We have our orders – return to work orders, that is. Soon, almost everyone will be typing away at keyboards on their generic desks back in the corporate office. That’s how organizations envision it, at least. There has been pushback from employees though – mostly because the pandemic is far from over and not everyone has the same level of safety precautions practiced.

Here are 3 common arguments FOR returning to work and why they’re not always correct:

1. Returning to the office increases productivity and collaboration
You will hear this argument most of the time. In fact, it is the primary argument for the return to the office. Organization higher ups believe that their team struggles with loneliness, disengagement and low productivity if they are not in the same place as their co-workers. But remote workers have long known that this is a myth. In fact, remote workers have been shown to do the opposite – it increases productivity. Imagine having to do busy work just to fill the usual 9 to 5 when you were already done by 2pm.Thanks to the proliferation of various collaboration software like Asana, Trello, GSuite, MicroSoft Teams, and the amazing video conferencing technology that Zoom, GoToMeeetings, and Skype have made available to us have enabled geo diverse teams to communicate and work together on projects and tasks on a scale that has been unprecedented.

2. Managers can’t trust their team to get the job done
Ah, the micromanagers have their say. Nobody likes to have someone looking over their shoulder to ensure that the work is getting done correctly. Empowered teams are usually given the tools and resources to do their work whenever and however way they deem fit. The burden of establishing a trusting, fair, and accountable relationship falls on the shoulders of the employer. These values must be established. Most employees have proven that they can finish the work with less oversight. More trust, less “hovering’ is what teams need to be empowered and not feel like a cog in a wheel.

3. The corporate culture is suffering
The fact that there are more remote teams collaborating and working with each other is always a plus. Collaboration tools enable geo diverse teams to work around the hurdle of not being able to work in the same space. Inclusivity and diversity is always encouraged in remote teams. More diverse minds encourage creativity, idea generation, and problem solving. What company culture will suffer from more of that?

A hybrid approach, where some days, teams work in the office and some days they have the option to work remotely, is the way to the future of work. There are benefits to returning to the office too. For example, a return to the office encourages less Zoom Gloom and tech fatigue. Face to face interactions mean there will be less reliance on technology for team huddles and face to face meetings, thus freeing up time for asynchronous work without interruptions.

What are your thoughts on returning to the office? Share them with us in the comments. Remember to work smart and be a blessing to someone today. Stay safe and healthy!

Written by Jaie O. TheHelp