As Covid-19 cases begin to drop in the country, businesses have started preparing themselves to return to normalcy, albeit cautiously. This also includes gradually returning to offices. To facilitate the office-based work, the Union Health Ministry has issued new SOPs to limit the spread of COVID-19 in offices and to save from potential infections. It states various statutory guidelines such as wearing a mask at all times to maintaining at least 6 feet distance in common areas. 

Following the speculations of a 4 day work week by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, it seems like companies are embracing flexibility and a need for work-life balance, now more than ever. But longer weekends mean longer working hours on weekdays. However, the hybrid model of working is now being accepted, wherever possible. For people who are working from home, there is a need to build confidence that their work is counted as much as those working from the office such that there the fear of missing out and being missed out no longer exists. 

All employees are struggling during the crisis and face an array of challenges in their lives, particularly in the areas of mental and physical health, concerns around workload increases, fears of stalled growth and a lack of opportunities, and loss of connectivity with colleagues. Companies are well aware of these struggles and, in fact, are trying to innovate to cope. Although quick and effective company responses to the sudden shift to remote work may have alleviated some negative effects, employees are still struggling to cope with the wide range of pandemic challenges that go beyond remote working. 

As employers look for new ways to implement a hybrid model of working, they will need to rethink the traditional approach to well-being at the workplace.