WORKPLACE DEFIANCE
WE MIGHT have been dealing with Covid issues in the workplace for more than two years now, but with the third wave upon us, I still have companies asking for advice on how to manage hybrid working and office protocols.
The answer in all cases is structure. Old-school bosses love structure and seeing workers 9-to5 in the office (and some still love the Yellow Pages). They fear hybrid working or working from home means no structure to their employees’ work days.
But that’s not true. Workers still need to complete their work on time, attend meetings, submit ideas — it’s just done online.
Old-school bosses need to find ways to ensure structure is in place and their staff know how to work to it, no matter their location.
DON’T BE DEFIANT
Fears about the spread of Covid are returning and it’s making some people nervous that companies will re-issue health requirements or recommendations.
It’s understandable that people don’t want to return to lockdown conditions or full-time mask wearing, but defying office edicts is not the way to get ahead.
Bosses and employees need to be respectful of each other, be honest, upfront and have conversations about these issues.
Staying silent is never the answer and may leave colleagues and bosses misconstruing what your motives are for not following the guidelines. You may come across as stubborn, unsympathetic and unreasonable to work with . For employees, it could jeopardise your position, and for bosses, you could lose valuable staff.
ASK FOR HELP
A lot of people feel shame in asking for help. You have to get over this.
If you don’t want to work from home because you can’t get the technology to work, ask for help.
If you have health concerns and want to avoid the office altogether instead of working hybrid, ask if you can do it.
This is why one-on-one discussions with managers, HR departments and bosses are so important, whether you’re working on site or from home.
Better to speak up than be defined as a defiant employee.