Why workers are calling BS on leaders about returning to the office

As COVID rates fall, one thing that's abundantly clear is that there's a discrepancy between how employees feel about a return to the office and how their bosses feel. Part of the issue is a lack of communication. In a recent McKinsey study, two-thirds of full-time corporate or government employees surveyed said that their employers haven’t shared a detailed post-pandemic office strategy. “Our recent research found that this failure to communicate clearly is hurting morale, culture, and retention,” write University of Massachusetts Lowell professors Kimberly Merriman, David Greenway, and Tamara Montag-Smit.

If you’re a leader, now is the time to clarify expectations to employees, as well as considering what this remote work period can teach us about company culture, collaboration, and flexibility. And if you’re an employee navigating a lack of certainty at your workplace, you’re not alone. Luckily there are ways you can advocate for yourself, whether that means making the case to your boss to stay remote, designing your ideal post-pandemic work schedule, or even looking for a new job altogether.

—Julia Herbst

workplace evolution

4 ways to prevent culture shock as employees return to work

As companies gradually open their doors, they must consider how to reintroduce staff to the office environment (and each other).

lessons of covid-19

3 lessons COVID-19 has taught us about remote work

In March, thousands of white collar workers were forced into a gigantic work-from-home experiment. Some things are already clear.

workplace evolution

How to ask your boss to let you keep working from home

These three strategies can help you convince your manager to let you stay remote, even when it’s safe to return to the office.

with the majority of Americans still working from home, the truth is that making friends at work is a lot harder than it used to be.”

COREY WEINER, Jun Group ceo

the way back

Why workers are calling BS on leaders about returning to the office

Workforce scholars find that employees are feeling burned over broken work-from-home promises and corporate culture ‘BS’ as employers try to bring them back to the office.

work life

Now is the time to design your post-pandemic work life

Because plans for the future are in flux, now’s a good time for you to have some influence on your post-pandemic work environment.

career evolution

How to find a new remote job if your current employer wants you back in the office

And what to say if you want to stay at your current job, but work remotely some of the time.

mindfulness at work

I have ADHD, and this is how I manage hybrid work

Tasha Booth says, “The word ‘hybrid’ to me, as someone with ADHD, sounds like this: more choices, more schedules, more emails/messages, and more headaches.”

the future of work

A hybrid office will require new routines. Here’s how to get it right

Despite new norms around flexible work environments, inclusive work spaces and habits still deserve consideration.

recommender

Summer is here! Get ready with these 48 essentials Fast Company editors swear by

From swimsuits to camping gear to sunscreen and bug spray, these are the best products for Summer 2021

recommender

This innovative cookware startup wants you to make dinner in your microwave

I’ve made salmon, mashed potatoes, and fried rice in Anyday’s microwave bowls—and I can’t believe how good they taste.

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Why workers are calling BS on leaders about returning to the office

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