Back-to-Office March: Is It Really Better?

Often, we dream of things changing.?

Sometimes they do change and, if we are lucky, it is for the better.?

This is what happened when the entire world went remote for a reason that we are all too familiar with.

From all the pain and confusion caused by the pandemic, remote work becoming mainstream could be considered the entire crisis’ only silver lining

A new and previously unheard-of level of work-life balance was reached.

A large population for the first time in decades, maybe ever, experienced what it was like to work comfortably from home.

And all because of a truly unexpected, devastating reason.

People quickly learned that they rather spend their work hours at home with their pets and loved ones (or even by themselves) over doing so with coworkers in a crowded office building.

This came as a somewhat pleasant surprise to everyone in the midst of all the chaos and changes that 2020 represented, and–after a rocky adaptation period of a couple of months--everyone’s working environment seemed to embrace this remote “new normal”.

A bit of time has now passed since the WFH shift.

Strange phenomena, like the Great Resignation, have taken place in this brief yet turbulent time in human history, so it would be fair to assume such an occurrence as a sign of generational discontent regarding the old ways of employment.

It comes as little surprise that, in a survey conducted by AfterCollege, 68% of millennials expressed that they would be more inclined to favor a prospective company if remote work was an option. Pandemic or no pandemic.

Now that the need for social distancing has been–and I say this cautiously–ousted from priority, traditional business models are being quick on their feet, trying to remove the employees from their home working setup in favor of the old-fashioned in-office situation.

The month of March has seen office buildings experience an influx of workers returning from home-office for numerous companies.

This even has been given a name: Back to Office March.

Some of the top companies in the US have decided to, yet again, shift the work dynamic for their employees. This, obviously, has garnered mixed reception from workers and managers alike.

According to a recent FlexJobs survey, 82% of remote workers reported lower stress levels in WFH arrangements. Over 3000 workers were surveyed, finding that 77% of respondents thought they would be healthier if they had a more flexible job.

And still, it’s Back to Office March, and a lot of people are facing a sudden switch once again.

It is not only a matter of the worker’s well-being, either.?

This poses a big question to the economics of the issue: how will this affect the workforce from a financial perspective??

According to PGi, the average real estate savings with full-time teleworkers is $10,000 per employee per year.?

With only a mere act of imagination, it’s easy to conjure up numbers and figures of what an economic impact this can represent for the entire, still adapting, workforce.

Regarding this whole ordeal, no one has an answer. Still.

Some think it is for the better, while some others see it as an exercise in futility.?

Only time will tell.?

What about you?

Are you willing to go back to the office?