In 2020, many Kansas companies suddenly required employees to work from home. The local Net Pay Advance team was impacted as well. Now, the team is returning to the office and finding a new norm.
Wichita, United States - July 20, 2021 /PressCable/ —
There are several familiar faces at Net Pay Advance Inc. Recently, the Kansas personal loan provider welcomed the entire team back to the office.
2020 was an unusual year. No one could have anticipated that millions of workers around the world would be forced to work from home.
Before the pandemic, most working Americans spent a majority of their day in a traditional office setting. With the focus on safety, many companies required employees to work from home starting in March 2020. These changes impacted many Kansas workers as well, including the local team at Net Pay Advance.
With the release and distribution of vaccines, some companies have started the process of bringing their team back to the office. Some companies are currently planning a return. Others are bringing their team back group-by-group. Even more know that remote work will become a part of their new norm.
The Net Pay Advance team made the decision to invite back the full team for the month. With the return, there’s been a focus on community building and teamwork.
The company celebrated the return of the team with a barbeque party. When asked about the festivities, the company owner, Brian Staver, had this to say, “We’re so excited to have the team back in the office. We’re focused on building up our team’s connections again. What better way to start that than with a party? It gives the team time to catch up.”
Catching up has been beneficial for the team. It’s the same office the team was located in when the pandemic started. But for those that were working from home for over the last year, returning can be a big change. When many people in a group have similar experiences, it can help unify the team. Ultimately, it’s similarities and shared experiences that bring humans together.
It’s true that many teammates in the office are catching up and chatting with familiar faces. But there are a few new faces as well.
A year is a long time. Over the last 15 months, teammates have left, and teammates have joined. For some, this is the first time they’ve ever seen their coworkers face-to-face. Jason Largent, the Director of Operations, explains that, “although some teams have been working together for over 6 months, this may be the first time they’re meeting their coworkers in person… It’s a unique and exciting experience for sure.”
The Net Pay Advance team is a friendly one. The new additions to the office have felt right at home now that everyone is back. Within the first week, the team was back to their usual lunch break routine – watching TV together and playing video games. Even the new hires got in on the game.
“We believe in the ‘work hard play hard’ [motto],” explains IT Support Specialist, Rashaad Newhouse, “It’s not uncommon for us to bring out a Nintendo Switch to play Mario Kart during a lunch break.”
Returning to the office has provided other opportunities for the Net Pay Advance team. They’re seeing more work/life balance and feeling more refreshed at the start of the day. “Although I loved working from home,” explains Web UI/UX Designer, Shayla Nguyen, “I’m glad to have my work and home life separated again. My ‘work desk’ was my bedroom. I didn’t really get the feeling of leaving work even when I was off the clock.”
Some teammates have enjoyed being back at the office. Nguyen notes that returning to the office has done wonders for her productivity. She shares, “I feel like my work performance has improved since returning. It’s nice to see my co-workers! Celebrating our victories, accomplishments, birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays just isn’t the same when it’s done online.”
As with any change, there’s been a few bumps and bruises. Some teammates have mentioned that they miss working from home. They miss the convenience of working where they live. They miss the comfort of being surrounded by their family and pets. Most of all, they miss being able to skip the commute and avoid traffic. “I miss not being able to wake up 20 min before work starts,” explains Newhouse, “but I do like being back and having actual interactions with coworkers.”
Even with the changes, the Net Pay Advance building feels alive and bustling with activity again. Most employees would agree that they’re focused on being cautious and following health and safety best practices. But the company still tries to accommodate to individual’s unique needs and preferences.
2020 was an unusual year. And although 2021 seems more ‘normal’ than 2020, it’s still far different from other years.
A direct quote from Accounting Manager, Debbie Hehemann, sums it up the best:
My life has been impacted in a very significant way by this past year’s experiences. I’ve been given an understanding of the world we live in and have gained a new appreciation for so many things I used to take for granted, like being able to come to work. I’m very fortunate to have a job that’s considered an essential service and to work for a company that is so accommodating to everyone’s individual needs and preferences. So many people I know couldn’t work at all, much less from home. Knowing that what I do for a living is that important speaks volumes to me about the future of our organization.
Net Pay Advance is a personal loan provider that has been helping provide consumers with financial resources, for over 13 years. The team helps consumers when unexpected expenses arise.
Life is constantly changing. There’s always something new, unexpected, or unknow. For a company that helps customers cover the unexpected, the team now finds itself experiencing a little bit of the unknown.
Returning to the office can be strange. Working together though, the team is building connections in the office and finding comfort in returning.
Contact Info:
Name: Ariel Burress
Email: Send Email
Organization: Net Pay Advance, Inc.
Address: 6820 W Central Avenue, Wichita, Kansas 67212, United States
Website: https://www.netpayadvance.com
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89037133
