Marcus Richards
Returning to the office can seem like a daunting prospect, for you and your team.
And because of the benefits that came from working from home, many companies have adopted a hybrid working model.
Whether you’re looking to bring your team back full time, or as some sort of hybrid arrangement, here are five fantastic tips to make that transition a little easier.
1. Be Selective with In-Person Work
During the pandemic, many companies came to realise that their employees worked just as well, if not better, from the comfort of their own homes. And while of course the office still has its uses, a study by the ONS found that 85% of employees wanted a hybrid approach in the future.
A good way to keep your team happy and productive is to sit down and decide what activities need to be done onsite and what can be done from home.
From there, you’ll be able to find the perfect balance for your hybrid working arrangement.
2. Be Flexible
It’s important to be flexible to your team’s needs.
Many employees have gotten used to working from home, enjoying the better work/life balance that it provides.
Do what you can to allow them to keep this balance, as it will lead to a healthier and happier workforce – the last thing you want is to lose good team members to companies that offer more flexibility.
3. Consider Testing
Some employees are nervous to return to the office for fear of catching Covid.
It’s important that you’re sensitive to these fears and do what you can to reassure them. Companies such as Medical Diagnosis supply COVID tests to the public, so consider offering testing to any of your employees that want it.
This way they can return for those chosen office days with peace of mind.
4. Relax the Rules
Returning to the office doesn’t mean that all the previous rules need to return.
Offering a more relaxed environment is a great way to encourage your team to make the return.
For example, during lockdown, households in the UK bought around 3.2 million pets so they could have some companionship during that long isolation period. This means that, dog owners in particular, are now reluctant to return to the office and leave their pampered pooches at home all day.
Consider turning your offices into a dog friendly space and allowing owners to bring them in on office days.
5. Team Building Activities
People might role their eyes at team building exercises – no one really wants forced fun.
Instead of offering up those cheesy workshop activities, consider taking your team for a meal, or going out for drinks.
This provides a much more relaxed and genuinely enjoyable way to build up team morale and it will hopefully encourage employees to bond on a personal level as well as professional.
How have you encouraged your team back to the office? Share your tips in the comments below!
