Some companies, including Adobe and Dropbox, have put plans in place for long-term remote work, even when people can return to the office. Others, especially those in the finance sector, want their staff back in the office as soon as possible.
However your business operates, it’s highly likely that some of our team will be heading back to work soon or already in the process of settling in. Routines have changed, and some employees will have adjusted their personal priorities. However, a lot of people enjoy going to work, and you can take steps to make their eventual return as seamless as possible.
Start with a Plan
If you run a successful business, you already understand the importance of planning and strategy. Employees deserting offices in their droves was a seismic shift in working culture, and adapting to the new standard can prove just as much of a mammoth task. However, while the initial reliance on remote work was unforeseen, business owners and managers now have time to prepare.
This also represents your first opportunity to get employees on board with the concept of returning to work. Of course, you don’t have to do anything out of the ordinary either. Happy employees like to feel valued and in the loop, so if you can tell them what you intend to do, when and why, and allow them to contribute to your strategy, they’re far more likely to embrace it.
Encourage Flexibility
Shortening the typical work week has been a hot topic for a while now. There have even been trials in countries like Iceland that have resulted in huge success.
Dropping an entire day from the working week may not be on the agenda, but don’t expect people to return to 40-hour workweeks in the office immediately. You can benefit from their new working from home routines and never know what your team might have come up with to boost their personal productivity.
Don’t put the onus on your staff to ask for remote working days. Instead, make it clear that they’re an option for everyone, and try to be as accommodating as possible. That way, when employees spend time in the office, they’ll be far more enthusiastic about being there.
Allow Employees to Bring Some Remote Habits Into the Office
Your employees will be delighted to know that they don’t have to forget everything they’ve learned while out of the office. Instead, the relative freedom and lack of supervision away from their usual desk may have encouraged them to find new, better ways of working.
There’s no need to make them drop those habits once they’re back at work, and you don’t need to be hung up on encouraging people to look busy.
Things like making personal phone calls, popping out of the office for an errand or taking a quick break from work for a short game of Freecell Challenge should be encouraged.
These individuals have been responsible for their own time and productivity for months and hopefully have done so successfully. As a result, they’re returning to you better-rounded as workers than when they left. Embrace their autonomy, and you’ll have a happy workplace.
Finally, Remember It’s a New Normal, Not a Return to Normal
As mentioned earlier, the best advice for any manager is to treat the return to the office as an opportunity. It will come with its challenges, but tradition has gone out of the window. It’s a chance to curate a new, better, more productive workplace culture that suits employees, empowers and inspires them and materially impacts the company’s bottom line.
When they get back in the office, the last thing your team wants is to go from unprecedented freedom to rules and regulations immediately. Instead, do what you can to create a new, positive culture. Understand that despite your best efforts, you won’t be able to please everyone all the time. However, if you can gain a consensus and make every employee feel like they have contributed to new decisions, you could revolutionize how your office works.