Good public relations is centered on protecting your reputation, whether the you in this sentence is an individual, company, or organization. Protecting your reputation often comes down to doing the right thing both in public and when no one is watching.
Many companies are still maneuvering through the ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is fair to say it may be a decade or more before we know the full extent of how the pandemic changed our lives.
Currently, employers and business owners are trying to manage the long term implications of work from home policies. These policies were put in place for public health reasons, but have become so popular many employees are refusing to return to the office.
The growing conflict between businesses and their employees over this issue is bound to produce a call for legislation both at the state and federal level. Some jurisdictions have already begun to try to put in place regulations that tend to favor flexibility on behalf of employees over the requirements of business. This result is politically logical. Unlike businesses, workers vote on Election Day. Naturally, political leaders make policy aimed at attracting votes.
With this is mind it is smart for business leaders to begin making fair and reasonable work at home policies on their own as a way to maintain their reputation as good corporate citizens and avoid the rush by political leaders to create policy that favors employees over the practical needs of the business world.
It is a do the right thing now, or face uncertain consequences moment for the business world.
Bottom Line: Anticipate the instinct of government leaders to create policy on work from home rules and rights. Act now to do the right thing on your terms to avoid a crisis of public relations and practicality in the years to come.