COLUMN: Ask the money lady – Having good work karma is key

Dear Money Lady Readers,

It seems September 2025 is the month that most companies are aiming for to force Canadians back into the office.

RBC announced to their employees in May that all staff must be in the office four days a week and then like dominos, all the other Big Banks did the same. Ford Motor Company wants staff in by September too; Rogers wants their staff in by October, and General Motors, Amazon, Apple, IBM (and many more – the list is too long) want all staff in by January 2026. It looks like the big executives want to bring back the old pre-COVID ways, saying, “We all work better when we’re together.”

The problem is the average laptop class worker that has been at home for the last five years, tends to disagree. Corporations realize that it is better done as a mass approach, and many have collaborated with their competitors to ensure they are not the only ones. Mandating a return-to-work movement for Canada’s big corporations ensures we will soon see the traditional office norms once again. So, rather than discussing ways to get out of this forced work situation like all the other media platforms, let’s talk about how to deal with it and ensure you create good “work karma”.

No matter what your age, being a good co-worker is so important. According to a 2025 Marketplace Study, office etiquette has been slipping since 2023. It’s important to remember that most people tend to have long, elephant-like memories when it comes to work, whether it be good or bad. Taking the high road should always be your goal even if it means a short-term sacrifice. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you return to the office this Fall.

Try not to be too resistant to your return-to-work situation. Increased tensions between employers and workers will most likely end badly. Some of you may need to consider a career move to find a bigger challenge that excites and motivates you, while others may use this as a time to exit your job to either retire or become self-employed.

When back in the office, find ways to engage with your co-workers. Take breaks and lunches together. Try being more outwardly committed to the organization and find ways to compliment your co-workers to other people, especially management. This not only helps the co-worker, but it makes you look good too. Thank a person who has done you a good turn. Certain favors are worth a phone call, a handwritten thank you note, a lunch out or why not recognize your co-worker on your internal recognition system. Always be gracious and don’t let being too busy be the reason for you not thanking someone.

If you leave your employer, never bad-mouth people in your former company, (no matter how much you believe they deserve it). You never want to be known as the complainer of your prior “evil-boss.” New interested co-workers love to listen to stories, but remember, this will most likely reflect badly on you.

As a last tip for good “work karma,” try to always be transparent in business planning. Remember that other people don’t know what you know unless you tell them and keep them up-to-date. It’s so difficult to be collaborative in person when you’re missing key facts. Pooling resources and creating a diverse work environment allows businesses to lean on the different backgrounds, skills, and experiences of their staff and this is exactly what corporations are now wanting by bringing us all back together.

Good luck and best wishes,

Money Lady

Written by Christine Ibbotson, Author, Finance Writer and Syndicated Money Coach on BNN Bloomberg. Christine is also part of the everyday lineup on CTV Your Morning in every province. No AI. Follow Christine on Instagram @askthemoneylady, or on Facebook (Christine Ibbotson).