UW-Madison Professor Weighs in on Push to Get Workers Back in the Office

Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 -- 11:01 AM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) Do office workers really need to come back to the office, or can they keep working from home?

A push and pull between workers and management on work-from-home policies is getting attention again. Major businesses like Epic Systems in Madison are calling their workers back to the office, and UW-Madison professor Christine Whelan says for some managers and owners, it's a trust issue.

"There is increasing concern that they're both paying more for their employees, and that people are, you know, getting distracted and putting in another load of laundry, and, and having an extra long cup of coffee."

Workers have been pushing for better treatment and better hours and work from home has offered that for many office employees who don't need a physical space to work.

Whelan says forcing workers to come back might backfire for some businesses. "More and more labor organizations are saying that, you know, it's not fair just to have the executives be able to choose to work from the beach in the summer, if they want to."

Whelan says it's an issue of trust between managers and employees. "Do you trust your employees? Do you see the value of their work product? And do the employees trust that their managers are going to give them a fair shake and notice what they are doing? Even if they can't see it on a daily basis?

Whelan says the switch to work for home was a boon for many employees with disabilities and the disadvantaged, but changes in model could harm people in industries where in-person work is valued when it's time for raises or promotions.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.