The Pressure to Return to the Office | No BS Management Advice
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
LinkedIn wrote, “The remote work era might be closing, and “it could be in the interests of both employers and employees to return to the office full-time,” notes “Workquake” author Steve Cadigan. The development serves as a warning sign to millennial and Gen Z workers, most of whom want flexibility. But Cadigan argues they could stand to gain most from “post-pandemic” return-to-office plans by fostering more intentional connections and a stronger sense of commitment, while potentially blazing a trail for a new work model.”
I responded:
On a day where LinkedIn runs another article entitled, “Omicron variant ups reinfection risk,” will companies be more flexible with sick days so that an infected Gen-Z or Millennial employee is not penalized for excessive absences if/when they contract the virus? Probably not. Which means a company is putting people at risk and asking the employee to incur the risk. Unless, you want them to come to work and infect everyone. After all, BA.2 incubates for a median of 3-4 days before surfacing. Do you want them in the office? Do you want them taking out the rest of the staff. Do you think they can afford to stay out of work and, this, you are pressuring them to go back to work with no wages? If your staff is not doing their job while working remote, they should be replaced. If they are, it is a form of control that is unnecessary, especially during times of rising prices. Letting them work from home, saving on commuting expenses and the cost of working at the office will allow you an opportunity to keep them (after all, salary increases are lagging inflation by at least 6% once taxes are factored in), instead of fostering systemic turnover.
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 2400 episodes. He also hosts Job Search TV on YouTube, and Amazon, as well as on BingeNetworks.tv for Apple TV and 90+ smart sets.
I do a livestream on LinkedIn, YouTube (on the JobSearchTV.com account) and on Facebook (on the Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter page) Tuesdays and Fridays at 1 PM Eastern. You can send your questions about job search, hiring better, management, leadership or to get advice about a workplace issue to me through LinkedIn’s messaging .You can also message me through chat during the approximately 30 minute show.
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