# Are we witnessing the great return to the office? Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-11-11 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: The Case for Returning to the Office: Why It's Happening Now Meta Description: Explore the reasons why workers are opting to return to the office after the pandemic, from the human factor to financial considerations and the new hybrid URL: https://financedigest.com/are-we-witnessing-the-great-return-to-the-officehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1419064468-1736814879230-compressed.jpg) _![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/514-1736814879296-compressed.jpg)_ _By_ **_Dr Alison_** **_Watson,_** _Head of the School of Leadership and Management at_ _[Arden University](https://arden.ac.uk/)_ We are now approaching three years since the start of the first lockdown, when remote working became the norm and employees around the world discovered a new way of working and living. However, as the pandemic and its effects keep winding down we are likely to witness a shift to a more consistent return to the office. Here Dr Alison Watson, Head of the School of Leadership and Management at Arden University, explores why this is the case. **The human factor** During the pandemic, many workers felt isolated and younger [team members in particular missed out on the opportunity to learn](https://www.financedigest.com/what-can-accountants-learn-from-great-britains-olympic-team.html "What can accountants learn from Great Britain’s Olympic team?") from more experienced peers. These individuals are likely to now be facing working from home fatigue and, in seeking those human interactions again, they are increasingly looking at their options for a [return to the office](https://www.financedigest.com/sodexo-tops-q1-sales-estimates-as-people-return-to-offices.html "Sodexo tops Q1 sales estimates as people return to offices"). Many [workers suffering from working](https://www.financedigest.com/1-in-5-uk-workers-believe-there-is-a-gender-divide-with-work-uniforms.html " 1 in 5 UK workers believe there is a gender divide with work uniforms") from home fatigue are missing the human interaction and social networks they were part of pre-pandemic. For these individuals, going back into the office is being significantly driven by the want to build and maintain relationships with colleagues, and avoid the isolation that can be a factor when [working from home long term](https://www.financedigest.com/apples-australian-workers-go-on-christmas-strike-demanding-better-wages-work-terms.html "Apple’s Australian workers go on Christmas strike demanding better wages, work terms"). **[Big finance](https://www.financedigest.com/finance-is-the-next-big-sector-to-be-ubered.html "Finance is the next big sector to be Uber’ed"), small savings** The highly publicised cost of living crisis has also created a nervousness in the general population, and those who have lower commuting costs may now be considering whether they can [cut](https://www.financedigest.com/gms-cruise-to-focus-on-cost-cuts-as-it-ramps-up-robotaxis.html "GM’s Cruise to focus on cost cuts as it ramps up robotaxis") their energy costs by working from the office, rather than at home. Most organisations are keen for them to do so, with some even [launching campaigns](https://www.financedigest.com/seenthis-launches-emissions-dashboard-to-enable-advertisers-to-analyse-data-reduction-and-emission-savings-on-campaigns.html "SeenThis launches Emissions Dashboard to enable advertisers to analyse data reduction and emission savings on campaigns") to encourage workers to return to their desks. The [cost of living](https://www.financedigest.com/five-cost-of-living-trends-expected-in-2023.html "Five cost of living trends expected in 2023") is likely to keep playing a substantial part in the return to the office, as workers look to minimise the impact of rising energy bills, and also the ever-increasing cost of essential groceries which are often subsidised, or even provided for free in some workplaces. Some [businesses are even advertising the use of facilities such as showers as part](https://www.financedigest.com/how-businesses-can-overcome-their-doubts-and-be-a-part-of-the-ecommerce-revolution.html "How businesses can overcome their doubts and be a part of the eCommerce revolution") of a co-ordinated effort to support their employees at this time. There are some for whom a return to the [office might not make financial](https://www.financedigest.com/managing-the-hidden-security-gap-in-financial-services-the-office-printer.html "MANAGING THE HIDDEN SECURITY GAP IN FINANCIAL SERVICES: THE OFFICE PRINTER") sense, though – even with these perks. Those that have high commuting costs, or who have to pay additional fees such as [city centre](https://www.financedigest.com/why-are-there-so-few-apartments-to-rent-in-liverpool-city-centre.html "Why are there so few apartments to rent in Liverpool city centre?") parking charges, might find they stand to make little to no savings by returning to the office, and so might me more tempted to stay home regardless of the benefits on offer upon their return. **A new hybrid** [workplace culture](https://www.financedigest.com/promoting-a-learning-culture-in-the-workplace.html "Promoting a learning culture in the workplace") A wholesale return to the office may be practical for some organisations, but those that have [adapted to agile working](https://www.financedigest.com/how-the-uk-adapted-to-working-from-home.html "How The UK Adapted to Working from Home") may now find it restrictive, for both the business and its colleagues. Organisations should use this period during the colder months to consult with employees, advise them on their best options and ensure they are able to talk about any concerns they might have at this [challenging time](https://www.financedigest.com/renewing-democracy-is-defining-challenge-of-our-time-biden-tells-summit.html "Renewing democracy is ‘defining challenge of our time,’ Biden tells summit"). There is undoubtedly [potential for more seasonal trends](https://www.financedigest.com/case-handling-machines-market-global-size-growth-opportunities-industry-potential-segmentation-overview-trends-and-forecast-studies-2028.html "Case Handling Machines Market Global Size, Growth Opportunities, Industry Potential, Segmentation Overview, Trends And Forecast Studies 2028") in the workplace, however the longer people are back in the workplace, the more likely they are to stay in the office long-term as they adapt their routine and commuting patterns to their new arrangements. The introduction of core hours could potentially help to provide flexibility for employees, while also [bringing colleagues together](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-bring-business-and-charities-together-through-events.html "How To Bring Business And Charities Together Through Events") and enable them to share a space and collaborate at key times during the working week. In theory, it could be an excellent answer to some of the challenges presented by [remote working](https://www.financedigest.com/shoring-up-cyber-defences-in-the-remote-working-era.html "Shoring up cyber defences in the remote working era"), enabling workers to nurture those key working relationships and collaborate with colleagues, without the rigidity of a return to the traditional ‘nine to five’. However, as with any arrangements, [business leaders should look carefully at their organisational challenges](https://www.financedigest.com/new-business-launches-to-support-it-professionalsfacing-mission-critcial-sector-challenges.html "NEW BUSINESS LAUNCHES TO SUPPORT IT PROFESSIONALSFACING MISSION CRITCIAL SECTOR CHALLENGES"), and the makeup of their workforce before coming to a decision. Post-pandemic, many businesses have embraced more geographically diverse staff-bases, while more tailored hybrid working [solutions might also be needed for those juggling other challenges](https://www.financedigest.com/retreating-up-the-risk-curve-is-no-solution-to-the-growth-challenge.html "Retreating up the risk curve is no solution to the growth challenge") such as caring responsibilities. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---