Written by Madeleine Jensen
Administration Manager – BREED Australia
We are in a strange and cautious time currently in the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia has been easing up on restrictions as the number of active cases drops. For a lot of people, this has meant the beginning of a transition from working from home to returning to the office, such as in WA. Having adjusted to working a certain way means for some, this can mean another about-face.
Going from having not worked at all to returning to work is especially difficult. For those who had jobs that they couldn’t go to during the pandemic, it can feel overwhelming to return to a part-time or even full-time workload. Social distancing is also still occurring, and it can make things difficult in some spaces if you’re used to working in close proximity.
In a digital age, it’s interesting to see that many meetings once conducted face-to-face have been held on Zoom or similar programs. With some restrictions still being enforced, virtual meetings and online presence are still important through this transition period.
As always, your mental health is important. It’s natural to feel a bit stressed and anxious by new changes to a routine you’d just established and were starting to settle into. Working from home can be chaotic if you are a parent who has also had to school their children through the pandemic, and returning to the office can feel like facing a new set of challenges.
If you are heading back to work, it’s important to take necessary precautions like social distancing. If you’re feeling anxiety, it might be good to discuss your concerns with a manager or supervisor. This can be a difficult time for everyone, as people are still trying to remain cautious but optimistic amidst the changes to restrictions.
