Employees who work for companies who are sending them back to work have mixed feelings about a return to office. Many discovered that they were able to work effectively from home and don’t miss things like commutes or having to ditch the workspaces they’ve created for themselves over the last year in favor of a cubicle.
While some value the social aspect of returning to a physical workplace, others have anxiety about it and it’s something that HR teams are going to have to consider carefully when examining their return to work policies. In the end, the best thing HR can do is engage employees around what they want and devise solutions that prioritize flexibility over a return to status quo.
Many have taken to Twitter to vent what they feel about the return to work. Here are 10 tweets that say just about all you need to know.
1. The data might not be pretty when people come back
Previous Attrition Rate 1.7%
— 𝘑𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘞 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘰 (ally) (@JeffreyWShapiro) June 16, 2021
Attrition rate after employees productively worked from home for a year and are asked to "#ReturnToWork" 4.2%#HRCommunity
2. Thank you for not listening
When employers say “back to normal,” what they really mean is “we heard you, we just don’t care.”
— Adam Karpiak (@Adam_Karpiak) June 16, 2021
3. What do they want vs what do you think is best?
Hey Employers! Stop saying #returntowork as your teams start coming back into office. They've been working all this time & maybe even working smarter/better even under a lot more stress. It's #returntooffice & give a think to what they even want. #remotework #hybridwork
— Emily Koolen (she/her) (@emilykoolen) May 14, 2021
4. A rare opportunity
#ReturntoWork represents a culture pivot point - a rare opportunity for leaders and smart organizations to listen and embrace change. Those that do will differentiate themselves and thrive. pic.twitter.com/18h3u0WmWR
— Adam Suomala (@adamsuomala) June 14, 2021
5. Just say no to the commute
Went back to work this week for two 1/2 day work sessions. Two consecutive days of my old 1hr+ commute 😑 It was GREAT to see colleagues in person but the commute was brutal. Current plan is to remote 3-4 days per week w/ 1-2days in the office. What are your #returntowork plans?
— Portia Mount (@portiarmount) June 11, 2021
6. Is mental health still a concern?
As return to work and reuniting plans take shape, orgs must recognize how culture has shifted and baseline behaviors might be difficult to know. These baseline behaviors are important to recognizing behaviors that might manifest as concerning or warning behaviors. #returntowork
— A.M. & Associates (@amassociatesmn) June 14, 2021
7. This lonely office
First day back in the office, I keep hearing the door opening and people coming into the building but none have come by my desk. Lonelier feeling than working from home 😞 #returntowork #tuesdaymotivations
— Sports guy who tweets bad (@RealUncleRob) June 15, 2021
8. Flexibility = productivity
Gartner says their data shows employees are 3x more productive when they have some flexibility about when/how/where they work. #returntooffice
— vaxxed and masked (@HRecruit) June 3, 2021
9. The culture test
#returntooffice is going to put culture to the test https://t.co/Fv8uwwReFt
— Maureen Moriarty (@Workplace_Coach) June 16, 2021
10. Put simply
#Returntooffice? No, thanks, please #canceloffices
— Aspie OS (@aspie_os) March 30, 2021
Photo Courtesy of Stock Photo Secrets
