3 Tips For Returning Back To the Office
By Antonietta Marinelli | January 29, 2021
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) only about one in every hundred Australian employees, excluding business managers, worked mainly from home back in 2008 (Siebert, 2020). In 2020 it was a very different story with the transition to remote work becoming the new “normal”.
So much so, that nearly a third of Australian workers have been working from home with new research from Roy Morgan showing that over 4.3 million people (32% of working Australians) have been working from home for close to a year now (Morgan, 2020), with many of Australia’s largest corporate employers keeping most of their staff at home (Siebert, 2020).
However, as the world turns back to normality and we settle back into the reality of on-site working we may find it difficult to adjust. A recent study found that most Australian workers now want to work at home two weekdays out of every five (Ziffer, 2020). So, how does one successfully transition from the comfort of working from home in a pair of pyjamas bottoms and a clean shirt for zoom calls to working in a company’s office environment?
1. Communication
Being proactive and vocal are key! When you return to the office, it would not be alarming if everyone is still so set in communicating via messenger or email - that has been our main source of communication for the last year after all. Make sure to communicate with your co-workers and team how you’ll all be operating communication-wise moving forward. Needing to ask a question? Pop over an ask, or shoot them an email. Communication is always key.
2. Priorities
Working by yourself at home is one thing, but working back in an open-spaced office with several individuals is another. There is a high chance your distraction levels will be even greater once you return back to the office. Make sure to write down a list of things you need to get done for the day, and don’t be afraid to communicate with your team that you need to put your head down and concentrate. One of your co-workers may pop over for a chat and you’re drowning in deadlines, just remember, it’s ok to let them know that you’re not able to chat right and then and prioritize your tasks.
3. Commuting
A lot of us would take public transport when commuting back to the office. Find ways to make that commute worthwhile. There may be things you would do throughout your day when working remotely that you fear you may not be able to do once you return to the office. However, there are plenty of ways to still incorporate these things and maximize your morning and evening trips to work. Listening to podcasts, reading your favorite book, or even doing some writing - all these things can still be achieved while you’re on your way to work. Make use of your time.
References:
● Buell, R. (2020). Back to Office: How to Transition From Remote to On-Site Work. The Muse. [Accessed 27 January 2021]. (https://www.themuse.com/advice/back-to-the-office-how-to-transition-from-remote-to-onsite-work)
Morgan, R. (2020). Nearly a third of Australian works have been ‘#WFH’. Roy Morgan. [Accessed 28 January 2021]. (https://www.themuse.com/advice/back-to-the-office-how-to-transition-from-remote-to-onsite-work)
● Siebert, B. (2020). Coronavirus has forced Australians to work from home, but what are the impacts on CBDs?. ABC News. [Accessed 28 January 2021].
● YEC. (2018). Make The Most Of Your Commute With These Eight Productive Tasks. Forbes. [Accessed 28 January 2021] (https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2018/10/26/make-the-most-of-your-commute-with-these-eight-productive-tasks/?sh=9abd0ea6f2fe/)
● Ziffer, D. (2020). Most workers want ‘hybrid’ jobs at the office and at home after coronavirus, study finds. ABC News. [Accessed 27 January 2021]. (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-23/most-workers-want-hybrid-of-home-and-office-post-coronavirus/12381318/)
