Mixed Emotions

Readers Share Feelings of Anticipation, Concern About Returning on Site

A man's hand is wrapped around his home's door handle while his other hand holds a black briefcase and surgical mask.

Photo: shutterstock/ Pearl PhotoPix

Most employees will be due back on site for a few days per pay period by Apr. 10. In preparation for the “Big Return” to the physical workplace, the NIH Record asked readers to tell us how they’re feeling about easing back into a new normal business flow. Here are the first few responses (many of them submitted anonymously), which reflect myriad emotions, from excitement to anxiety.

I’m so excited that I won’t be the only person in my building! Well, the guards come in to warm up and eat, but it sure will be nice to see people throughout the day. Especially my co-workers—I look forward to eating lunch with them in person, instead of on Zoom.—Michele Lyons, associate director and curator, Office of NIH History and Stetten Museum

I am worried about the traffic in my commute to the office! It was so nice to have 3 hours of my day back. Also, due to teleworking and mask-wearing, I have not had a cold for 2 years. I am worried about what will happen when we are back in the office.—anonymous

Can’t wait to walk to the metro again and get to my new office on the main campus in Bethesda! Can’t wait to see my colleagues in person for the first time ever, as I was hired during the pandemic. And last but definitely not least, looking forward to separating work and home again: the impact of never being able to leave work behind has been significantly impacting both mental health and family life.—anonymous

I love working for NIH but do not want to come back to campus with Covid still so predominant. I have not had Covid and do not want to. We do not know who will be a long-hauler or whose heart, lungs, kidneys or brain will be affected for life. Please let me work from home! We have clearly demonstrated it can be done.—anonymous

Returning to the workplace is unsettling for many staff. It is mostly appealing to those who have offices and aren’t required to sit in their masks for 9+ hours a day. If everyone was required to wear a mask, including those with offices in their offices, they would not be as enthusiastic and would likely be more reluctant to return. While most federal employees/contractors are vaccinated, that doesn’t factor in the possible transmission of Covid from staff who are in contact with unvaccinated people either in their homes or on mass transit to family members at home who are immunocompromised or ineligible to be vaccinated.—Ericka Thomas, OD

I have been successfully teleworking full-time for 2 years at this point and see no reason why I should be required to be on campus a minimum of 2 days per pay period. 95 percent of my job can be done from home—I’ve been to campus for work-related reasons maybe 15 times over the past 700+ days. Why not just allow people like me to go to campus when they need to instead of just for an arbitrary amount of time? I suspect I’m not the only person who sees the return to the physical workspace as simply defaulting to the previous status quo. I wish HHS/NIH leadership would more carefully consider whether and when someone actually needs to be in their physical office.—anonymous

The Record will continue to share the responses we receive, as employees begin returning. To contribute your insights, email nihrecord@nih.gov or visit nihrecord.nih.gov/ and click FEEDBACK to send comments anonymously.

Sidewalks wind through grass and trees on the NIH campus, streetlights still lit, with blue skies and the yellow of the sunrise poking through the trees.

Early morning at NIH. The grounds behind Bldg. 60 on the main campus look quiet and serene at around 7 a.m. recently, but some folks have missed the hustle and bustle of a pre-pandemic NIH campus. The majority of the workforce begins to trickle back on site gradually later this month, as 2 years of maximum telework ends across government agencies.

Photo: Michele Lyons

For the latest resources and policies on returning to work in person, visit: https://employees.nih.gov/pages/coronavirus/return-physical-workspaces-guidance.aspx.