The New York TimesThe New York Times

Do not bring your 'whole self' to work

By Pamela Paul

25 Sep 2022 · 5 min read

Editor's Note

In this piece, Times columnist Pamela Paul argues against the popular HR rhetoric, suggesting that with the return to work we should focus on bringing our "work" selves rather than our "whole" selves.

For those lucky enough to have worked from home over the past 2 1/2 years or seven years or whatever it was, it’s back to the office time. We are finally RTO and IRL, at least until the next wave hits. And some people can’t wait.

But for those less excited, reluctant to face the creepy supervisor they’ve been avoiding, the department suck-up they’ve been Slacking about, the portion of the job they’ve been faking, here’s a nifty tip for easing the transition: Do not “bring your whole self” to work.

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