Going Back to the Office

As offices — including HBR’s — carefully reopen after being closed for months because of the pandemic, we describe what it’s like there and discuss the risks and rewards of being back in person.

If working from home intensified the invisible labor women do and put even more pressure on us professionally and personally, what should we expect from life split between home and office? And without much of the interaction and amenities that being in an office used to offer us, is going in worth the trouble of wearing a mask all day, navigating the new rules, and taking the potential health risk? And what about those of us who can’t go back?

Women who’ve returned to their workplaces describe what it’s like to be back. Emily and Amy B report from their first day at the HBR office in Boston. Then Amy G talks with a colleague about why they’ll continue to work remotely and how people on their hybrid teams can include them even though they’re not physically present.

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Resources:

“Help Your Employees Manage Their Reentry Anxiety,” by Sarah Clayton and Anthea Hoyle
“Feeling Uncomfortable with Reentry? You’re on the Right Track.” by Dr. Julia DiGangi
“How to Manage a Hybrid Team,” by Rebecca Knight