How to Incentivize Employees to Return to the Office

After COVID-19 shook things up, work-life as we knew it changed. Offices emptied out in a heartbeat, and suddenly, folks worldwide were clocking in from their living rooms.

Now, bosses are grappling with a fresh hurdle: getting folks back into the office groove and bringing back that lively office vibe.

That office vibe, all about community and feeling safe, has always been a big deal for keeping workers engaged and companies thriving. But here we are, trying to figure out how to coax some hesitant employees back. Some worry about losing the sweet work-life balance of remote jobs, while others wonder if traditional offices can offer great career growth.

This post is here to help tackle those worries head-on. We'll dish out tips to get employees excited about returning to the office, revive that awesome office culture, and make the workspace a hotspot for connections, teamwork, and company spirit once again.

Understanding Employee Reluctance

The pandemic accelerated a transformation in the workplace that was long overdue. No longer were employees burdened with long commutes; instead, they embraced the flexibility and comfort of remote work options, giving them more time for personal activities, childcare, and even caring for their pets.

However, with this shift in work dynamics, businesses must acknowledge a new reality: employee satisfaction in a remote setting has become a critical factor in the business cycle. As a result, many are hesitant to return to the traditional office setup, valuing the autonomy they have gained.

Numerous studies support this trend, showing a significant interest in hybrid work models that prioritize flexibility as a key component of employee expectations moving forward.

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How to Get Your Employees Back to the Office

Clearly Communicate the 'Why'

Transparency is non-negotiable in an era when discussions with employees are key to understanding how to move forward. Complemented by comprehensive town hall meetings, a well-articulated return-to-office memo aligns your company’s expectations with employees’ aspirations.

Potential reasons for returning include revitalizing the collaborative environment, stringent business objectives requiring a physical presence, or regular social interaction that virtually hones personal collaboration.

Turn Strategy into a Dialogue

Implementing a bottom-up approach in strategic planning can greatly benefit employee morale and engagement. Here are some steps you can take to open channels for employee feedback:

1. Conduct surveys: Regularly send out surveys to gather feedback and suggestions from employees on various aspects of the business, including work environment, policies, and communication.
2. Dedicated office days for discussions: Set aside specific days or times when employees can openly discuss their ideas, concerns, and feedback with management. This can be done through team meetings, town halls, or open forums.
3. Implement a 'business relevant' feedback mechanism: Create a system where employees can provide feedback in real-time on specific business decisions or projects. This can be done through suggestion boxes, online platforms, or dedicated feedback sessions.

Make the Office More Inviting

The office shouldn’t be a dread, but a draw for your employees. To achieve this, you must evoke the social aspect of work that has been sorely missed.

Introduce New Perks and Benefits

Think about crafting policies that speak volumes of your company culture and values. Introduce office perks carefully woven with employee needs, such as commuter benefits, pet-friendly policies, flexible office hours, and casual work wardrobe allowances. A revolutionary concept might be a pet care stipend, acknowledging pet ownership needs within your teams or a childcare stipend reflecting the organization's support for work-life balance.

Optimize Office Space

Optimizing office space is tantamount to promoting a positive work environment. Redesign your physical workspace to cater to hybrid work policies: collaboration spaces for team-building activities and silent zones for personal time.

Foster Social and Collaborative Opportunities

Team lunches, social events, and office interactions should be part and parcel of life, even in hybrid offices. Encouraging regular office attendance for such activities fosters social connections and can be an effective draw for employees, combating loneliness felt in remote setups.

Adopt a Flexible Hybrid Schedule

A structured yet flexible hybrid work schedule that accommodates business strategy while tending to the ambition of the average employee can lead to a good balance. Flexible workday finish times can aid in employee satisfaction and encourage office days that are looked forward to, not away from.

Encouraging Regular Office Attendance

After COVID, it's important to plan out how the office will run, considering both business goals and making sure your team is doing okay. Using tools like Officely to boost in-person interactions and recognizing the value of being in the office can make the switch smoother and create a livelier workplace.

From business decision-makers to the entire team, cultivating an environment that beckons employees back requires articulation, planning, and execution doused in understanding and adaptability.

• Reviving an office culture that had to go dormant calls for a multifaceted approach:
• Prioritizing social connections and collaboration.
• Adjusting office space and policies for hybrid work models.
• Continuing to value employee feedback and freedom.

Future offices must adapt those professional development opportunities previously frozen in the pandemic, thawing them out in a new hybrid world where work culture accommodates rather than dictates.

Make Hybrid Work Easier with Officely

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If you want your employees to prioritize coming into the office, you need to incentivize the commute. That doesn't only mean socials; it could also mean in-person collaboration or simply knowing when other team members are in the office.

Officely shows your team who’s in the office and what's happening each day, without leaving Slack or MS Teams.

You can announce office events, show your team who’s bringing pets, let your team book yoga sessions or lunches, and more. All of which contributes to the reasons an employee will increase their office attendance.

‍Book a demo to see how you can create a people-first office culture with transparency and communication.