In defence of more in-office work - for me anyway
After nearly three years of lawyering from home, all the while resisting subtle pressure from colleagues to re-enter the downtown core more regularly, I am rediscovering the value for me of working together in my new job. And trust me, admitting I was wrong is not easy.
If you knew me in 2020, you know the loss of normal life associated with COVID shutdowns ripped the scab off my barely healed grief-wound. Anxiety and paranoia had me walking in traffic rather than being close to humans on sidewalks.* I decided - wrongly as it turns out - I could live and work all on my own, without needing regular social contact. I stayed at home according to the rules of the day. When the formal stay-at-home orders lifted, I railed against what seemed like foolhardy government decisions. Too soon, I said to anyone who would listen. And I continued to work full time from home, quite certain I was personally not missing anything.
I am productive at home. I am disciplined. I set an alarm to ensure I work regular hours. I shut down the computer at quitting time to avoid burnout. I shower and get dressed every morning, whether I am scheduled to be on camera or not. I take regular breaks to eat and walk. To do otherwise could result in some dangerous slide into the mire of slovenliness, a place I don’t want to go.
Throughout 2020 and 2021, from my home office, I worked hard to maintain rapport with colleagues through regular video and phone checkins and the odd patio lunch or walk. “See, it’s possible to maintain connection,” I chanted to myself, despite seeing workplaces, including my own, drift further and further apart. I saw how hard it was for newcomers to an office to integrate, without the “hey, that’s a nice top” or “whatcha watching on Netflix?” that happens in person, but rarely on video. I knew I was personally failing folks we’d hired remotely, but couldn’t seem to break the logjam of resolve blocking my path back to in-person work.
I left my position at the end of 2022 partly on the strength of knowing whatever I ended up doing, it could involve remote components. That was news to me. You see, prior to March 13, 2020, I’d avoided working from home. I often jokingly said, as a person who lived alone, I needed the contact especially at lunchtime so I wouldn’t forget how to use cutlery. I was more concerned, however, I’d disappear into my own head.
The pendulum has swung back to the middle for me and I’ve realized my pre-pandemic instincts were right. I AM better when I’m with people. When I accepted my new job, I committed to going into the office at least once and ideally twice a week. Even though many colleagues are currently finding it easier to work mostly from home, I’m switching up my in-office schedule so I can see as many of them as I can on their days in. I’m delighted there is a culture of eating together, helping with that old cutlery concern but also creating a much-missed sense of community.
No question, I could work full-time from home. I have a comfortable home office, easy remote access to everything I need, and everyone I need to communicate with is available by phone, email, or video. Indeed, there are lots of arguments in favour of staying home. The commute by car is lengthy and not always pleasant - this will form the subject of a future blog! I risk COVID exposure every time I enter our office located in a high-traffic medical building. Staying at home is considerably less expensive, given what I spend on parking, lunch, wear and tear on my car, and picking things up here and there enroute. If I was full-time at home, I wouldn’t have to tote things back and forth “just in case.” And so on.
For me, though, the combination of in-person and work-from-home is ideal. I suspect in time everyone will remember the value of being together and there will be a slow migration back to more in-office work. Organizations will be stronger for it, and I think mental health will too.
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