As the economy rebounds, more and more companies are considering bringing their employees back to the office, due to declining Covid-19 cases.
A Microsoft survey reveals that 50% of executives say their company requires or plans to require employees to work in person in the next year. But employees aren't too keen on getting back to their office desks. The same report shows that 53% of employees are more likely to put their personal comfort ahead of their work compared to pre-pandemic times.
Most employees demand flexibility, but how do you decide which path to take when other factors convince you to bring everyone back? Let's dig a little deeper on the subject. After working remotely for two years, many executives are eager to welcome their employees back in the field, ready or not. Here are the top three reasons to support a return to the office:
1. Culture and Values
To say that starting a new job remotely is difficult would be to understate the situation. People have become accustomed to immersing themselves in workplace culture by observing how employees interact.
Unfortunately, for those who are hired remotely, the transition to work comes with a lot of growing pains. They neither had the opportunity to see the work culture in place, nor did they have the opportunity to learn through face-to-face supervision or feedback for their novice questions. As a result, they have to strive and learn more on their own. In general, individual interactions are very important to new hires. They will learn much more from both their observations and face-to-face meetings with colleagues, compared to the dozens of virtual meetings they attend.
It's also easy to lose your sense of duty in the absence of personal interactions with your teammates. Working face-to-face encourages more frequent engagement, helping colleagues stay aligned with the company's core values.
2. Collaboration and Productivity
Working remotely also brings with it collaboration and productivity disruptions. For example, those who work remotely cannot see when a teammate is having trouble, so they cannot offer immediate assistance. Remote work requires checkpoints, alignments, and collaborations to be planned or done via email or chat. This added effort can often result in business disruption rather than asking questions in person and getting quick answers.
Working onsite also allows fresh ideas and innovations to move faster. These can significantly affect an employee's development and subsequently the success of the company.
3. Purpose and Satisfaction
Companies and employees can also benefit from working in the office by having a shared sense of mission. Being around people who work for the same purpose strengthens the commitment and determination to work in everyone.
Employees are more satisfied with their jobs when they feel more connected to their colleagues. Believing in the company's purpose gives employees a sense of purpose that is much more valuable than a paycheck.