During the COVID-19 pandemic, 70% of all employees worked from home. Then, as vaccines began to roll out, workers slowly returned to the physical office, only to be confronted with the vaccine-resistant Delta variant.
The new variant, plus the arrival of winter, is already leading to fresh closures and revised procedures.
The new variant, plus the arrival of winter, is already leading to fresh closures and revised procedures.
The routines that employees developed after a year of working from home have been interrupted yet again, throwing them off balance once again.
It should be no surprise that these disruptions and back-and-forth transitioning are causing workers to experience a heightened sense of anxiety.
Depending on where people are in the world, some are going back to the office and others are again being pulled out of the office. It’s a difficult time.
Coping with the Uncertainty
Employers and employees should acknowledge that being anxious during this time is perfectly normal. Humans just don’t do so well in the face of uncertainty and if anything is certain regarding the pandemic, it’s that uncertainty reigns.
Humans just don’t do so well in the face of uncertainty and if anything is certain regarding the pandemic, it’s that uncertainty reigns.
Both parties should work together to address any outstanding concerns so important work can continue uninterrupted. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
You've Already Been Doing It
This past year and a half have been immensely stressful and a real roller-coaster. But, you made it!
Reflect on all the adjustments you've already successfully made during the pandemic: transitioned to working from home, created productivity norms that work for you, worked despite distractions at home, and set up an effective routine.
If no one has already told you this already: you can do it! Because you already have!
If no one has already told you this: you can do it! Because you already have!
Identify the Source of Your Anxiety
It helps to hone in on the source of the anxiety.
What was it that you had planned that is no longer happening? Are you afraid of public transport or contracting the virus in the office? Had you hoped the company would go all-remote and now it’s unclear what will be happening? Did you make plans for childcare which no longer apply?
Once you've identified the cause of your distress, develop a plan to break down the issue into smaller, actionable parts. It helps to write things down.
Once you've identified the cause of your distress, develop a plan to break down the issue into smaller, actionable parts. It helps to write things down.
After that, start addressing the actionable parts and not the larger intimidating issue. In no time your larger issue will no longer be a major concern.
Continue Healthy WFH Practices
If you’re still continuing to work from home full-time, think of the new habits you've learned at home that have helped you continuously be effective working from home.
Keep them going and consider recruiting a colleague to check-in with on how things are going, every now and then.
If you’re now required to be back at the office, try incorporating your amazing WFH habits into your new office routine. An hour of yoga in the morning, or regular breaks, can make all the difference.
Speak to your Manager
If you are anxious about contracting the virus and the health risks to yourself or your family, discuss it with your HR team or supervisor.
You should also insist on clarity on new practices: such as, what is the protocol if someone feels sick? Knowing which rules and procedures are in place ahead of time (sanitation, screening, social distancing) can put your mind at ease.
You can even bring up office management softwares that can help a company with health screeners, staff vaccination status and contact tracing to make the office a safer place to be for everyone.
Ask for any Special Arrangements
If you’ve been successfully working all-remote since the start of the pandemic, and if remote work suits you best, don’t be afraid of discussing with your manager the option of working remotely indefinitely or for an extended period. Getting a clear answer on this can allay much uncertainty.
Many employers around the globe are especially open, at this time, to such conversations given the job marketing is very much being driven by talent and not employers.
Many employers around the globe are especially open, at this time, to such conversations given the job marketing is very much being driven by talent and not employers.
Slow the Transition Down with Hybrid Work
Many offices are adopting a hybrid workplace model, where employees come in to work on certain days and work remotely for the remainder of the week. Because transitioning to full-time work can be daunting, a hybrid model can help ease the change back to work.
Discuss this option with your employer/employees as an option to gauge their appetite for returning to work.
What If You Want to Return to the Office, But Can't?
Of course, some people are itching to get back to the physical office and aren't coping well at home. They would prefer to return sooner rather than later.
If you are one of them, and your office is still closed, discuss the possibility of hot-desking in a co-working spot or getting special access to the office.
What Should Employers Do
2021 continues to be a challenging time for employees, and employers need to be flexible and make some arrangements for staff members dealing with return-to-work anxiety.
2021 continues to be a challenging time for employees, and employers need to be flexible and make some allowances for staff members dealing with return-to-work anxiety.
Ensure that you have communicated the steps you’ve taken to ensure everyone's safety, including capacity management, sanitation protocols, health checks, and procedures in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak at the office.
Additionally, hybrid work and hybrid working tools are proving to be key solutions to bringing staff safely back to the office, whether it’s for working in general or for collaborative work. We at Zynq have built Zynq Workspace as a cloud-based all-in-one office space management solution to help companies successfully go hybrid.
Get it in touch with us for a demo!
