Going to the office benefits our lives

Personal and professional relationships that benefit us are forged at the office

“Office centricity is over.” So declared Tobi Lutke, CEO of Shopify, as he unveiled the e-commerce giant’s plans for a permanent remote working model. With cities across the country entering Phase 2 of reopening, parks and patios have filled with people while offices have remained vacant.

Maybe Lutke was right. Twitter, Google, JP Morgan — even lawyers arguing cases in front of Canada’s Supreme Court — have all shown that jobs across sectors can be done remotely. But what do we lose when we swap in-person office camaraderie for endless video conferences?

Offices are more than places of work. For many, they’re community spaces and places of service. They can help young employees carve out career paths. Offices can also forge personal relationships and even help us find romantic partners.

At the height of the pandemic lockdown, just under five million Canadians who normally commute were working from home. And many have enjoyed the experience, with nearly 80 per cent reporting they would be happy to avoid daily travel and office distractions, even after the pandemic ends.

I get it. I’m working from home right now and I see the benefits. As I write this, my weeks-old son is snoozing peacefully and I’ve been able to be a more present parent, as well as husband and son, as we get through COVID-19 in an intergenerational household. And studies have shown that flexible work benefits parents and care providers.

Office culture needs to change. But we have to keep the parts that level the playing field, expand access, and create community as we build the new normal.

Sharing a space lets you strike up the impromptu conversations that build your network and forge relationships. For young people at the start of their career, and for new Canadians navigating office culture, these relationships can inform professional identities and provide mentors. It’s hard to branch out when you’re stuck in a video screen.

A lot of charitable giving happens in offices, too. The United Way alone raises hundreds of millions every year through workplace campaigns. These campaigns don’t just impact the community and enhance team morale, they’re often a point of entry for people into volunteer work, starting them on a path to greater civic engagement.

And then there’s mental health. No amount of instant messaging, shared documents or virtual meetings can replace face-toface interactions. Companies are actively working on this problem, with holograms and augmented reality soon to add to our pantheon of digital tools. For the time being, though, we’re stuck with the fact that screens can’t bridge the gulf between people quite like in-person interactions.

The death of offices has been predicted for years. Following 9/11, companies were hesitant to fill the tops of towering downtown buildings. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, vanity headquarters were deemed too costly.

Yet, offices have remained, because they add something special to our lives. When it’s safe to do so, I’m looking forward to heading back to the office. There’s much more than work waiting for me.

Craig Kielburger is co-founder of the WE Movement, which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.