Management

Four Ways to Keep Working From Home When the Boss Wants You Back

Managing a hybrid schedule requires more care as companies start to ask employees to return to the office.

Illustration by Yann Bastard
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As offices reopen, some companies are letting workers decide when—or whether—to return. A recent CBS News poll showed that 60% of employees want to keep working remotely, at least part time. But doing so can lead to anxiety: If you’re not in the office every day, will it start to become an issue? We asked experts for advice on how to ensure that a hybrid arrangement can continue to benefit you—and be valuable to bosses.

Manage perceptions. “As a prospective member of the hybrid workplace, you want to distinguish between actual hours in the office and perception of presence and engagement,” says Alexandra Samuel, co-author of Remote, Inc.: How to Thrive at Work … Wherever You Are. “They’re different things.”