HOW TO HANDLE HAVING LESS AUTONOMY WHEN RETURNING TO THE OFFICE FROM REMOTE WORK While remote work has become the new normal for millions of employees, that doesn’t mean working in the office has gone the way of the dodo. Some companies would still prefer their employees to report to the office every day. Others allow for more flexible arrangements — hybrid work — which feature both time in the office and time working remotely. One way or another, many people face the prospect of returning to regular office work at some point or another. As jarring as the transition to remote work was for many employees, transitioning back can be even more challenging. Perhaps the biggest issue for the average employee is the loss of autonomy that often accompanies a return to hybrid or full-time office work. While policies varied widely from company to company, many businesses allowed their employees much greater flexibility when working away from the office. Workers often had considerable leeway in determining when and how they worked. Employees working in a different physical space than their managers also resulted in a greater sense of self-determination and freedom. Returning to the office means returning to the status quo. Difficult though it may be, adjusting to this loss of autonomy properly is essential. Here are three steps you should follow if you are an employee facing this issue. TALK TO YOUR MANAGER If you want something, ask for it. Your manager is likely aware that employees may find it frustrating to return to the strictures of the office environment. Your boss may be open to accommodating your desire for greater autonomy, especially since no good business leader wants their subordinates to be unhappy. Go ahead and broach the topic of your lost autonomy. Don’t be afraid to make specific requests either. If you miss the scheduling flexibility that remote work allows, ask your boss if you can have some of that freedom back. If you are working full-time from the office, see if following a hybrid approach instead is possible. You aren’t guaranteed to get precisely what you want, but there’s no harm in trying. FOCUS ON WORK One of the best ways to deal with workplace frustrations of almost any kind is to refocus on your work. While some claim that work is merely a burden, in truth, work provides purpose and meaning; getting things done is psychologically rewarding. If you focus on your top project, rather than your surroundings, you will at least be making practical progress. Remember, while a loss of autonomy may be frustrating, having a job isn’t ultimately about having everything your way. That is, after all, why they pay you. Once you zero in on a task, frustrations over the drawbacks of working from the office will probably fade into the background. While where you work makes a difference, your physical location isn’t necessarily at the heart of why your work is important. LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE While returning to the office may involve a loss of autonomy, that doesn’t mean the change is completely negative. There are some substantial advantages to working in the office. One is an escape from the sense of isolation and loneliness that often plagues remote workers. It is much easier to feel plugged in and connected to colleagues when you are all in the same physical location. A stronger sense of camaraderie and togetherness when working from the office is typical. In addition, in-person interaction allows for the return of all the subtleties of communication (such as body language) that are lost during remote meetings. This can make teams function more efficiently, and it is a huge boon to networking and professional development as well. Finally, going into the office has various mental health advantages. Spending all day, every day at home is not great for mental health. Having reduced autonomy when you return to the office may be less than ideal. However, there is no use in crying over spilled milk. Like many other professional challenges, the best solution is simply to make the best of the situation by mitigating the downsides as best as you can.
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