On designated office days, employees are expected to be physically present in the office for hybrid work arrangements.  When to report into the office is predetermined and coordinated among team members to ensure effective collaboration and communication. 

The problem for many of us returning to the office is that we no longer want the distractions of being around others.  Never mind that we are already frustrated from the morning commute and the loss of work life balance achieved.  Who is going to do the laundry or drive mom to the doctor!

Now our shoes hurt and the clothes that we wore to work before the pandemic fit too snug.  Our hair is different, gray, and we don’t look the same.  So, having an in-person conversation with a co-worker seems awkward. 

We long for the isolation of being at home! 

In their February 2023 return to work statistics, Career experts at Zippia published a study that reported 68% of Americans prefer remote-work over in-person work. Just as compelling, 83% of employers say the shift to remote work has been successful. So why the push for hybrid work models? 68% of employers say employees should be in the office at least three days a week to maintain company culture.

COLLABORATION AND MEETINGS

Office days are beneficial for team collaboration, brainstorming sessions, face-to-face meetings, and other activities that benefit from in-person interaction.  Time in the office can be used to work closely with colleagues, share ideas, address challenges, and make decisions collectively.   Video conferencing is effective while working away from the office, however not everyone will turn on their camera!  I thought people liked cameras for their 15 minutes of fame. 

Now that we can have an hour or two to be on video for meetings, we are too shy. 

Managers and senior leadership use office days to schedule team building and other culture related activities.  While onsite employees experience the benefits of a more structured environment and engagement in social interactions with their coworkers. 

I guess that this is what was once referred to as opportunities for office gossip, the rumor mill, or water cooler conversations. 

WORKSPACE ADAPTATIONS

In many cases, office workspaces were modified to accommodate hybrid work arrangements. Modifications included implementing hot-desking policies, providing collaborative spaces, improving audio and video conferencing facilities, and ensuring a safe and flexible work environment.  Therefore, cubicle spaces previously assigned to employees are either gone or altered to accommodate shared spaces. 

There are pros and cons to these shared workspaces.

Cons

What of cleanliness?  On office days It might be a good idea to grab a Travel size can of Lysol and some wipes on your way out of your home.  You will need it to sanitize the workspace that you will be using for the day.  You can bet that there has been some nose blowing, coughing, sneezing, and snacking by the person who was last there. 

What happened to my office supplies?  The pencils, pens, desk lamps, sticky notes, note pads, and other items that were once plentiful, well, they are gone too!  And, individuals who decorated their cubicle space to make it feel like they were home, think mini fridges, forget it. 

Front line managers might no longer have assigned offices.  The limited personal space and lack of privacy hinders their ability to have a confidential conversation, handle sensitive information, or work on tasks that require a higher level of privacy.  One-on-ones have become one-on-whoever is around at the time of the meeting. 

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Pros

Shared workspaces provide opportunities to collaborate, interact, and network with people from various teams and departments.  The results can lead to increased creativity, Innovation, and knowledge sharing, fostering a sense of community and belonging.  Further, for some of us working from home exclusively sometimes blurred the boundaries between our personal and professional life. Sharing workspaces on office days does provide me with a physical space to separate work from my personal life, which helps to maintain a healthier balance.

Finally, shared workspaces are a cost-effect solution for the company.  Instead of maintaining a large office space to accommodate all employees daily, businesses can opt for a smaller office footprint and leverage shared workspaces. Then, cost savings on rent, utilities, and office maintenance expenses will add up quickly.

In summary, office days provide opportunities for face-to-face collaboration, teamwork, and social interactions among employees.  It has benefits, but also constraints.  Just as it was a challenge to transition into a hybrid work model, returning to office days will require some adjustments as well. 

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Catherine Cooper Hybrid Boomer

A Hybrid Boomer is an individual born between 1946 and 1964 who is still in the workforce but working from home or a remote location. We are only required to report into a company facility when it is necessary to collaborate in person or for in-person company meetings. We transitioned into this type
of work mode during the COVID 19 Pandemic. In defining a new normal and the future of work our companies have decided to allow us to make this a permanent way to work.