Home Office Or Return To Office?

Home office desk with computer, glasses against a bright window

We’re in mid-summer of 2021, and more than half of American adults are vaccinated, schools are starting to reopen, and states are lifting pandemic restrictions more and more every week. Yet, among all of this, more than half of the nation’s workers are still punching in and out of work from their homes, attending various Zoom meetings, and keeping it casual every day. However, some employers are pushing the return to the office in search of normality. 

How Some Companies Are Handling The Return To Office 

Large companies such as Goldman Sachs aim to have their employees back in the office at full force by the end of the year. Their CEO David Solomon has called their experience with remote work an “aberration” and “not a new normal.” JP Morgan wrote to their employees that their staff should be on a “consistent rotational schedule” by July. A recent survey done by Harvard Business School found that most remote employees miss the enjoyment of their co-workers and specific aspects of office life. 81% said they would want to stay working from home permanently or have a hybrid schedule with a few days working from home. Parents especially seem to want to return to the office compared to those without children, and married people were more eager than singles.

Many companies listen to their staff and try to find a proper balance between home and the office. Even before the pandemic began, a large portion of the workforce had meddled with the idea of a more remote or hybrid way of working. However, it took the pandemic for this shift in the workforce to occur, or else it may have never happened. 

So, it really varies on the company and how they want to get their office back up to speed as COVID seems to be under more control than a year ago. Even the CDC has issued a guideline to follow when returning to work

Why Go Back To The Office? 

There have been many pros to working from home. It was saving time and money on commuting back and forth, being able to raise a family a bit easier than leaving every morning, and the comfort of your home. It certainly has shifted perspectives for many. However, there are also obstacles that have not been overcome just yet. 

The sense of creating a culture as a remote company certainly has been one of the most difficult tasks so far. We tend to learn how to navigate a workplace by watching others’ interactions. In general, new hires have had a more difficult time getting things done, and it’s harder for managers to know when someone is having a hard time with a task. The sense of a company mission can easily fall away as you’re more separated from the team. Staying as engaged as possible has proven tricky and more time-consuming as we Zoom every meeting now. 

So, when it really comes down to what works better for your company, it might be time to have a meeting with your department heads and trickle down to your staff—understanding the pros and cons that each side is feeling and working your way through those obstacles. 

Revamp The Office As You Choose To Return or Stay Home!

Here at Indoff Commercial Interiors, we have plenty to choose from whether your staff is planning to return to the office or stay remote. Going back to the office gives your company a chance to revamp the way it was before—a new beginning for your team and how they can operate from a day-to-day office lifestyle. Bringing back a fresh sense of culture and aesthetic can be exactly what your team needs as they walk back in the doors. Contact us today to see how we can help you rebuild the office lifestyle.  

Five Fun Ways to Open Up Your Home Office

Comfortable workplace with modern computer on desk. Home office

Working from home is an exciting venture, but the initial interest may wear out quickly if your setup fails to suffice. After a few weeks (or even a few days!) you’ll get used to waking up at eight in the morning until five in the afternoon. Although, what makes a home office optimal is that you get to customize your space, which is not as feasible when you work in an office. If you’re in the El Paso area and you’re ready to take your home office to the next level, then Indoff Office Furniture can help. We’ve compiled five great tips that can turn your home office into your most productive space yet! 

Start With the Right Office Chair 

Whether you’re planning on using a standing desk from time to time or sitting at your computer screen all day, it is still in your best interest to look for the best office chair possible. There are a lot of options for you to choose from, but it’s important that you don’t purchase an office chair that is too comfortable. The more comfortable a chair is the more inclined you’ll be to slack off and possibly even fall asleep! With a more up-right and supportive chair, you’ll be able to tackle all of your tasks within the assigned time! 

Get a Durable and Sturdy Desk 

Modern office interior design with office chair and desk in front of windows. Workplace with laptop.

Your office desk is the seed that will help you grow ideas into tangible success. You can go all out with your desk or you could keep it light and simple. Whatever suits your needs is what matters most! It’s also important to not go overboard with a large desk because you might feel like you have too much space and not enough supplies to fill it with. For example, a large desk might give you space for a filing cabinet, but if you don’t find the need for one, then it’s nothing to worry about! You want a desk that fits your comfort and your work ethic, all in one. 

Create a Comfortable Light Setting 

Your home may have a dark and ambient light setting throughout each and every room, but this isn’t ideal for your home office. When creating your home office, it is important to make sure that you have enough light so you can stay focused on your work. If the room is too dimly lit, you might become drowsy or bored, thus becoming too distracted and fail to get any work done. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the setting has to be painfully bright, especially to the point where it can be headache-inducing! If you have a spare room where the sun spills in perfectly, then you can use this place as your home office. 

Personalize Your Space 

Modern home working place with laptop, stylish lamp and plant in pot over white wall background

One of the best things about working in a home office is the limitless possibilities you have available. You could add pictures of your friends and family, encouraging sticky-note messages, candles, and any other personal items that help you get through your workday! Make your home office your own so you’ll forward to working every day. This way, you won’t loath your working hours. 

Make Sure Your Work Zone is Free of Distraction 

Everyone works differently. Some people have to physically leave their homes, others may have an easier time working in the comfort of their homes. Even if working at home works out better for you, noise is inevitable. Noise will especially be prevalent if you have little ones that hit the TV and their toys as soon as they come home from school. Even if you are not the one generating the noise, it is still your responsibility to keep it down as much as possible. Additionally, if you don’t have to worry about children breaking into your office, it’s still a good idea to make sure your office is unreachable (obviously, except by you). This way, you won’t get distracted or bothered while working on that big project. If locking the door isn’t an option, you can let your family and household members know that you’ll be working and that volumes will need to stay low. 

Indoff Office Furniture: Making Your Dream Office a Reality 

The world of interior design for offices is full of great options. You don’t have to be a master in office design and decorating when you have Indoff Office Furniture to help and guide you! Give us a call or visit us today to take a look at what we have to offer.