Just as we’ve all become used to the ‘new normal’ – working remotely, video meetings, no commuting – it’s going to change, again.  While some of us have enjoyed working from home, others have struggled with social isolation from their work colleagues and environment, and some have experienced a bit of both.

So, what does a successful return to the workplace look like? In the first instance, organisations will implement a Recovery Plan, which outlines the process for returning to work. Recovery may not necessarily be a return to business as usual but is a staged process to assist in the implementation of whatever will be an organisation’s ‘new normal’.

Many organisations recognise that there are valuable learnings to take away from 2020. Supported by digital tools and communication, we have demonstrated that much of our work happen anywhere and that we don’t have to be tied to our work location to be effective and productive. It’s also anticipated that for some, more flexible work arrangements will continue to be an option.

But what if there are feelings of anxiety, fear and worry about returning onsite? Firstly, it’s important to acknowledge that these are normal reactions.

Some concerns around returning to your workplace could be:

What can be done to help relieve some of these concerns?

It’s unlikely that the working world will return to the ‘business as usual’ we knew before COVID. Change will remain a constant in our lives for a while to come. In the meantime, the trick to maintaining a positive outlook will be successfully embracing a new way of doing things, while managing the uncertainty that come with change.

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