Employees Don't Want To Go Back To The Office, But Management Can't Let Go - TheZenParent

"The office used to be the heartbeat of work. It was the rhythm of routine that shaped corporate life for decades. Then came 2020, and the world hit pause. Suddenly, millions of employees discovered something that changed the way they viewed work forever: they could do their jobs perfectly well without being physically present in an office. But while employees embraced flexibility and freedom, many leaders were left uneasy."

"For many companies, returning to the office is less about productivity and more about perception. In the pre-pandemic world, visibility was synonymous with value. Being seen at your desk early in the morning or staying late was a signal of dedication. But when work moved online, that illusion shattered. Remote work proved that output was what really mattered. Employees thrived without long commutes, rigid schedules, or the daily grind of office politics."

"Yet, for many executives, this shift was disorienting. They had built their authority around physical supervision, around "walking the floor" and seeing people in action. When teams are remote, leadership must rely on outcomes, not oversight. That requires a shift in management style-from monitoring to mentoring. It means focusing on communication, rather than attendance and compliance. For some leaders, that's a tough adjustment."

Remote work revealed that employees can meet goals without physical offices, eliminating long commutes, rigid schedules, and office politics. Many companies still equate presence with value, using visibility as a proxy for dedication. Executives who built authority on physical supervision feel disoriented as oversight declines. Remote teams force leadership to prioritize outcomes over attendance, shifting styles from monitoring to mentoring and emphasizing communication. Employees who gained autonomy resist returning to strict office routines and expect trust in managing time and productivity. The resulting divide between managers and employees drives ongoing conflict over the future of work.

Read at TheZenParent