Re-imagining Work

Just a couple of months ago, many businesses were excitedly announcing the reopening of their offices, and encouraging — or even requiring — workers to come back in. But now, as Bloomberg put it, surging Delta cases have reversed “the world’s march back to the office.” The increase in Covid cases, serious illnesses and deaths, driven overwhelmingly by unvaccinated people, has led businesses to put off those plans. Some, including Google, are extending their work from home policies into 2022.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many 20-somethings have found themselves doing something they didn’t expect: living with their parents again. As of June, nearly 3 million adults had moved “back home,” according to a Zillow survey. This can lead to challenges and complicated dynamics. There are “issues of independence, privacy and housekeeping to navigate,” the New York Times reported.