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Back to Work
Why “Intentional In-Person” Is the Future
Almost half of employees who work remotely don’t want to return to the office. Can employers entice them back? Should they? And how?
Companies are taking different approaches to the transition back to the office. Some retain a remote-work holding pattern, some are leaning into the hybrid approach for the foreseeable future, and others, like Elon Musk, are taking a hard-line approach to in-office work.
While several studies over the last year suggest that remote work improves performance and productivity, it would be hard to deny the benefits of face-to-face interactions.
The Many Workplace Arrangements
Anecdotally, I am 100 percent remote. I don’t miss the grinding commute into New York City. I don’t miss the constant distractions that come with working in the office, especially when the space is open plan. I don’t miss the endless parade of pointless meetings.
But I do miss the bonds you develop when sharing a space with people who have a common purpose. I miss the desk drive-by (some of them, at least). I miss the proverbial “water cooler talk.” The accumulation of these small, unscheduled moments sow camaraderie.
