“Gum On Shoe” The Great Office Dilemma: Why Forcing Your Workforce Back Might Not Be the Best Idea

**** A quick announcement, Myself and Jim Sparacia?https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/jim-sparacia-2845b01/?of Corporate Information Systems will be kicking off a twice a month podcast starting in September of 2023. *********

The IRS originates from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, a federal office created in 1862 the nation's first income tax to fund the American Civil War.?The temporary measure funded over a fifth of the Union's war expenses before being allowed to expire a decade later. The Revenue Act of 1913 then imposed a?one percent tax on incomes above $3,000, with a top tax rate of six percent on those earning more than $500,000 per year. Approximately three percent of the population was subject to the income tax.Yes, Income taxes were initially a temporary provision!

Well in somewhat similar temporary situation, that is now being forced into permanent status, is the challenge of going back to the office. Companies had to temporarily shut down their offices and force workers to do their job remotely, due to Covid requirements. Most people spent three years doing their jobs from home to appease a pandemic and guidelines set forth by the governing health leaders. This was supposed to be a temporary 2 week practice.??Now??three years later, companies are forcing their workforce to come back to the office, or possibly have to look for another job. It is not fair to the employees that have built their lives around the work-from-home lifestyle and have found a better work-life balance. Is it really a viable option to revert back to the old ways of working?

During this time frame you had a high percentage of people flee their current residences, to move to a more desired location for a plethora of reasons having to do with shutdowns. What do they do now? The remote work culture has provided an opportunity for employees to balance work and home life effectively. Employees are saved from the agony of the daily commute, wasting money on gas prices, and paying for childcare services- activities that many of them do not prioritize when compared to spending time with their families. According to a recent study, employee productivity has increased as they have been working in an environment with lesser distractions compared to that of an office environment.?

Certainly, there are jobs that require employees to be physically present at the office. However, most jobs can be done remotely from any location, as we have all learned during these past few years. People have adjusted to working from home amidst all the chaos, and it has become a part of their routine. Forcing them back into the office may lead to resentment and might not be worth the risk. I had someone tell me that while they were back in the office, they were still conducting zoom meetings.

In my mind, the remote work culture shouldn’t be temporary and is a step forward in the right direction. It provides an opportunity for employees to focus on the job, their family, and mental wellbeing simultaneously. It is not just a fad or a temporary measure, rather it is an opportunity for companies to redefine their work culture for the better, not just for the pandemic period. Employers need to take note of the benefits of remote working, and provide the necessary infrastructure and flexibility to ensure their employees can be productive and efficient when working remotely. While some people may need to be physically present at the office, the benefits of remote working shouldn’t be ignored nor should it be penalized, especially those who have built their lives around it.