Reflections on the Impacts of Teleworking from a Biblical Worldview

(Note: This article was published on the Coram Deo blog.)

Dr. Grant Howard, one of my favorite seminary professors from Western Seminary, taught that you can start with a portion of God’s word and apply it to a variety of issues. Or, you can start with a small slice of life and then go to God’s word in a variety of places to find relevant truth.

I ran into an article someone posted on social media a couple of weeks ago that grabbed my heart and head. I wanted to tackle this topic from a biblical, theological, and practical perspective and reflect a bit deeper on the long-term impacts of teleworking on employees and employers.

Let me summarize some of the fascinating data points, observations, and implications I took away from this article written by Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, who is an expert on returning to the office and leading hybrid teams after the pandemic. This piece was published on Forbes, and is entitled, “Workers Are Less Productive Working Remotely (At Least That’s What Their Bosses Think).”

Article summary

This discussion was eye-opening. It stated that Microsoft released a new study that concluded that over 80% of leaders said that the “shift to hybrid work has made it challenging to have confidence that employees are being productive.” As a result, “50% of the bosses of knowledge workers intend to force them into the office by Spring 2023.” Why? Nearly half of managers of hybrid workers “struggle to trust their employees to do their best work.” This lack of trust seems to be especially felt by traditional, older managers (age 50-60), which I did not find at all surprising.

This common fear by managers is in spite of years of research since the pandemic, which has consistently shown that remote work improved productivity. One study among call center employees indicated that “work from home resulted in a 13% performance increase, due to a combination of fewer sick days, and a quieter and more convenient work environment. Those working from home had a 50% lower attrition rate.” Other studies assessed it at 5-7%.

However, this concern about the lack of productivity at home ignores data about workplace behavior. The author asks, “are workers all that productive in the office? Studies show that in-office employees only work between 36% and 39% of the time.” What does he believe workers are doing instead? He speculates that they are shopping on Amazon and checking social media.

Additionally, the phrase, “out of sight, out of mind” has a real impact on employee evaluations and promotions, which was not surprising to me. It was reported that “researchers found that remote employees who work just as hard and just as long as those in the office in similar jobs end up getting lower performance evaluations, decreased raises, and less promotions.”

The author credits the Harvard Business Review with their assessment that “leaders are trained to evaluate employees based on ‘facetime.’ Those who come early and leave late are perceived and assessed as more productive.” This due in part to “proximity bias,” which they define as a mental blind spot that causes managers to “have an unfair preference for and higher ratings of employees who come to the office, compared to those who work remotely, even if the remote workers show higher productivity.” He adds, “The face-to-face interactions between managers and employees lead to managers having more positive impressions of these employees.”

Dr. Tsipursky advises, “To succeed in our increasingly hybrid and remote future will require retraining managers in evaluating performance and addressing proximity bias. Companies will have to teach them to trust the data over their own gut reactions. They’ll also have to learn a new approach to performance evaluations, one customized to hybrid and remote work.”

This article has several relevant implications that should be of interest to Christian employers and workers: How do we build trust between employers and employees who work remotely? How do workers maintain a culture of dedication and productivity, whether absent or present? How can employers ensure fairness between those who work in person and those who work remotely?

Building trust between employer and employee

This article highlighted the lack of trust between employer and employee. When I worked virtually for several months, this was my biggest challenge. The best part of the experience was not seeing my boss all the time. The worst part was not seeing her often enough. There was a lack of trust on her part. She could not see what I was working on and assumed I had time to do extra projects.

In the OT Scriptures, the way of wisdom included the importance of submission to one’s boss. In Prov. 10:26, we read that a lazy employee is an irritation to his supervisor. Later, we learn that a trustworthy employee brings refreshment to his boss (Prov. 25:13). It would seem from reading these verses that the burden is on the worker to show their diligence and trustworthiness.

