Returning To Work vs "Retuning" To Work: Why We Can't Go Backwards When We Go Back

By John Loos // Senior Content Specialist

If you work an office job, chances are you already have navigated, or will be navigating at some point this year, a return to office. Covid is in its confusing third (12th? 40th?) phase and it appears that most of the world is pushing ahead with dropping restrictions and mandates and encouraging workers to leave their home offices.

However, we can't simply return to our offices and pick up where we left off, like we would after a vacation or a short remodel. Too much has changed about the world, about us, about the way we work and collaborate.

Because of this, a return to the office must also be a "retune" moment. Employee behaviors and expectations have changed in ways we are still discovering, and what in-person processes and cultural norms got us the best results in February 2020 are likely not going to work as well today.

Take the unfolding drama with Apple's return to work policy. Their three-day-a-week-in-office policy has been widely criticized by employees and has led to at least one executive resigning. There's been much consternation (and resignations!) as many feel the policy is being implemented too soon and is not being flexible enough to support the varied workforce.

Each office environment is different, of course, but there are several things managers and leaders can keep in mind as they bring their teams back together in person:

Everyone is Their Own Microcosm

The pandemic has not only shattered the perception that we can't effectively work from home, but it has been a unique opportunity for workers to set up truly custom workspaces and create bespoke working styles and patterns. We've gone from sitting in cubicles with one or two pics of our kids thumbtacked to the wall to working out of spare bedrooms, makeshift basement offices, lanais, kitchens, bedrooms. We've had kids in the background and dogs snoozing at our feet and cats stepping on keyboards and adorably ruin everything. We've had time to perfect our ideal workspaces and get comfortable in them.

Leaving those bespoke havens and our sweatpants behind to drive 40 minutes in traffic in an itchy suit and return to a cold, gray, one-size-fits-all office is going to be jarring, frustrating and in some cases demoralizing. Where can you allow your employees greater autonomy and customization in their in-person workspaces? What are you doing to show you understand their unique needs and authentically interested in addressing them?

It's Not A Return, It's An Uprooting

Essentially, a return to work is making your employees give up everything they know and are comfortable with and completely change their work reality, for the second time in two years. For some, there will be excitement at seeing colleagues face to face and for some, the office will be a welcome respite from the struggle to work at home. For others, however, it will be the opposite. It will be an uprooting of what they're comfortable with and perhaps a return to face elements of their job (bureaucracy, office politics, noise) that they dislike.

Recognizing the totality of this shift will help ensure you are implementing empathetic policies and creating fair, flexible solutions and, of course, causing minimal disruption to morale or productivity.

Don't Just Return, Retune

How many days do employees realistically need to be in the office? For how many hours a day? How flexible are lunch breaks? Are you bringing people back in just to have them sit on Zoom with each other in their offices? What opportunities are there to create more relaxed work areas? Is your office pet friendly? Could it be? What about dress code? Does everyone really have to wear a seven piece suit every day? Could you have a caftan day? Have you ever worn a caftan? Are you wearing one right now because you should be, they're so comfortable? What about improving the office ambience? Happy hours? Afternoon wine? Is there a way to add more donuts to the workspace? Is there a way for employees to bring a bit of their home into the office?

These questions and countless more have likely crossed your mind and they deserve consideration, depending on the needs of your employees and colleagues.

If you're interested in learning more about how to best "retune" to work, please join us for our upcoming Retune To Work webinar led by adaptability expert Andy Eninger on Wednesday May 18th at 1pm CT! Oh, and it's free! But still very high quality! Luxurious, even!

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