'End of Remote Work' 5 Ways to Reduce Stress Returning to the Office [Jjinbit]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As the government fully lifts social distancing measures, companies are accelerating their return to the office after remote work. Employees who have become accustomed to working from home for over two years are experiencing increased stress levels due to commuting, company dinners, overtime, and having to watch their bosses’ reactions. This seems to be a common issue not only in Korea but also among workers worldwide, including in the US and Europe. The Washington Post (WP) recently introduced five ways to reduce stress related to returning to the office, based on advice from organizational culture experts.

The first way to relieve stress is to plan your day in advance. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, employees working remotely have been able to flexibly manage their time by doing household chores like laundry or dishwashing during work hours. However, once returning to the office, the longer hours spent there reduce time flexibility, which can cause stress. Sarah Perry, a professor at Baylor University, advises, "Set aside regular breaks after arriving at the office, such as meditation, or plan to take care of personal tasks unrelated to work during breaks."

Accepting that work concentration may be lower when commuting compared to remote work is another stress relief method suggested by experts. When at the office, conversations with colleagues or sudden meetings often slow down work progress. Chital Neely, a professor at Harvard Business School (HBS), said, "There will be more tasks unrelated to work or in the process of being completed than in remote work life," adding, "You should consider this when planning your day."

Applying methods that helped improve work concentration during remote work to the office environment is also a way to reduce stress. One example is keeping a to-do list or work-related documents in the cloud so they can be accessed both at home and in the office.

In the IT sector, including companies like Naver, hybrid work combining office and remote work is increasingly being adopted. When working in a hybrid model, distinguishing tasks to be done at the office from those to be done at home is another way to lower stress. It is recommended to assign tasks that require communication and collaboration with colleagues to the office, while tasks that can be done alone should be handled remotely. Professor Neely said, "Initially, there was ‘Zoom fatigue,’ but now there is ‘hybrid fatigue.’ When at home, use that time to recover from fatigue and maintain balance."

Finally, WP introduced experts’ advice recognizing that the current changes in work styles are still experimental and that there is no definitive answer, emphasizing the need for ongoing efforts to adapt. Stu Friedman, emeritus professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, said, "Workers are creating a new era. Everyone’s situation is different," adding, "We need an experimental mindset and patience to create better conditions."

Editor's Note[Jjinbit] is short for ‘Jeong Hyunjin’s Business Trend’ and ‘Real Business Trend,’ a corner that showcases trends in corporate management such as organizational culture and HR systems. The emergence of the MZ generation, the expansion of remote work due to COVID-19, and digital innovation all call for innovation in organizational culture. Based on various overseas news and analyses that have not received much attention so far, we will deliver fresh and differentiated information and perspectives.