Are you being called back into the office?

14 Comments

1. JoyMarch 1,2022 at 3:44PM UTC

   I would suggest she create a Pros/Cons list. What exactly is it that she's dreading (the commute, being around people again, etc.)? If she really feels strongly about working from home, she needs to reach out to management to see if there is the option to work remotely. A lot of companies are asking staff to return and/or creating hybrid roles. If she finds that having to return to the office full time is a deal breaker, she needs to start planning an exit strategy.

2. Elisabeth ThomasMarch 1,2022 at 4:21PM UTC

   I have a few working mom friends who have had this occur, and one of them had great success negotiating for a hybrid model of work since her children have been in and out of school. She argued that she would be more productive if she could efficiently work from home two days a week instead of taking sick leave when her kids had to stay home due to sickness or COVID exposure.

3. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterMarch 1,2022 at 6:10PM UTC

   My recommendation is to build a business case for working from home - how will this benefit her company? Although she is doing it, in part, because of her children, that alone won't resonate with her employer.

4. AnonymousMarch 2,2022 at 8:49AM UTC

   Coping with change is hard but certainly can be done. I would focus on balance. Control what she can control. Perhaps change her start times/ end times. Maybe work longer hours during the week and take 1/2 days,on Fridays. Play with the schedule

5. AnonymousMarch 2,2022 at 1:32PM UTC

   We are back in the office two days a week, which is our normal routine. After the freedom and luxury of working at home full time, it is hard, if it's something you enjoy. I personally love it. A coworker just resigned and took a position elsewhere where she can work remotely full time, so she can be more available for her kids.

   Once you start going back in, I won't say it becomes "easier" but you get back into the routine of doing so. On one of my two days in the office I leave early to beat the traffic, then finish up anything that needs doing when I get home. There potentially can be little workarounds that make it less stressful.

   I just keep reminding myself that I do genuinely love my job and coworkers, and I'm grateful as heck to even have such a wonderful job.

6. Nicole DupuisMarch 2,2022 at 1:43PM UTC

   OMG YESSSSS!! This is a huge adjustment. Many of us adapted almost exactly 2 years ago to a WFH new work climate and now we must adapt to another work experience. It’s a lot to handle. Some tips people didn’t helpful:

   —use your commute to set the tone. A lot of us feel like the commute is the worst part of getting back into the office. So make a playlist, listen to a podcast, read a book you have been dying to start, or make some calls/send emails depending on if you drive or use public transportation.

   —find a partner in crime. Talk to a coworker who is also having trouble adjusting or a spouse or roommate to help pump you up and also feel less alone. If you are going into the office, can you meet someone for breakfast or take turns grabbing coffee from your favorite shop.

   —don’t be hard on yourself. It will take time to mentally and physically feel like your new routine is a normal one. So be gentle.

7. Ashley BrackenMarch 2,2022 at 2:05PM UTC

   I worked from home full-time prior to covid and found out my position was going to be eliminated. I found a new position working in an office and loved it at first then quickly asked myself why I decided to go back into an office. I managed to hold out 2.5 years and finally decided I needed a work from home position.

   My advice is to try it first before quitting. Also have meetings with management to see if you can WFH several days out of the week.

8. Shelby CMarch 2,2022 at 2:15PM UTC

   If she was hybrid before and has a proven track record of being successful at home, why should she return? This is business. She needs to put her feelings, wants, and needs aside and make a business case for it. What does the company gain?

9. Jennifer TaylorMarch 2,2022 at 2:23PM UTC

   I've been working contract positions for the last year. The first job was fully remote, and now I'm in an office 3x a week. I've accepted a permanent role and starting in two weeks, full-time in-office. I'm excited about the new job but dread being in an office 5 days a week. I'm trying to look at the positive - building relationships, instant collaboration, new office "stuff" for my new work area, etc.

   I would say to focus on the positive, and push the negative thoughts out as much as possible. Set a timeline. If in 6 months, 9 months, 12 months it just isn't working, then start developing an exit strategy. But keep in mind it's always better to find a job when you have a job.

10. AnonymousMarch 2,2022 at 2:25PM UTC

    Talking to management might be helpful especially if you have a track record of success at home.

    We've been back at the office for about a year now. I guess a lot of supervisors think that being in the office means more productivity, but it doesn't. Flexibility and control of when and how I do my work would mean more productivity. I think workers have to push back and demand some changes.

11. AnonymousMarch 2,2022 at 3:06PM UTC

    I think the best she can do is reach out to HR and have a discussion for what she would want backed by the value and success she brought during her time at home.

    I've seen both sides in my office alone. One wants the flexibility to WFH when students aren't on campus (summer) and another says well we can't do that because we need to go back to the way it was before......if one can successfully do their job from home I don't see why an organization would need them in the office everyday other than control. It would give them the ability to downgrade the space they are paying for.

12. AnonymousMarch 2,2022 at 3:20PM UTC

    Good employers are recognizing how tough this is on families and that they will loose top talent if they don't offer flexibility. My husband was able to negotiate with HR for some flexibility as I travel and while it's a very conservative corporate environment, they are offering hybrid work on a case by case basis which is helpful. So it's worth having a one on one conversation with your HR. Also Google CEO just posted great statement on how employers should be handling this. I also have a fully remote job but it's awful bc we are expected to be on zoom all day and post frequent reports which is exhausting. Would rather be in an office if that is the case!

13. AnonymousMarch 2,2022 at 6:43PM UTC

    i see this argument being made a lot. but what’s weird to me is that the companies known for recruiting “top talent” have returned to office in at least a hybrid form.

14. AnonymousMarch 17,2022 at 3:26PM UTC

    I along with several friends have gone through the same scenario whether going back into the office full-time or on a hybrid schedule. Both can be anxiety-inducing moments and I coped by redirecting my energy and reframing the scenario. Rather than focusing on the negative, I've started focusing on the positives of working in the office i.e., the camaraderie, opportunities to brainstorm with my team in-person, more 1:1 time with the boss, not being in the house 24/7, going out to lunch to reconnect with colleagues, etc.

    I didn't want to be miserable so I chose to redirect and refocus my energy into a more positive scenario.