The Christian approach to “Return to Office”
After months of rumors, it finally happened. My company announced a new “office first” policy. Thousands of employees are now required to come into the office 3 days per week.
My firm is not the only one: Amazon, Apple, Google and IBM have all issued back-to-work mandates. Some require 5 days in person, while others offer more flexible arrangements. Most recently Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, went on a rant strongly condemning remote work, before requiring all employees to return to the office 5 days per week. Many prominent business leaders chimed in in support of Dimon’s comments.
Few workplace topics stoke more emotion, debate, and controversy than “return-to-office.” To some, employers asking their people to work in an office is an affront to personal autonomy and an encroachment on workers who are doing fine at home.
Return-to-office mandates have become yet another source of chaos and division in the workplace, but Christians have an opportunity to respond differently. As a believer navigating the same upheaval, I’ve arrived at three conclusions about how our faith can shape the way we handle this shift.
1. It’s not wrong for your boss to ask you to come to the office.
Working in an office is an amoral proposition; it’s not right or wrong. It is possible to honor God with your work in a cubicle as well as your spare bedroom. This used to be uncontroversial.
Before the pandemic, we took for granted that employers had a right to require employees to be in office. That right didn’t go away, even if our lives look different now. Like many, my situation has changed since the pandemic. When we went into lockdown in 2020, I had no kids. Returning to primarily in-person work will make my life more complicated, but that doesn't make it wrong.
On the surface, submitting to authority seems passive, but in today’s authority-skeptical culture, it’s actually counter-cultural.
Many people are trying to subvert the return to office. A 2023 survey found that 63% of millennials admitted to “coffee badging,” where employees swipe their badge to fulfill the attendance requirement, and then leave.
In multiple places in scripture, believers are instructed to submit to the secular authorities (1 Peter 2:13-17, Romans 13:1-7). This includes our workplace leaders. Doing so honors them and the Lord, and is good for your conscience.
Instead of being divisive or dishonest, Christians across corporate America can be workplace witnesses by demonstrating integrity and following the rules.
2. You have choices, though maybe not the ones you want.
It was important for me to realize that I was not really being forced to do anything. My company sets out expectations, and as an at-will employee, I have the choice to accept them. This kind of decision-making happens all the time.
Church workers are expected to work on Sundays. Servers are expected to work long hours, late into the evenings. Nurses are often expected to work 12-hour shifts. We don’t talk about these people as being “forced,” but rather as accepting the duties of the job. If you want that job, you accept those duties.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had to evaluate job duties carefully. One summer home from college, I got an offer to work the overnight shift at a sleep clinic. In my first trial shift, I stayed up all night watching people sleep and quickly learned that those duties did not suit me. I declined the offer.
It might seem minor to reframe the conversation from “my company is making me” to “people at my company are expected to,” but doing so highlights the agency that you have.
I’m not saying it wouldn't be painful, costly, or risky to leave a job. But leaving a stable job to prioritize family is a dramatically counter-cultural decision.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus points out that while the culture seeks material comforts, God’s people have different priorities.
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matt 6:31-33.
Christians have a source of stability that the world does not, so we can step out in faith with a boldness not driven by fear, but rooted in a fundamental security that comes from the Lord. When considering return-to-office, we have the opportunity to weigh multiple factors and make a decision. Either choice can be a witness to the watching world.
3. Working in the office might actually be better
For the first 2 years, I loved working from home full-time. I was hunkered down with my wife and new baby. But over time, I noticed my effectiveness declining. As my family grew, it became harder to stay focused at home, even with a dedicated home office. I developed a habit of logging back in at night and working late into the evening.
My workplace relationships suffered as well. While it was easy to connect with old colleagues over video calls, building new relationships felt nearly impossible, and I missed out on the serendipitous conversations that happen in a workplace full of interesting and smart people. Without realizing it, I was becoming complacent, discounting my need for community.
We are made in the image of a communal God, and being around other people is good for our souls. Christians understand the value of community both theologically and practically. Church leaders were calling their parishioners back from isolation and virtual Church long before companies started issuing their return to office policies. Just as churches recognize the value of physical presence and community, many companies are doing the same.
Despite a few drawbacks, the benefits of returning to the office 3 days a week have been significant. It’s easier to stay focused and balanced, even on days I work from home. I have more spontaneous coffee chats with coworkers, and the 20-minute commute has given me space to pray and listen to music and audiobooks.
For some, working from home all the time is the best choice. For others (including myself), we should consider the benefits of in-office work, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with friends and colleagues.
Practical next steps
If your company is experiencing return-to-office strife, you have a great opportunity to reflect Christ in your workplace. Here are three practical steps you can take to navigate the situation well.
- If the decision has not yet been made, it’s important to voice your opinion respectfully and gracefully. When our executives were finalizing their plans, I wrote a proposal with my recommendations for a return-to-office program. In the end, the decision was theirs, but they welcomed genuine ideas to help them achieve the goals they have for our company.
- If you stay, be all in. Once the decision is made, it’s time to “disagree and commit.” Strive for peace in your workplace. No complaining or arguing (Phil. 2:14-15). Be an example to others (1 Thess. 4:11-12). Demonstrate integrity by upholding not just the letter of the law, but also the spirit of the guidelines. In doing so, you set a powerful example for your colleagues.
- If you need to leave, exit graciously. Some people need to work from home for health reasons or for family or church obligations. There is nothing wrong with that. If your employer is calling you back, you may have to seek employment elsewhere. When that day comes, step away with humility and grace.
Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase famously issued a letter to his employees stating that his firm would not fall prey to political debate and infighting. “I want Coinbase to be laser-focused on achieving its mission,” he wrote, “because I believe that this is the way that we can have the biggest impact on the world.” Armstrong’s focus on mission serves as a reminder to Christians that we, too, are called to a higher purpose at work.
Your mission as a follower of Christ is to work for God’s glory and for the good of others, both outside and inside the office. Don’t get distracted. Remember your mission.
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