Business as unusual?

Anonymous

December 1,2021 at 4:07PM UTC

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Business as unusual?

If you're going into the office (and you don't have to), are you having *unconventional* interactions?

I've heard that in offices with voluntary returns, people are hungry for IRL interactions that they're spending time with coworkers they usually wouldn't — whether that's finally talking to a department head you never met pre-pandemic or finding a newfound desire to get lunch and get to know the interns.

Is this true for you? Or is it business as usual?

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9 Comments

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Huong Nguyen-ValleDecember 1,2021 at 6:40PM UTC
I miss people and interactions. I feel like I succeed more when I am with co-workers.
AnonymousDecember 3,2021 at 1:56PM UTC
Me too!
S.December 1,2021 at 7:11PM UTC
I'm not experiencing this, but what I'm hearing from people I know back at work is that it's definitely not business as usual.
AnonymousDecember 1,2021 at 7:16PM UTC
Now that you mention it, I am stopping to speak with everyone in the office when I choose to go in. And it feels great.
C AllenDecember 2,2021 at 1:26PM UTC
I think it is true, but it is not coming from a place of boredom or proximity (I'm in the office and you are too, let's be BFFs!), but genuine comradery at having gone through a significant experience (HELLO!!! CV-19?!?!?). I think we are ALL much more appreciative of the little things such as human interaction.
Paulla Fetzek, MSEdDecember 2,2021 at 2:03PM UTC
I've been back (my choice!) to my office full time since June 2020. At first, we all did talk to each other quite a bit about anything and everything. Everyone in the office was required to come back by this past January. It's business as usual nowadays for the most part. But, overall, I think our group is closer than we were pre-pandemic.
Vandana KhannaDecember 2,2021 at 2:23PM UTC
We have not been back yet, but I think we are looking forward to it and I am confident we will be a much more close knit group when we reunite!
AnonymousDecember 3,2021 at 1:55PM UTC
Totally true. I'm getting to see and understand parts of the business that I normally wouldn't as well because of this and hallway conversations or overhearing certain things. While I'm grateful fro that, it worries me because it doesn't seem like very methodical way of managing or governing.
AnonymousDecember 4,2021 at 11:20AM UTC
We're required to return next month and I'm not looking forward to the office interactions. My role allows me to work independently with minor chattiness with others and I've been in my own zone of doing things. I am already rolling my eyes and thinking of the distracting conversations I've been lucky not to overhear while hammering through my workload. I wish we all had the option to wfh. The pandemic taught me I really prefer working alone with my team a zoom away not around the corner office.