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By Lily Sachs on June 3rd, 2022

Key Points:

  1. Fed-Up Micro-Managers
  2. Some Businesses Have to Go ‘Home’
  3. A Few WFH Symptoms and How to Alleviate them.

The past few years have been tough, but they came with some blessings. Working from home luckily became the largest of them, and while it was necessary through COVID-19, it’s become an adopted luxury for many. But for some, they feel it’s time to throw in the towel and head back to the office.

And some are using shifty tactics to get their employees back to their desks. However, companies like ourselves have decided to go the extra mile and uncover ways to alleviate the ‘pains’ you can encounter as you work from your home office.


  1. Fed-Up Micro-Managers

A recent (and scary) statistic was recently released from an employment background check company called GoodHire and stated that “about 77% of managers said they’d be willing to implement “severe consequences”–including firing workers or cutting pay and benefits—on those who refuse to return to the office.” At ProTek, we would never dream of reducing our newly gained productivity to have our employees return to the office and for less money?!—That’s the definition of old school.

Unfortunately, being old school isn’t typically enforced; it’s just the company’s or industry’s long-standing background. Even after many studies have summarized how most employees prefer remote and hybrid work structures, these companies and their management still choose to gravitate toward the comfortable.

Our recommendation here? Find the management structure that speaks to you. They’re out there and hiring!

  1. Some Businesses Have to Go ‘Home’

America’s vaccine rollout happened much faster than expected last summer, and many industries began to revisit returning their employees to their home offices. Industries that require handling and moving objects or controlling machinery, unsurprisingly, must be done in person. But research (and time) has shown that jobs, where primary activities include updating knowledge and learning or interacting with computers, could primarily be done remotely and without productivity loss.

If you find yourself in an industry where your work can be completed from home without interruption, why would you ever want to return to the office 100%? —You wouldn’t, and we understand why! For example, in the staffing industry, our jobs can be done remotely, and it only maximizes the time we have to spend on both our clients and candidates. So, if you find yourself in a similar position with your current career, don’t settle for less productivity and time at home with your family. You’re in a job market where you have the choice to be picky with your place of work.

  1. A Few WFH Symptoms and How to Alleviate Them

We were all forced into working remotely quickly, resulting in quick WFH improvisation from both employers and employees. But now that it’s become a way of life for many, it’s time to start checking in with your management and their teams to ensure that while you’re working from home, you’re getting what you need. Employers need to develop inclusive strategies to counter everything from employee isolation to potentially low employee engagement. The basis for this lies partially in understanding the challenges employees face.

No one wants to feel isolated, we’re human, and we seek and thrive on social interaction. As an employer, you should think back to who spent more time in the coffee room and check-in to see how the lack of social interaction has affected them. Some may appreciate the isolation, but developing these habits isn’t typically healthy over prolonged periods. But there are some great solutions! Consider using group communication tools like Slack or WhatsApp to communicate even outside core meeting groups. You can also leverage some lighthearted team-building exercises aimed at helping foster greater cohesion among employees.

The biggest issue we’ve found in the staffing industry and others is that many of the big-box agencies have allowed blurred work-life boundaries to flourish. If you’re seeing this at your company, it’s time to speak up. Home has always been a sacred space away from public life. For some, home is a sanctuary to recharge, and having it invaded by work was a culture shock. This sudden takeover led to blurred lines between work and personal life, increasing stress levels. But as an employer, right now, it’s your duty to ensure that your remote teams are getting dedicated downtime.

This coming week is a great time to start! Have your team pencil in an hour of legitimate downtime every day next week. Whether it’s a nice lunch out or just a walk through the neighborhood, it will help foster positivity!


& if you’re working at a staffing agency that isn’t checking in with your well-being. Reach out to us at info@protekpartners.com to see our available internal positions.!

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