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.