Returning to Office After Remote Work... Office Workers Feel Half Excited, Half Anxious
Experts Say "Interaction with Others Is Necessary, Maintain Positive Thoughts"
On the 5th, office workers wearing coats are heading to work after the Chuseok holiday at the Sejongno intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and Juhee Kang] As the government lowered social distancing to level 1 starting from the 12th, companies that had shifted to remote work are gradually resuming normal operations.
Among office workers who have been working from home for periods ranging from a few weeks to several months, various reactions to returning to the office have emerged. While some express excitement about going back to work after a long time, others feel burdened by the commute.
Experts emphasized the need to interact with others and develop the ability to adapt to new situations and changes in order to overcome depression and stress associated with returning to daily life.
Kim (33), an office worker who said he works at an advertising company in Seoul, said, "Although the nature of my work makes it inconvenient to do from home, I was forced to work remotely for the past few weeks due to COVID-19. I like that going back to the office separates work from home life. Also, seeing the subway, buses, cafes, and restaurants near the office that were once empty made me feel depressed, but now seeing them lively again is reassuring."
Kim added, "It’s nice to see my colleagues’ faces again after being apart for so long. It feels like going back to school after a vacation."
With social distancing measures eased to level 1, some large corporations are ending remote work and restarting normal work systems.
Hyundai Motor Group, which had been conducting remote work mainly for office teams, plans to implement a full return to office under this new measure. S-Oil, Hyosung Group, and Kolon Group have also lifted their remote work systems around the holiday period.
A worker in their 20s, A, who said they started commuting after the holidays, said, "While remote work was sometimes convenient, spending a lot of time at home with family made it uncomfortable to handle calls or meetings, and there were conflicts due to changes in daily routines. Going back to the office feels very strange but also refreshing."
On the 6th, office workers are seen wearing coats on their way to work at Sejongno Intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
On the other hand, some citizens expressed feeling burdened by returning to the office after extended remote work and holiday periods.
Jo (28), an employee at a major IT company, said, "Commuting is extremely tiring. I’ve gotten used to and comfortable with non-face-to-face life, so it will take a long time to adjust. I liked having more time for leisure activities and rest while working remotely. Since I didn’t go out much, my expenses decreased and I was able to save money, so it’s a bit disappointing."
Jo added, "Thinking about having to interact and clash with colleagues again makes me tired. Although it may vary by company, I hope that jobs that don’t necessarily require commuting continue to allow flexible remote work even after COVID-19 ends."
According to a survey, most office workers responded positively to remote work.
In the 'Remote Work Utilization Survey Results' announced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 24th of last month, 91.3% of 878 workers responded that they were 'generally satisfied' (60.5%) or 'very satisfied' (30.8%) with remote work implementation.
Responses indicating increased work efficiency due to remote work also accounted for a majority at 73.9%. Regarding the positive effects of remote work, the most common answer was 'relief from commuting stress' (86.0%), followed by 'improved quality of life through leisure time' (36.5%).
Another office worker, Han (26), said, "When working remotely, I liked that I could eat whatever I wanted without worrying about others, not wash up, and wake up late. The commuting process is definitely tough, so it feels burdensome."
Experts emphasized that to overcome depression and stress caused by returning to daily life, it is necessary to spend time interacting with others and to develop the ability to adapt to new situations and changes.
Professor Kwak Geumju of Seoul National University’s Department of Psychology explained, "Office workers who experienced the unfamiliar remote work due to COVID-19 now have to adapt to going back to the office. People seek comfort, so when working remotely, they wear comfortable clothes and live relatively easy lives, but returning to daily life inevitably causes maladjustment and dissatisfaction."
Professor Kwak added, "To overcome such maladjustment like depression and stress, positive thinking that accepts new situations, environments, and changes is necessary. Also, since humans are social animals, these challenges can be overcome through some degree of interaction with others. Furthermore, because we never know when COVID-19 might spread again causing remote work, or when other unpredictable situations may arise, developing the ability to adapt to change is more important than anything else."
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