Dear Homeward Bound,

This is a big trend that I’m noticing for companies of all sizes and all industries across the country. While we all wish this damn pandemic would go away, there is a movement (and a big one) that is pushing more and more companies to permanently transition out of traditional office spaces.

Many of the top IT companies like Google, Twitter and Facebook don’t plan to send their employees back into the office for the foreseeable future – if ever. A research paper by The Conference Board, in a survey of 150 HR executives, 77% expect an increase in the number of employees working remotely for at least three days per week for at least a year after the pandemic ends. 

You may hate this, you may love this. Find comfort in knowing there are pros for both employers and employees. Companies can now expand their candidate search beyond their HQ location, massively growing their pool of qualified candidates. This is great news for job searchers, too. 

If you are used to working in a large city, imagine not battling traffic each day. This is not just good for your sanity, but it also saves gas and helps protect the environment from greenhouse gasses caused by commuting. Win-win! 

Remember pajama day at school? It was always one of my favorites and now, it’s permanent! I don’t recommend working in the same clothes you slept in, but I do recommend working in an outfit that is comfortable for you. So if you work best in comfy leggings, you get to do that. Just remember to keep it professional from the waist up if you have video conferences. 

Also, according to that same research paper by The Conference Board, productivity has increased at most companies while employees work from home. This may have something to do with more uninterrupted time to actually get your job done without coworkers popping in to say hello. Although some of you may have kids interrupting you now. Tit for tat, right?

Plus, working from home means a company can take the money they used to spend on office space and put it towards really important things, like employee payroll. Many companies saw a dip in profit this year, and every penny helps to keep employees from being laid off. 

If you’re a social butterfly who loved working in a space with others, I really recommend setting up happy hours with your co-workers. This can be done virtually for now, and in-person once it’s safe to do so. You can catch up on life, work, and the watercooler talk is way more entertaining when the watercooler is actually tequila. 

Keep your chin up, and try to look at the bright side of being able to work from home. And schedule a virtual happy hour with some co-workers. I promise, it will help. 

Sincerely,
Jenny