Return to Office Essentials

Return to Office, what’s that?

The world of work changed a lot of people’s lives in different ways. Whether you were at the office or went home, the transition was difficult but the transition back doesn’t have to be.

When the pandemic changed work life as we knew it, businesses scrambled to adapt to the ever-changing regulations for health and safety. There was little time to think and action had to be taken quickly. But the Return to Office has the chance to be more intentional. Companies have the opportunity to re-design their new normal in a meaningful way.

When you’re creating your strategy, whether it’s back to the office, remote, or hybrid, keep these in mind.

Be flexible

Change is hard and remember that at the end of the day employees are People with their own lives. Some will need to re-arrange child and pet care. Others may need to arrange transportation. Routines are important and changing them can be stress and anxiety-inducing. Empathize with your people and be flexible with them as they navigate this transition. No matter how you structure your back-to-office model, this will go a long way with your employees and how they respond to change.

Connect before you direct

Regardless of the model your company is following, members of the organization, particularly those in leadership, must be attuned to the needs of each individual. Just like some people may thrive working from the office instead of remote and vice versa, there are other preferences you should pay attention to. Listening is crucial and when you connect with people you can hear the non-verbal cues. Keep in mind this is a continuous process as people change, so keep open lines of communication and have regular 1:1s. 

Employee experience (EX)

Employee experience cannot be overlooked as it impacts employee satisfaction and performance. Many companies leverage tech for collaboration and communication, something that is now possible with employee experience platforms like ConnectUs. With an employee experience solution, you can seamlessly create a connected and empowering culture no matter where your people are. As an added bonus it is an efficient solution that can put time and money back into your business.

People analytics

Give your people a voice and use People Analytics to navigate your decisions. With the right analytics, leaders can keep a pulse on the organization and better understand behavior and opinions. This insight allows organizations to make informed decisions in management techniques, and operational changes.