13 Ways to Make a Successful Work Comeback

Have you been working from home, only popping into the office on occasion to attend a meeting or a coworker’s last-day happy hour?

Even though the company expects to see you online during office hours, working from home definitely has its perks. No one interrupts you to ask a quick question. You don’t need to worry about someone stealing your yogurt from the lunchroom refrigerator. You can text mom freely or dog-sit to make extra cash. You also don’t have to change your clothes, shower or even brush your teeth, should you please.

Plus, thanks to developments in technology, businesses can now make use of virtual offices that provide the essential tools and services that a physical office provides via the internet. Moreover, depending on what you require, you can hire a prestigious business address and telephone number, a virtual receptionist who can answer your calls in your company name, and even a mail forwarding service all without the need for you to have physical office space. The benefits of a mail forwarding address service alone are often enough to convince employers to make use of virtual office technology.

That being said, if you are going to be working from home for a long period of time, there are some things that need to be organized first. Put simply, you need to make sure you are equipped to work from home. This doesn’t just mean work-related things, it also means being able to work from home and keeping track of your spending. You’ll be using a lot more energy and resources from home so checking out some Just Energy rates, or ones similar, will help you stick to a ‘home budget’ without the worry that you’re going overboard. A proper home office is essential, with a desk and comfy chair. Sufficient storage is also very useful, and it goes without saying that you will need a computer and/or laptop to work on. Remember, you won’t have the same support from your peers as you would if you were working in the office, so making sure your computer is set up with the right software is key.

You won’t be able to ask other employees to come and help you with difficult tasks like splitting PDFs, so having software in place to help you will save lots of time and effort. FileCenter DMS carries all of the PDF-related features you’ll need – head to https://www.filecenterdms.com/info-pdf-editor-software.html for further information about it if you work with PDFs a lot.

Nevertheless, the pros of working from home most definitely outweigh the cons. You can even think about doing something extra from home to help with paying bills. For example, so many people are buying/investing in the Bitcoin market using companies such as Zipmex, it can be done from anywhere and you can buy as much or as little as you like, starting small and working your way up.

However, what happens if your company decides to make a few changes, like eliminating the option to work remotely? If you’re lucky, they’ll give you enough time to make the necessary adjustments, such as finding someone to pick up your child from school, hiring a dog-sitter and get a haircut.

[bctt tweet=”Making an #OfficeComeback after #WorkingFromHome and only popping in for occasional goodbye lunches can be difficult-for you and your colleagues. You need to have your #ReentryStrategy in place. ” username=”rosalindatweets”]

Coworkers Need to Get Used to the Idea of Your Work Comeback

Returning to the office after being MIA (in the eyes of coworkers) will not only require an adjustment by you but by your colleagues as well.

Some of them might need time to warm up to you. They even may be, well, a little peeved about your return. Consider their perspective:

They aren’t used to listening to your water-cooler comments.
They may feel that you haven’t been in the trenches with them, going through the daily office turmoil or enduring endless meetings. And now they are forced to make room for you and your new office chair and computer.
You haven’t been part of their group, going out for lunch or drinks after work, and they may forget to include you.
They could become impatient because you don’t know how things are run in the office-its rhythms, priorities and politics.

Try not to take their attitude personally. And there are ways to show them that your comeback will be as seamless and as non-disruptive as possible.

13 Ways to Make a Smooth Work Comeback

Meet with your boss before or soon after your return. Ask about updates on company policies (which you probably ignored before, thinking they didn’t apply to you). Schedule a follow-up meeting two or three weeks into your transition to check in to see how you’re doing.
Don’t bring a “This-is-how-I’ve-been-doing-it” attitude to the workplace.
Keep in mind that you are no longer on “your” schedule.
Your choices in attire should be guided by your coworkers’.
Make it a priority to meet with each of your colleagues to re-engage with them.
If you aren’t sure about something, ask.
Do a lot of listening. Your colleagues can be invaluable when it comes to filling you in about the logistics, workload, protocol and office politics.
Save your brilliant ideas for after you’ve eased into a regular routine. Or slowly introduce them when the moment is right.
You are not a guest in the office, so don’t act helpless.
Don’t whine about how bad traffic is, how much gas is costing you, or how much you miss wearing PJs. Instead of sympathy, you’ll get eye-rolling.
Don’t submit a request for time off unless it’s an emergency.
Bring in pastries or shareable snacks-this is a great way to express your thanks for their patience in welcoming you back to the team again and showing patience as you adjust to your new work schedule.
Always acknowledge someone who has jumped in to help you, welcome you or offer advice. A “thank you” goes a long way.

After a month or so, if you are finding reintegration difficult, with uncooperative reactions from coworkers, talk to your boss. Don’t let things get worse before before doing something about it.

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Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, Workplace Civility, Soft Skills, Business Etiquette Expert, Media Source, and author of “Don’t Burp in the Boardroom.”

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