than half of survey respondents noted that they want to be fully vaccinated before returning to work in the office while nearly three-quarters said they would like to wait until everyone in the office is fully vaccinated. Most also shared that they expect at least six feet of distancing in office spaces as well as mask usage if and when the return to work takes place.