Return-to-office mandates are all anyone seems to be talking about lately. Recently, Amazon joined the line of major companies bringing back the work commute. Some people love it, others hate it, and some corporate leaders are letting the dust settle before deciding whether to reverse course on letting employees work from home.
The reasons why employers toy with return-to-office policies vary. In many cases, they see a dip in overall performance—and whether or not remote work is the primary cause, they’re eager for a reset.
“They likely are having trouble managing employee collaboration, culture, or productivity,” says Ben Wigert, an industrial-organizational psychologist and the director of research and strategy, workplace management at Gallup. “These are common challenges of remote work when not managed appropriately.”
In other cases, it may be that organizations are paying rent on office space that’s underutilized. “Having those types of facilities and not having anyone in them could be definitely a financial challenge,” says Olivia Johnson, Muse career coach and founder of OliveTreeBranch Coaching & Consulting.
Maybe your company has issued its own return-to-office mandate, or you’re hearing rumors of plans to reopen headquarters. You have three options: stay, leave, or try to negotiate. Below, we outline what to do in each scenario.
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What to do if you want to stick around
Let’s say you like your job, or at least aren’t too peeved about the return-to-office mandate at this moment in time to quit on the spot. Here’s how to make the transition from working from home as smooth as possible.
Get in the right mindset
You might have some strong feelings, good or bad, about going back to an office. But before you make any sudden moves, try to approach the change with a level head. “I wouldn’t be too quick to pull the trigger on leaving your job until you have done your homework and given the new arrangements a chance,” Wigert says.
If you’re upset about having to leave the comfort of your home or face a long drive to work every morning, remind yourself of all the benefits, however small, you’ll reap from this new environment.
Maybe there’s an audiobook or podcast you’ve been meaning listen to that you’ll now have time and space for. Maybe your house is so crowded that a quiet cubicle sounds refreshing. Maybe you’ve missed seeing certain people face to face.
“Living your work life entirely behind a computer screen could be a dangerous long-term proposition for your career and health,” Wigert says. “Physical distance leads to mental distance, and eventually that drift can increase when it comes to your relationships and connection to your company.”
Johnson points out that in an office, you also have much better and quicker access to knowledge and resources. “If there are immediate needs, you can literally just get up and walk over to whomever you need to talk to,” she says. Perhaps most importantly, she adds, you’re better able to unplug after hours and set boundaries between life and work when you’re physically further away from your desk.
For those excited about the mandate, the transition will be a lot easier. That said, it’s important to go in with realistic expectations. Working in an office doesn’t mean you can take long lunches with your work BFF or spend an afternoon gossiping by the water cooler. You’re also not going to jump into an old (or completely foreign) routine without any hiccups. If you’ve spent months, if not years, signing on in your pajamas, with unfettered access to your personal belongings, office culture will come as a shock.
Do a trial run
Before you’re actually supposed to return to the office, start getting yourself physically and mentally ready. Do a trial run of your daily schedule so you can iron out the kinks and prep for unexpected hurdles.
“Take the week or so before you’re supposed to go in and pretend that you’re already having to go into the office,” Johnson says. This means you wake up with enough time to get ready, eat breakfast, and tackle any chores before you set off. It also could mean laying out your outfit or packing your bag the night before, or practicing your commute. Parents might want to hire a caregiver or sign up for daycare in advance to simulate the new routine and make the transition less abrupt for their kids.
Curate a schedule that allows for interaction—without draining you
One of the biggest perks of working in an office is being surrounded by colleagues, leaders, and experts, so make sure you’re actually able to take advantage of this.
“The magic is determining an office schedule that helps you get the most out of your time on-site,” Wigert says. “That means planning for collaboration, setting office hours where you’re available to your teammates, and making time to connect over lunch and coffee.”
For example, if you’re a manager, make sure you’re meeting one-on-one with each of your direct reports at least once a week. As an individual contributor, set a goal of having one meetup with a different coworker a month to learn about a new aspect of the business—or to just make a new friend. Using a digital calendar to block off both social and alone time can help you create balance.