In a virtual or hybrid work environment, it is critical when both employer and employee are “out of sight, out of mind” to be intentional on scheduling regular opportunities to communicate to eliminate any doubts in the employer’s mind that the employee is worthy of his or her trust.

Building a culture of dedication

The statistic cited above where office employees only worked “between 36% and 39% of the time” was astounding to me. I cannot imagine this percentage would be applicable to many other fields of work outside an office. Every job has its share of down time. However, if folks are working less than 40% of the time, that indicates systemic laziness, which Christian workers should avoid.

In two of the Apostle Paul’s letters, standard expectations for employees are raised to a higher level, as Christians know who it is they ultimately work for. In Eph. 6:5-8, we read, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.” He expresses something very similar in Col. 3:22-24.

The Theology of Work Bible Commentary explains, “Paul reminds slaves that their work is to be done in integrity in the presence of God, who is their real master. . . Slaves are to work ‘fearing the Lord’ (Col. 3:22) because ‘you serve the Lord Christ’ (Col. 3:24).” They conclude, “Paul reminds us that the Ultimate Boss is always watching and that reality leads us to work in ‘sincerity of heart,’ not putting on a show for management, but genuinely working at the tasks set before us.” 

When I worked from home for a bit three years ago, I knew God was present in my new workspace. It did not matter where I worked or who was watching me; I was working as unto the Lord.

Ensuring fairness between in-person and remote workers

It is easy to understand how employers would naturally lean towards giving better evaluations and might choose those employees whom they see in person as being better suited for a promotion.

However, if hybrid or virtual work is going to continue, and all indications tell us that it will, employers are going to have to adapt to new ways of communicating to ensure that equal time and attention is given to all employees, whether they are sitting in the office with us or on a Zoom call.

Perhaps, the commandment to love our neighbor that Jesus said was on equal footing with loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength might be applicable for the Christian employer. For the Apostle Paul, much of his teaching to the neighbors he poured his life into was virtual. He longed to see them face to face (1 Thes. 3:10), but he had to be content to exhort them through letter writing. The Apostle John felt the same way. (See 2 John 12.)

Where do we go from here?

I trust that both Christian employers and employees have been confronted with some new thoughts that can be translated into good habits in this hybrid work environment. If we continue to serve our employees, submit to our bosses, and work wholeheartedly for the Lord, we will bless others.

(Note: I invite you to read previous articles I wrote about my experiences with teleworking during the pandemic here and returning to the office after a season of teleworking here.)

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 42 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping people with ordinary jobs experience God’s presence at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and has worked for 15 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 200 articles on faith and work topics. Over one hundred of these have been published or posted on several Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See complete list of published articles on Linktree.)

Graduating into a New Work Environment

(Note this article was written for and published on the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics blog.)

It’s graduation time again.  After a long four- or five-year struggle (or longer), much of which was unexpectedly accomplished virtually, college students will finally come to the end of their academic journey and receive those coveted bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees.  Now what?

I was asked to consider writing an article from a biblical viewpoint that is addressed to new college graduates who are entering a radically changed work environment, one that has been altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic that we have experienced for the past 15 months.  I have a positive message that is grounded in biblical truth and orthodox theology, and will offer some practical suggestions.

What is new?

This COVID-19 environment in which we find ourselves has brought drastic changes to the workplace.  College seniors have traditionally counted on large face-to-face job fairs.  However, most of these have been cancelled.  This has caused an almost exclusive use of technology-based job searches followed by video-teleconference job interviews.  Job offers often include 100% teleworking or hybrid schedules. 

To illustrate one of the radical changes that may be here for a while is “Zoom towns”.  I just read that some employees who work virtually are choosing to live where they want to, instead of having to live close to their job.  Some workers are even taking their families to resort towns or vacation spots.

When I graduated from college a number of decades ago and entered into my chosen field of math education, I did not need to learn how to teach high school students over Zoom.  Now, college graduates from nearly every field of study from art, business, architecture, engineering, research, medicine, advertising, marketing, finance, among many others, may not have the luxury of working on a daily basis in a physical workplace alongside their boss, their coworkers, or their subordinates.  

