Many employees are now expected to be at the office during the workweek instead of having the flexibility to work from home as much as before.
Arguments for returning to the office include things like...employees are more productive and creative in the office. In-person collaboration is easier and more beneficial for team projects and problem solving. Returning to the office can result in a stronger workplace culture.
And yet others think employers have a hidden agenda with the mandatory return to office policies. They think employers want some employees to quit so they don’t have to lay them off.
What isn’t being said is that many leaders don’t think virtual relationships are real.
· We have military personnel in one part of the world and their families are here in the U.S. Their relationships with their family members are virtual while deployed.
· We have students who attend school online. Their relationships with their teachers and classmates are real.
· We have people who are dating or married, and they live in different countries. Are you going to tell them they aren’t in a real relationship?
· And then there are people who meet online and are gaming together. Their experiences with each other create real relationships.
Virtual relationships require intentionality. And so do relationships that are in-person. But it is easier to not be intentional and “just let things happen” when you are in the office together.
Is returning to the office a punishment or a reward? That assessment is done by each employee and then they choose what actions (if any) to take.
My team and I have worked remotely since day one when I started the company. The relationships we have with each other are based on sharing information, listening, and connecting intentionally.
Our relationships with clients are developed on virtual calls and we get a lot of work done without being in the same room together.
Blaming remote work for less employee productivity, creativity, collaboration, problem solving, and an inconsistent work culture tells me more about your leadership and intentionality than you probably intended.
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