Return to Sender: "Your Invitation to Come Back into the Office"​

A little over a year ago, the vast majority of the working world was desperately trying to find a solution to the question, "how on earth will we be able to work from home?" amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, with the help of Zoom, Slack, and speedy at-home internet, many of us seamlessly adapted to the work from home (WFH) lifestyle. But, with millions of vaccinations now administered, and the number of coronavirus illnesses dramatically reduced, many workplaces nationwide have been requesting their employees physically return to the office; prompting many of us to ask a new question, "how on earth will I be able to go back to the office?" This article addresses that question from a career coach's perspective.

No commutes, more relaxed dress codes, flexible time schedules, and no worries of COVID-19 transmission. Can we blame anyone for getting used to these WFH amenities? In addition to these newfound comforts also comes an increased level of productivity. In a study reported by Prodoscore, there was a distinct increase in productivity by 47% since March of 2020 in comparison to March and April 2019. Furthermore, their study provided data that illustrated a streamlined usage of tech as "telephone calling was up 230%, customer relationship management (CRM) system activity was up 176%, email activity was up 57% and chat messages were up 9%."

Fundamentally, if working from home results in greater employee productivity and is also more comfortable for employees, why should individuals be pushed back behind their cubicle desks? From a career coach's viewpoint, I want to offer some potential tools to help you attain your WFH goals and keep you self-assured during what continues to be an unprecedented time in the workplace.

1. For starters, you'll want to know if your organization allows you to WFH. For instance, if you work for a company that heavily relies on in-person contact to get the job done, you may not be a good WFH candidate, but you may be able to propose a hybrid model. If you find yourself mostly in front of a laptop working on downloadable computer programs, odds are you could just as easily complete your work from the comfort of your own home office space. In addition to knowing the workings of your organization and industry, you'll want to research and be prepared to present the benefits that come from working at home. From reducing company costs to being a more dynamic employee, having all the information available surrounding the WFH lifestyle you desire will only help you leverage your negotiation to continue working out of the office.

2. The next step you'll need to take is to create a WFH plan that would benefit you and your productivity. Sure it might be easy to assume you'd be just as productive at home as you are when you're side by side with your coworkers, but you need to convince your employer. Be able to assess your work style and the environment you have available and whether you have the necessary equipment to get the job done--laptop and platform subscriptions etc.

3. If you are considering a life of working from home, remember that you are in a unique moment which can be taken advantage of by both your employer and yourself. For example, chances are you worked remotely at some point from March 2020-June 2021. How did that go? If it went well for both you and your supervisor, it will be easier to come into the conversation and say, "I want to continue working from home." However, if you did not work from home during this time, fret not, the previous steps still apply, and could end up benefitting your career journey.

4. Additionally, a critical component for achieving a work from home lifestyle is knowing your value. If after you go through all the steps of presenting your case, having the proper tools, and knowing it's what you want, don't let a boss saying "no" deter you from WFH possibilities. If WFH is essential to your career identity, you may want to work toward finding a new job that will support your life needs in order for you to be happy and most successful in the working world.

If you want to further discuss these steps, get help with how to search for remote jobs during this transitional period, or talk about anything surrounding career development; I would be happy to help you create your strategy for achieving rewarding work. Click the link below or reach out directly to schedule a career coaching session.