What new skills do I need to succeed?

In response to the many changes to the work environment that I listed above, you will need to develop some essential skills to survive and thrive.  Let me offer three practical suggestions:

• Be flexible.  Don’t be surprised by job offers where you will work in a virtual or hybrid situation; you may not have to relocate, so you will have to decide where to live.
• Be independent.  You may be required to engage supervisors, coworkers, and clients in a virtual-only environment much of the time, and get still get projects done on time.
• Be fluent.  Develop competency in seamlessly using a variety of different forms of communication as required of your employer: written, verbal, face-to-face, and virtual.

What has not changed?

Even though there are many aspects of the work environment that have changed since COVID-19, some permanently, I would be remiss if I did not remind new graduates of what has not changed. 

God has not changed.  (See Ps. 55:19.)  His eternal attributes as revealed throughout Scripture, such as His presence, mercy, grace, and sovereignty, when properly understood, will greatly impact our view of work.  We read in Heb. 13:8, “Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  When we keep in mind how God is always present and in control of our circumstances, we can get through any trial.

Throughout Ps. 107, we see God’s people stressed out by changes to the work environment.  Some were looking for work.  They wandered in the desert (vv. 4-5).  God delivered them by providing for their needs in His unfailing love (vv. 6-9).  Others made their living on the water.  Storms at sea brought fears of losing personnel, boats, and goods (vv. 23-27).  God delivered them by stilling the storm and bringing them to shore (vv. 28-32).  In spite of these difficult situations that were beyond their control, God’s never-changing covenant love, faithfulness, and protection got them through.

How can I work as unto the Lord in this environment?

Here are three appropriate biblical/theological responses to God’s unchanging attributes:

• Learn to rest in God’s presence as you work as unto Him.  Know that He will place you where He needs you to be at just the right time, in order to glorify Himself and meet your needs.
• Develop a vision for how God can use the skills He gave you in the workplace.  As you work in His presence, He will work with, in, and through you to meet the full spectrum of human needs.
• Resolve to pursue relationships with other Christians and nonbelievers on your team, even if they are far away.  Your boss, coworkers, and customers all have needs that you can meet.

The last bullet is an important point.  Building a virtual network of coworkers will be a challenge without having the opportunity to grab a bite to eat at lunch or after work.  The Apostle Paul struggled with working virtually. He writes to his clients who are geographically dispersed, “For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is” (Col. 2:5). The Apostle John was also frustrated by the limitations of working virtually as he taught the church; see 3 John 13-14.

You will have to be intentional to get to know people better as opportunities are available.  As you do so, God will open doors for you be able to love your neighbor in a number of practical ways.

I also strongly encourage you to be intentional to develop close relationships with more mature Christians in a local church wherever you settle, who can help keep you grounded in your faith.

I trust that some of these biblical and practical ideas will be an encouragement to those who need it.  Looking for and finding a rewarding career after graduation will always be a spiritual journey for the Christian.  It is in times like these, even in a pandemic, that we learn for ourselves that God is faithful.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 40 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is an ordinary man who is passionate about helping other ordinary people experience God’s presence and integrate their Christian faith at work. He received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth pastor. After serving 20 years on active duty, Russ now works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. More than 60 articles posted on this blog have been published over 120 times on numerous Christian organization’s websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, 4Word Women, Acton Institute, and The Gospel Coalition.

Where is the Water Cooler in a Virtual Work Environment?

(Note: This article was posted on the Coram Deo blog and the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics blog.)

Saturday, I got a phone call out of the blue from an old friend that I hadn’t seen for 20 years.  Matt was one of the high school ministry volunteers when I was a church youth director in the mid-80s.

The radio station where he works as a producer had recently undergone some restructuring.  He was given an exciting new role, to work virtually with a group of people he has not met from around the country.  He was no longer going to be around the folks he has worked with for over thirty years. 

