Businesses are planning a return to the office for their staff, as government guidance regarding working from home is dropped as part of the roll-back on coronavirus restrictions. While some are hesitant to begin working from an office once more, the return is inevitable for many, and eagerly anticipated in certain circles. Returning to the office could well be an exciting development, but is nonetheless a complete change of pace from remote working, with challenges to be anticipated and overcome.
Commuting
According to a number of surveys carried out to gauge the workforce attitude to working from home, or to returning to the office, one of the main reasons for workers preferring to work from home was the elimination of a morning commute. The commute is a stressful and sometimes expensive experience, whether in petrol costs or public transport passes; as it stands, commuting to work will be the same as it ever was, but also fundamentally changed at the same time. Together with existing pressures of rush-hour traffic, the enduring presence of coronavirus necessitates additional hygienic care when using trains and buses – from regular sanitisation to face masks. After our lengthy period of time apart, being in a crowded space can be more mentally taxing – making mental preparation crucial for once again getting comfortable with the daily commute.
For those that drive to work, working from home will have meant their vehicle has received less use and maintenance in recent years. Before returning to daily use, car owners should give their vehicles a check over. If a car has been sitting on the driveway for some time without having moved, its tyres are likely to be compromised from weight being unevenly distributed; sourcing a set of new car tyres online is a good preventative measure. Oil and brake fluid checks are a must, and letting the engine idle for 15 minutes before the first excursion will ensure the engine runs healthily.
Communication
In working from home, many of the workforce have grown accustomed to communicating via remote working software and video messaging platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Conversing and collaborating in person is a vastly different experience, and one to which those working remotely for 2 years will take some time to grow accustomed. Seeing employees in person each day could be an initially unnerving experience, and for those with pre-existing mental health conditions, re-introduction to an office environment could exacerbate their illness. As such, mental preparation is once again key; it is also important to remember that no one is alone, that the return for the office will be universally awkward for employees, and that everything will even out in time.
Routine
Lastly, workers returning to the office will need to reckon with their routine, as it will be drastically different to the one they have been following as a result of remote working. Habits will need to be re-formed in order to enjoy a productive and rewarding week, such as the preparation of lunches and snacks and the re-introduction of a morning, pre-commute routine. Enacting these habits ahead of the first day back will normalise them, creating one or two less things to worry about on what will doubtless be a stressful day.
Discover more from LoveBelfast
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
