4/18/2023 0 Comments Remote making us paranoidI too was skeptical at first, but the data supported what I experienced. Telus, where I was a chief wellness officer, embraced hybrid work styles well before the pandemic. And if doctors can make room for some amount of permanent virtual care in a way that makes sense for both themselves and their patients, then why can’t bosses at a traditional, cubicle-based office? This trend of delivering cost-effective health services will likely continue in the near future. Patients reported that almost half of their doctors do virtual care and 90 per cent of them were satisfied with the virtual care they received. For paranoid bosses, there is tracking software that managers can use to see exactly how employees are using their time, but even this is not necessary in the vast majority of cases.Īs a doctor, I found that my experience matched up with data from Canada Health Infoway. They don’t need to be policed or treated like children with a curfew. And many do need a break from their spouses, kids and pets.īut employees have shown they can get their work done regardless of where they are. We cannot thrive, learn and create connections via Zoom and in solitude. And it is important not to discount human nature we are truly social animals. We agreed that some functions require teams to brainstorm in person and being together improves trust and collaboration. That doesn’t mean there are no arguments in favour of a return to the office. Not one of them could come up with a compelling argument for a full-scale return to the office policy. This same topic came up again at a recent luncheon discussion with experienced HR colleagues. If you’re an employer like that CEO, you are likely to experience a much more severe wave of resignations than a conscientious company might. Regardless, many bosses are hyper-focused on bringing their employees back to the office ASAP, even when employees are sending crystal-clear messages that returning to work every day is a non-starter. In truth, the justification for returning to the office is extremely thin – an argument HR executives would call “soft.” It just seems right. So much has changed over the past two years that receiving the “come back to the office” e-mail makes workers feel infantilized, like when your parents told you to be home by 10 p.m. For instance, the use of video conferencing instead of in-person meetings has led a mini-revolution in what’s being called “meeting equality.” That is, it creates what the remote work equipment company Poly calls an “experience where everyone has the tools and technology they need to be included and empowered to participate, regardless of their location.” Working from home has increased happiness and efficiency, which benefits both workers and their employers.ĭemands that we all return to the office are stunting what for many has been an opportunity for growth and improvement. Why come back to the office at all when things seemed to be going so well? Why return to the days of soul-crushing commutes, wallet-emptying gas prices, expensive coffees and lunches, office-related illnesses, and all the other downsides of office life that, ultimately, have nothing to do with the actual work we’re being paid for?Īctual work itself saw many improvements during the work-from-home era. Many of them say to me, “I got my life back!” And now they regularly eat together with their kids at the dining-room table. They are sleeping in one time zone, eating well, drinking less alcohol – well, most of them – and exercising regularly. My clients, who are mainly executives who belong to Air Canada’s million-mile club, have never been healthier. It’s not just rank-and-file workers who feel this way. Second, because remote work has made our work and home lives significantly simpler and more balanced. This means working in person is still a risk. First, because while much of the world is moving on from the pandemic, many people are still at risk as new COVID-19 variants continue to evolve. You’re also likely feeling worried, if not angry, primarily for two reasons. Two years of pandemic have yielded three valuable remote-work takeaways Ready to go back to the office? Employers and workers are divided over the fate of remote work But now you’re likely feeling pressure from your bosses to come back to the office, either gradually or all at once.
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