My good friend had a theology of work related question for me.  He wanted to know, “How do I glorify God and make Christ known when I only have contact with people via phone and video?”

Interpersonal communication around the water cooler

Back in the day, there was a water cooler in a central location in an office space.  There was a big clear jug full of purified water that sat upside down on a stand that had a blue lever used to fill a paper cup that was provided in a silver tube attached to the side.  This was before everyone started bringing their own water bottles to work.  It was a place of social interaction as workers took a short break from their duties.  It was where we caught up with what was going on in people’s lives.

Those in other career fields who do not work in an office environment have often found similar places to take a break such as the back of a pickup truck, at the lunch room, or sitting under a tree.

For the Christian, this place of informal communication provides an opportunity to get a glimpse into a coworker’s struggles at home.  It is there, when the boss isn’t around and we can just freely chat for a bit, that we learn about their marriage difficulties, their child’s cancer, or financial woes.  This then becomes a chance to love our neighbor by listening to them and offering to pray for them.

Loving our neighbor virtually

How do we do this when we work from home, and our co-workers are across the country?

I have to admit.  As I have teleworked myself off and on for seven of the past twelve months, it is much harder for me to find a moment to ask people how they are doing and to give them the time needed to listen as they open up, showing genuine compassion and concern as we are called to do.

Jesus said that what He wants from us is just two things: love God, and love our neighbor.  And so, we have to be intentional to pursue relationships with those that God has placed in our midst, even if they are 1,000 miles away, and our interactions are limited to phone calls, emails, or video chats.

My friend provided a great illustration of recent video chat with a client who was a young mother.  When he contacted her to answer some technical questions about a project she was working on, he found her with a restless two-year old on her lap.  She desperately tried to focus on the issues at hand, but it was too difficult.  At that point, all my friend could do was to offer some understanding as a father himself about the needs of toddlers and speak compassionate words to her as a Christian.

Even without the proverbial water cooler, there will always be opportunities to minister to our co-workers, customers, and supervisors in a virtual environment.  We just have to open our eyes.

Tackling projects as unto the Lord

In most jobs, you can place responsibilities into two bins: people and projects.  Some workers deal with one more than the other, but most of us do a little of both.  In the same way that our ministry with people is still a priority, although the way we do it is different in a virtual environment, the projects we are given are also top priorities, although the way that we do them may be different.

In Matt’s case, I emphasized that even though his responsibilities were going to change in many ways in his isolated virtual office space, I believe there are still just as many opportunities to “work as unto the Lord” on behind-the-scenes projects as there was in an actual office.  In his case, his client base has been expanded exponentially.  He was producing radio advertisements for his local station.  In his new job, he will be coordinating creative production efforts on a national scale.

Doing projects from a home office has its own rewards and challenges.  On the one hand, you are away from the distractions of people popping in to your office occasionally.  On the other hand, it can be more difficult to get the guidance you need from superiors and help from subordinates.

The apostles as virtual workers

In previous articles I have written on teleworking (click here and here), it never occurred to me to highlight the work of the Apostle Paul.  He spent much of his ministry as a New Testament epistle writer in a virtual work environment.  He was not physically with those churches.  He wrote his letters to church leaders while he was in prison, teaching his clients and coworkers via snail mail. 

The Apostle John, another writer of NT epistles, expresses some of his internal conflict with being limited to virtual means of communication.  He wrote, “I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink.  Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete” (2 John 12).  I totally get it.  There is just no substitute for physically being there.

Closing challenge

So, how can we glorify God in a purely virtual environment?  We do it in the same manner we have always done it.  We keep looking for ways to love our neighbor and work heartily as unto the Lord.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 40 years, father of three, grandfather of four, and author of Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is an ordinary man who is passionate about helping other ordinary people experience God’s presence and integrate their Christian faith at work. He received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth pastor. After serving 20 years on active duty, Russ now works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. More than 50 articles posted on this blog have been published 110 times on numerous Christian organization’s websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, 4Word Women, Acton Institute, and The Gospel Coalition.

