Many American workers have been called back to the office after teleworking for months due to COVID-19. It is not always easy to go back after spending so long in a different environment. Work just feels different in an office environment. Employers and employees will need to adjust to the new reality that will likely be with us for some time. Things will most certainly be different when you are back at work. Here are four tips for navigating the post-COVID return to the office.

Thoroughly Review Your Company's Procedures

Chances are that your company has extensively thought out safety procedures to protect workers when they return to the office. They have had months to think about ways to protect their workers and do not want to be responsible for their employees being sickened on the job.

Towards that end, your company has probably laid out numerous measures for its employees to follow for their own protection when they get back to work. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the precautions at work that your employer wants you to take. Preferably, this should be done before you return to the office so you know the rules on the first day you are back.

Make sure that you follow your employer's rules, even if they feel that they encroach on your own prerogatives. You do not want to be the person who needs to be talked to about not observing procedures. Your employer will be rightfully focused on safety, and this is not a time to draw attention to yourself by failing to follow protocols.

Respect the Other Employees' Wishes

Your fellow employees may be very nervous about their own safety during this time. You never quite know someone's personal situation, either with their own health or the condition of their loved ones. Either way, they may be hesitant and tentative when they get back to work out of fear.

Even if the conduct is not against your company's rules, your coworkers may want to keep even more distance than usual. They may also be afraid of any kind of meeting in the office. You should take your cues from your coworker and only do things with which they are comfortable. If they want to keep their distance, recognize that it is not personal.

If your fellow employee says something, make sure to respect what they have to say, even if you feel that they are rebuking you. Everyone is under considerable stress right now and will be until the threat from COVID-19 goes away.

Don't Expect Everything to Be Instantly Normal

The workplace that you left is not the same one that you are returning to in many ways. Your coworkers may have changed after the experience of the pandemic. In addition, your physical office may be different as the employer has instituted safety measures to promote distancing.

If it feels like you have returned to a different workplace, you are right. It will take a long time for things to return to the way that they were in the pre-COVID-19 world if they ever do. Beyond the physical measures that your employer takes, many companies have begun to engage in a top-down review of what the work environment should be like going forward. This may take some time to get used to, so if your office seems like a version of "The Twilight Zone" on your first day back, you are not alone. Just make sure to adjust your expectations accordingly when you go back to work.

Communicate with Your Supervisor

Your life may have changed in the time that you were away from the office. You may have had a loved one who got COVID-19, or you could have gotten sick yourself. Moreover, you could have different needs because your children do not have the same school schedule in the coming academic year.

Whatever has changed in your life, you should have a conversation with your supervisor to let them know what your needs are and how you can square them with your work responsibilities. When in doubt, let your boss know what is going on so they do not have to guess. This could help you get the flexibility that you need from your employer to deal with the effects of the pandemic on your household. A little communication can go a long way.