What to do if you want to leave
You’re happier and more productive working from your home desk.
You’re a caregiver and can’t afford for someone to cover for you.
You don’t live where the company is headquartered, and have no plans or means to move.
You didn’t like your job to begin with, and now it’s just gotten worse.
Whatever the reason, you’re completely against returning to an office, so much so that you’re ready to take a payout or leave tomorrow without a backup plan.
There’s truth to the idea that it’s easier to find a new gig when you’re still employed, and not just because because of salary continuity. In your current job, you can network with colleagues or clients who can then act as a referral or reference. You won’t be questioned by recruiters about a career gap or abrupt departure. And you can build skills or take on projects that look good in a resume or cover letter—or prove you’re ready for a career change.
Basically, unless you’re financially and mentally at peace with being unemployed for a bit (Not sure? Read this, this, and this), you’re best off staying put and playing the office game at least for a little while.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t kick your job search into high gear—and we’ve got plenty of advice to get you started:
- How to Find Time for Your Job Search (When You Have a Full-Time Job)
- This Is How You Job Search Without Your Boss Finding Out
- When You Should (and Shouldn't) Tell Your Boss You're Job Searching
- The Ultimate Job Search Guide: Literally Everything You Need to Know to Land a Job You'll Love
- 10 Email Templates You'll Need During Your Job Search
- This Spreadsheet Is Exactly What You Need to Track Everything in Your Job Search
Can you negotiate? What to do if you want to try staying remote
Johnson and Wigert agree that in the wake of a return-to-office mandate, it doesn’t hurt to ask for specific accommodations or exceptions. “Approach the conversation with an open mind and the understanding that policies often evolve,” Wigert says. That said, expect that the answer may still be no or that the decision will be out of your boss’ or even HR’s hands, no matter how strong a case you present.
Here’s how to best handle the conversation and successfully negotiate a hybrid or remote schedule:
Make your reason clear and concise
Johnson advises sticking to one or two main points for why you want to remain remote—any more could cloud your argument or confuse the person you’re negotiating with.
Focus, too, on reasons that would hinder your ability to do your job well (such as a lack of childcare or long commute), rather than on reasons you hate coming to an office (such as not wanting to wake up early or wear hard pants).
Finally, make sure your reason isn’t already (or isn’t adequately) covered in the new policy. For example, maybe the company is offering shuttles for long-distance commuters, or stipends for relocating or daycare.
Outline your performance and responsibilities
Johnson notes that even top performers are being asked to come back to offices, so that alone might not stand up in HR court. Some companies, however, ask staff to return to workplaces purely out of ignorance—they assume the job needs to be done in person when it can actually be done successfully from anywhere.
When it’s clear you’re being asked back because of old traditions, you could emphasize how much you’ve been able to accomplish up until now, as well as explain the parts of your position that have evolved in the new remote norm.
Johnson gives the example of recruiting, which was for years done face-to-face but now is more quickly accomplished via platforms such as LinkedIn, where the talent pool is also bigger and more diverse. “You have to package your work so that people can see that it can be done remotely with no challenges,” she says.
Propose a realistic solution
If your request is reasonable, your manager or HR will probably ask what your suggested plan is. This is where you’ll want to provide a solution that’s beneficial for you and the team and company. In other words, don’t just offer up a fully remote schedule if they clearly care about office culture.
Maybe you alternate remote and office days, or work remotely every other Friday. Maybe your hours differ from but overlap with the rest of the team’s. Or maybe you negotiate other benefits to accommodate a personal need. “Be tactful about exploring these possibilities rather than approaching it like a set of demands,” Wigert says. “Ask yourself what you value most about your job: Where does remote flexibility rank on that list, and how much do you require?”
For more advice on presenting this argument with grace, check out our guide to asking for remote work before or after you’ve been hired.