How Can I Best Manage my Teleworking Team?

(Note: This article was written for and published by The Gospel Coalition. It was later posted on the Coram Deo blog.) 

I’m used to managing my team face-to-face. But now we all work from home. I know some of my employees are putting in less time, since they have a lot of family pressure (like homeschooling kids and taking care of babies) they didn’t have before.  Others are alone, and seem to be working a lot more hours than they probably should.  I am praying for each one of them.  I want to be generous but also fair.  How can I figure out how each team member is doing without being too intrusive?  How can I figure out reasonable expectations for them?  And how can I balance the employee that’s putting in too much time and the one putting in too little?

I totally get it!  Teleworking is not as easy as it sounds.  I recently went back to the office after teleworking from home for four and a half months, and it was way different than I expected.

I do want to commend you as a manager for desiring to treat everyone on the team fairly and deal with them as individuals with different needs and challenges. A good manager knows his or her team members well.  Prov. 27:23 teaches, “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.”   I also applaud your commitment to pray for your team members.

Let me share a few of my own experiences, some successes and some failures, in managing my own employees from 30 miles away from the office.  I also want to highlight several biblical principles that may be applicable to situations like this.  Perhaps I can also share some wisdom as you move forward and attempt to navigate through these rough waters.  God’s grace is always sufficient!

My teleworking experience

Despite the many ways to communicate, including email, text, phone calls, and video chat, it was sometimes difficult to keep in touch with my employees on a daily basis.  “Out of sight, out of mind” was something we all struggled with.  I seem to recall hearing or reading somewhere that it was the employee’s responsibility to check in, but I felt like it was my lane to be intentional to check on them to ensure they were okay.  I am not sure we laid out expectations clearly from the start.  I missed the daily face-to-face informal interactions with my team that we had in the office. 

I also learned that teleworking took more discipline to stay focused on projects and to manage my time well as I worked from home.  This was my daily struggle, so I knew it was difficult for my employees also.  This was especially hard for those who had children or spouses at home.  In our empty next, my wife worked hard to not be a distraction to my work, which I truly appreciated. 

Biblical principles regarding work

There are some biblical principles that apply to your situation as a manager of employees who are working remotely, some who work diligently and others who may truly want to work hard but are distracted with family responsibilities.  Let me highlight a few passages that might be helpful.

Proverbs is full of wisdom for the workplace, as its purpose is to give wisdom for life.  Proverbs 22:29 instructs us that a man or woman who is skilled in his or her work will eventually go far in life.  Proverbs 27:18 highlights the general principle of sowing and reaping: “He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.”  These verses should reinforce your goal as a manager to develop character qualities such as consistency, diligence, faithfulness, and loyalty in all your employees, which will be a benefit to all concerned.

For your employees who were forced to work and attend children at the same time by the sudden quarantine, school kids sent home, or loss of childcare facilities and sitters, I am afraid there are no easy solutions.  Biblically, we know that a parent bringing up children is a blessing and is a huge responsibility.  (See Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4.)  Many of these workers have no choice but to work both full-time jobs simultaneously.  You are correct that these workers need some consideration. 

With these biblical principles in mind, I encourage you to continue to motivate your dedicated employees to work hard, but to not overdo it.  They should not feel like they need to work more hours than is normally required because the lines between work and home are blurred.  I encourage you to guide all workers to strive to maintain balance between work and family responsibilities. 

Practical wisdom to guide you

So, what do I recommend to creatively address your valid concerns above?

Spend some time with those employees who are struggling to take care of children while also trying to work.  Help them to assess what they are doing to balance their work and family responsibilities.  They need to figure out how to put in an honest day’s work for a full day’s pay. 

