As businesses begin to reopen, organizations are putting together task forces to consider measures to ensure the health and safety of their returning workforces-phased-in returns to the workplace and social distancing, these are essential items to discuss.

What must be an essential part of the conversation is the work from home option? I am not referring to polices here, but more along how the culture of organizations and their leaders will — — is the “option” to work from home. I am not talking about the policy here — — more the cultural implications. Although the last few months have opened the eyes of many work from home “holdouts,” there is still a barrier to overcome. Those same leaders who return to the office must be even more intentional in making sure people are comfortable with that choice. Here is a sampling of the most frequent questions/ concerns I am hearing:

• “If my boss and my other teammates are in, what does it say about me if I primarily chose to work from home?
• “How do I know that it is “really” ok?”
• “Will I be left out?”
• “Will this set me back?”

The old saying of “out of sight, out of mind” can become more critical than ever.

What do you think? What is the best way to address this? Please reply and share your thoughts!