Making the Case for Return to Office

by Allen Smith, J.D.

As a rising percentage of the population receives vaccines for COVID-19, many employers want employees to return to the workplace. Some employees, feeling isolated, want to return. But some don’t, and employers will need to make the case for bringing them back.

“Many employers have found telework during COVID to be successful for their organizations,” said Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP. Despite this, many “people managers have seen a decline in the productivity gains experienced at the outset of the pandemic, citing employees’ need for the psychosocial elements of work. Savvy employers have found safe means for engaging in return-to-worksite with a focus on building better people manager mechanisms and resources for employee wellness.” He added that while there will be more remote-work opportunities post-COVID-19 than before, he believes “the majority of employers will return to a worksite as their primary office.”

CEOs globally are wrestling with the best next step for their employees, but most agree a decision should be made soon. “For most employers, it is time to return to work or make a decision about making remote work a more permanent part of the organization,” said Ashley Cuttino, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Greenville, S.C.

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