If what they have been doing is not giving them eight hours of focused work time every day, you might suggest that they design a schedule that allows them some flexibility in their work hours.  Maybe they are more productive when the kids are in bed.  If their spouse is teleworking also, they could take turns with the children to carve out a couple of hours of uninterrupted time throughout the day.  If they are single parents, they might need to consider some part-time child care in their home during the day.

It is a challenge to confront employees when they are not right in front of you. However, asking for occasional updates on projects is a reasonable expectation for a manager.  Discuss their priorities at the beginning of the week and then evaluate their progress at the end of the week. 

You need some feedback to be able to hold them accountable, to ensure they are producing on schedule, and remain value-added to your organization.  You might have them write weekly progress reports, if that seems less intrusive.  If you had not already done so, set clear standards for hours worked and when employees need to check in.  Enforce them consistently, and be prepared to modify them as needed. 

Your compassionate yet firm guidance as a manager who is managing “as unto the Lord” will set them up for success and will increase the probability of productivity in your own organization.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 39 years, father of three, grandfather of four, and author of Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is an ordinary man who is passionate about helping other ordinary people experience God’s presence and integrate their Christian faith at work. He received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015.  He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth pastor. After serving 20 years on active duty, Russ now works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  More than 50 articles posted on this blog have been published 100 times on numerous Christian organization’s websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, 4Word Women, Acton Institute, and The Gospel Coalition.

Returning to the Office after Months of Telework

At 0630 last Monday morning, I was feeling a bit sad.  It was time to dismantle and depart my home office so that I could arrive at my regular office at 0730 to begin hooking my computer back up.  Let me reflect a bit on my experience as I returned to the office after four-and-a-half months of telework.  (I invite you to read my previous article where I shared my initial reflections on teleworking.)

Looking backwards

Here what I had enjoyed (or learned to enjoy) while on telework from mid-March to the end of July:

• I enjoyed sleeping in an extra half-hour in the morning; I did not miss my 45-minute commute to work each way, and I was way less fatigued at the end of the day
• I loved making the quick switch on my desk from dedicated government workstation to personal computer in about 30 seconds at the end of the workday, being able to step into the living room, and say to my wife, “Hi, honey, I’m home!”
• I enjoyed seeing my wife often throughout the day; I appreciated her always giving me space during work hours and for praying for me when I was experiencing thorns and thistles
• I grew professionally as I adapted to using a variety of platforms for personal and group communication and collaboration, such as video teleconferences and Microsoft Teams
• I continued to experience God’s presence at work during this often stressful and ever-changing environment
• I had the freedom to decide how to execute my responsibilities throughout the day

Here is what I found challenging or frustrating while teleworking:

• I had too much freedom to decide how to execute my responsibilities throughout the day; there were many days I did not get much direct guidance from my boss
• There was little opportunity to be able to speak face-to-face when that means of communication was the most appropriate one to use
• Although some of my normal work responsibilities were no longer necessary during the pandemic (i.e., managing VIP visits and tours), there were many new and difficult tasks to replace them

Here is what I had missed and truly appreciated when I came back to the office last week:

• Seeing people’s faces and sharing a workspace with a team
• An opportunity to listen to Focus on the Family on the way in to work every day from 0700-0730 and catching up on podcasts on the way home
• The opportunity to fellowship spontaneously with a brother or sister in Christ (as I did on Wednesday afternoon) through accidentally bumping into folks down the hall, also known more biblically as divine appointments.

Looking forward

Here is what I find challenging about the “new normal” at the U.S. Army post where I serve:

• Wearing a mask every time I leave my office
• Walking by a water fountain while wearing a mask and not getting a drink
• Trying to figure out the right mix of actual meetings versus virtual meetings
• The uncertainty when chapel services and programs will return to what they once were; i.e., with childcare so that young families can attend, not having to wear masks

Despite my somewhat light-hearted observations about my own experiences during my season of teleworking, I am sensitive to and aware of the fact that there are millions of workers whose lives were severely upended due to the pandemic.  There has not been any change to their routines yet.  Many of them are still looking for work, waiting for their businesses to reopen, or will continue to work from home indefinitely.  Many parents of school-age children are still wondering what the school year will look like and their kids’ teachers are anxious about what their local school boards are going to decide.  Those of us who have faith in a loving, merciful, faithful, and unchanging God need to pray for healing and safety as we all attempt to move cautiously forward into this new normal.

