Kelly Kramer - A Personal Reflection and Series Introduction
In the span of just one week, four people in my life, all working in completely different fields, were told the same thing:
“It’s time to return to the office.”
It started with my twin sister, who was informed that her hybrid arrangement was ending and she’d now be working in the office full-time. That same week, I was visiting my best friend for her daughter’s high school graduation when she told me her husbandhad just been called back in, too. During the celebration, a party guest mentioned that their workplace was also planning a return. And to top it all off? My own husband came home with news: his team was heading back into the building, starting immediately.
It felt like a cultural shift was happening right in front of me. Quietly. Rapidly. And not everyone was ready.
It’s Not Just About a Desk and a Commute
After years of hybrid schedules, home offices, Zoom fatigue, and shifting norms, this widespread return-to-office movement brings with it real questions and real tensions.
- How do employees readjust to in-person collaboration?
- What happens to the flexibility and autonomy they’ve come to value?
- Are managers equipped to rebuild culture, trust, and psychological safety again?
As people head back into office buildings, cubicles, and meeting rooms, it’s clear that what’s needed isn’t just logistical planning. It’s human-centered reintegration.
Why We’re Talking About This
At MYCA, we work with cities, agencies, and companies across the country on training, leadership development, and inclusive workplace culture. And what we’re hearing right now, from HR teams, supervisors, and staff, is that returning to work in-person isn’t a rewind. It’s a restart.
It’s also uneven. Some employees are excited. Some are anxious. Some never left. Some are returning to unfamiliar teams or new expectations. And many are still processing the changes of the past few years.
That’s why we’re launching this six-part blog series, to share strategies, questions, and actionable steps to help organizations rebuild intentionally.
What You Can Expect
Each week, we’ll explore a different piece of the return-to-work puzzle, including:
- How to re-onboard employees who’ve been remote
- Rebuilding team culture and connection
- Creating psychological safety post-disruption
- Managing conflict and resistance with empathy
- Ensuring equity and flexibility in new policies
- Redefining success and performance for the modern workplace
Our goal is simple: To help organizations create workplaces where people don’t just return, but reconnect, reengage, and rebuild together.
We Want to Hear From You What return-to-work challenges are you navigating? Are you facing hybrid tension? Leadership burnout? Culture confusion?
Tell us what questions or topics you’d like to see in this blog series, drop a comment, send us a message, or connect with us here.
Join Us
Whether your team is already back, just starting to plan, or struggling to navigate the changes, we hope this series offers insight, validation, and practical support.
Because going back to the office shouldn’t mean going back to the way things used to be—it should mean going forward, better than before.
We’re here to help you reimagine what’s possible.
Everyone’s Going Back to the Office – But Are We Ready?