Looking upward

It is my belief that much of the turmoil from this extended pandemic season is a clear manifestation of God’s curse on the labor of both men and women that we find in Gen. 3:16-19 due to Adam’s sin.  Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, in their book, When Helping Hurts shed some light on the full extent of the curse on work.  They explain, “The curse is cosmic in scope, bringing decay, brokenness, and death to every speck of the universe.”  They also remind us that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection makes everything right in creation, which is what we sing at Christmastime in the carol “Joy to the World” – “He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.”  Although the work environment itself may be cursed for now, we know that we are not cursed.

Finally, let me add a personal word of encouragement.  I think that these uncertain times have given us a chance to learn to be content in all circumstances.  As Christ-following employees who are in-but-not-of-the-world, we need to be adaptable as we discern how we can best serve our bosses, coworkers, subordinates, and customers in whatever environments we have been placed.  We know without a doubt in our renewed minds that we can do all things we are called to do through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ who strengthens you and I every day.  (See Phil. 4:11-13.)

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein is a Christian, husband of 39 years, father of three, grandfather of four, and author of Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018.  He received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.  He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth pastor. After serving 20 years on active duty, Russ now works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  Nearly 50 articles posted on this blog have been published on several Christian organization’s blogs or websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, 4Word Women, Acton Institute, and The Gospel Coalition.

Reflections on Teleworking

(Note: This article was published on the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics blog, Intersect Project blog, 4Word Women blog, and the Coram Deo blog.  I invite you to read my follow-up article, written after completing four and a half months of telework here.)

“Honey, I’ll be glad to stop by the store on the way home from work and pick that up for you.”

I am not able to say this right now.  I probably will not say anything like it for quite some time.  For the past two weeks, I have been working from home, like many others, due to the Coronavirus.

Here, I will address some of the unique challenges I have faced having been forced to telework on short notice due to social distancing as a result of this pandemic.  (See previous article.)  Let me share some of what I like about this new situation, what I miss, and what has been difficult for me.  Then, I will focus my thoughts on how my Christian faith is impacted by this new environment.

What do I like?

• I really like not having to commute forty minutes each way to work; it is saving money, wear and tear on the car, and eliminates the risk of me falling asleep on the way home
• I like working in a place relatively free of interruptions, allowing me to concentrate on major projects, which is usually very difficult for me to do at my office
• I like that I was able to learn how to use new video teleconferencing systems and collaborative document sharing sites to enable key leaders and staff to work as a team
• I am grateful that some major inspections and visits from VIPs were postponed for a bit
• I am enjoying the daily devotions that the school chaplain is putting out, where he shares a thought on one relevant Scripture and attaches a theology of work article from my blog

What do I miss?

• I truly miss the daily face-to-face interactions with my Operations team, my leaders, fellow staff members, and all of the other folks that I occasionally run into at the headquarters
• I do miss the frequent interruptions from customers who drop by with a question or a need
• I actually miss the constant chaos, and the challenge of trying to maintain it
• I also miss our Tuesday lunch Bible studies (see article published on the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics blog)

What has been difficult?

• Keeping up with all of the new and old ways people contact me: email, phone, text, video-teleconference sessions, and Facebook messenger, some of which come simultaneously
• Accepting that my roles and responsibilities have changed; some duties have temporarily stopped, and I am spending a lot of time on new things I have never had to do before
• Communication with leaders and subordinates is mostly limited to emails and texts

Immanuel labor

From a theological perspective, I have observed there were many impacts on work right away.

I have to go back to my foundational concept in my theology of work: Immanuel labor – God is present in our work.  This divine-human connection is supported in Scripture in many places.  (See article I wrote that was published on the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics blog and another article on my blog.)  Even though my work has changed significantly, this principle remains the same since God has not changed who He is.

I am grateful that God brought this to mind at 0730 on Day 1.  When I stepped into my temporary office from my kitchen, I recognized that I was standing on holy ground.  God was present in my new workspace.  By His grace, He would continue to work in me, with me, and through me, right here at my personal desk that now held my government computer, just has He always had done.

I still experience God’s presence while working alone.  God freely gives me His peace, wisdom, and joy whether I am in the office or at home.  However, the way that I bring the presence of God to others when I am not present with them is challenging for me.  I have to rest that His presence is continuing to flow through me as I abide in Christ whenever I text, email, or have a video chat.

Thorns and Thistles

In addition to changes in how I experience God’s presence at work, another aspect that has been drastically different in this new environment of teleworking is its unique set of thorns and thistles.

I am referring to God’s curse that made work harder than necessary as a direct result of the sins of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:17-19), others I work for (above, below, and next to me), and myself.  (See article I wrote that was published on the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University blog and another article I wrote on my blog where I shared some illustrations of thorns and thistles.)

Here are some of the things that I have discovered that make everyone’s job much harder:

• Uncertainty – None of us knows how long this “new normal” is going to last
• Decision-making – It is more difficult to make hard decisions when the team is scattered
• Stress – Never-ending time-sensitive requests for information, preparation for daily briefings, ever-changing requirements, long hours, and extremely high expectations
• Learning curve – Having to learn how to do many things outside our usual comfort zone (i.e., learning new technologies to participate in virtual meetings, no playbook to go by)

However, I have learned that we cannot stay stuck just because work has been impacted by sin.  The gospel of Jesus Christ gives me hope.  It enables me respond biblically to the thorns thistles I see at work as trials that God uses to build my character into greater Christlikeness.  (See Rom. 5:3-5.)

Working Wisely

What clearly comes to mind is how the way in which I work has been impacted by teleworking, especially when it comes to how I relate to my employer and to my employees.  (See article I wrote on my blog where I focused on the employer-employee relationship.)

The first thing that comes to mind is the higher level of discipline that is required as I work from home.  At the start of each day, I have to lay out what I anticipate will be my boss’ priorities for me and then press on towards completion, whether she is present or absent.  My boss cannot just pop into my office to see how I am doing or to check on the status of a hot project.  (However, she does seem to do that virtually at least once a day through our desktop video-conferencing application.)

Additionally, how I submit to my employer in a tangible way from a distance is a critical thing.  Scripture tells me is my number one duty.  (See Eph. 6:5-7.)  It is to my advantage that I do this.  (See Heb. 13:17.)  I also have to remember that Jesus is my ultimate boss; I work for His glory.

How has teleworking impacted my relationships with the Soldiers that work for me? This is where I think that I have some growing to do.  I am an “out of sight, out of mind” person.  I always have been.  Since I don’t see them here in my office, they tend to get forgotten.  And that is sad.

Beforehand, I may have been tied up for a half an hour or so reading emails or updating slides, but I came out of my office occasionally to get a drink of water or just to see how everyone is doing.  For example, at 1430 nearly every day, because of my unique sense of humor, I will announce to anyone around that it is time to see the dentist.   Why?  Because it is tooth-hurty (two-thirty)!

As the weeks of teleworking turn into months, I have to work harder to find ways to intentionally reconnect with my two noncommissioned officers who work for me.  They deserve that.  More importantly, that is what I am called to do, to love my neighbors at work, whether present or not.

In closing, I trust that this reflection on how my Christian faith intersects my work in this new teleworking environment shed some light on some of the challenges many of us are facing.  I for one know that I need to spend more time praying that I will be just as faithful at the home office.

Master Sergeant Russell E. Gehrlein (U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 39 years, father of three, grandfather of four, blogger, and author of “Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work”, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is also a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth pastor. Russ currently works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.