Transitioning Employees Back to the Office: What Companies need to Consider

by Shannon Long, Consultant at Change Guides

The Covid pandemic has indeed transformed the business landscape in unexpected ways. Companies and their employees were suddenly thrust into a new way of working without much guidance, adapting to remote work and virtual collaboration. However, as organizations were gradually getting accustomed to this “new normal,” some employees may have faced challenges, including issues like unjust firing by your superiors, which only added to the complexity of the situation. Now, in recent weeks, we’re witnessing a shift as companies begin to push back on remote work arrangements, and some employers are moving forward with return-to-work dates, creating a fresh set of dynamics in the evolving workplace environment.

Thus, many employees are getting mixed messages. Companies are giving “back-to-office” start dates and then constantly changing the message.

Change is hard but change with no warning or planning can be even more difficult.  Many employees have become accustomed to working remotely. To create successful change, employers need to understand that people are going back to a different kind of office, and they must be prepared while employers also have to cover employees with the help from  an expert like this workers compensation lawyer Vegas.

Be Aware of the Pros and Cons

The roadblocks in the past that kept companies from allowing people to work from home have shown that people are adaptable. And many employees have proven that they can get their jobs done quite successfully remotely. Some companies also saw residual benefits from lower overhead costs, to a more productive workforce, as people did not have to commute and were often able to have flexibility in their workday. People have gotten comfortable to the new norm, and many people have adjusted their lives to work from home. Employers need to be conscious of how their employees will be affected overall. To give your employees peace of mind, implement a vaccine validation system to ensure their safety. There are pros for being in the office a well. Our human need to interact with others and the social component and camaraderie that helps make people and teams successful is lacking. There is something to be said about human connection.

Once employees are back to the office, you need to consider a lot of things for your business as well. For example, the energy cost that you will have on your monthly bill. So start looking for the Best business energy prices before everyone goes back to the office again.

Importance of Employee Engagement

Now, as companies are bringing back employees to the office in a post covid world, it is important to keep employees engaged in the process. One of the most compelling components of change management is answering the “why” or “what’s in it for me”

People don’t resist change; they resist being changed. It is more important than ever to empower people through the transition of going back to the office. Leaders and decision makers need to encourage employees to part of the decision-making process. People do not buy into information and processes that they do not understand. By creating a vision of what people can expect in the near and long term, frequent check ins, being transparent and providing clear messages throughout the process can make a world of difference during the transition back to work.

If you need additional employees now that you’re transitioning back to office setup, you may want to work with a temp agency to help you find qualified candidates. Using a local placement agency can be a cost effective and efficient way to hire compared to in-house recruiting, providing you’re getting the most from your agency.

Employers must remember that employees will have varying levels of comfort and take that into consideration. Having a transition plan in place is key. Employees will be concerned with everything from their own health, whether those around them have been vaccinated, whether they will have to wear a mask, maintaining social distancing, entry and exit procedures and processes around when people should stay out of the office, etc.

At the end of the day, some people may decide that they do not want to return to the office. HR departments will have to have consistency in communication and messaging to employees and what their options or consequences of not returning are. Giving people as many options as possible about when and how they come back to work is important.

Be Empathetic to Employees Needs

People want to know that their voices are heard and that their employers care. Beyond understanding of new processes, plans, protocols, or the bottom line, people want to feel that their emotional and physical wellbeing, and values and needs are being considered. Giving people a voice and a platform and making them feel that are part of the process in creating the solutions. It is easy to make rules and point to state and federal guidelines and protocols. But, making employees a part of the how will only lead to positive changes and a happier workforce. Making sure that communications are consistent and being delivered with empathy and compassion can lead to successful change and sustainability.

If they express concerns about the security of the workplace, you may seek the services of a commercial locksmith to upgrade the security locks in your business premises. You may also install security cameras from companies like https://www.deepsentinel.com/poe-products/. Fire doors are also a critical component of every business’ fire protection strategy because they can save your business, colleagues and your investments by restricting smoke and flames. In addition, this will allow you and your employees time to evacuate the building safely. For this reason, fire door maintenance is essential to ensure its longevity.

Having vending machines canberra at your workplace is also a great way to keep your employees happy.

Motivation to Change

People change when they are motivated to change. People are motivated by their connections to others. Companies need to give thought to what will motivate their employees to buy-in and act in new ways. Their will likely be good corporate citizens that do their best to follow requirements, but the way to get people committed and motivated is through their connection to others. Connect people’s understanding of how new protocols contribute to a colleague’s wellbeing or a teammate’s family’s health. Often people are motivated by hearing other people’s personal stories. Covid has affected us all in very different ways and yet we can all find relatable commonalities. Successful change often happens organically by leveraging those personal stories.

Culture

Organizations will need to address remote and hybrid expectations to retain and recruit new and top talent. The post covid world has forced companies to take a greater look at their company culture. The way companies lead in this new business landscape will both reflect and mirror company culture. Many companies have already been making the change from hierarchal to flatter organizations in recent years and using recruitment KPIs at makipeople.com to aid their hiring process. The choices leadership make post pandemic can change the long-term influence of the company’s culture. Adopting a strong change management model will help create sustainability moving forward as companies create operational changes, changes to organizational culture, technology, policies, and procedures. Leadership must recognize the changes that people may come back to. Reconnecting with colleagues and key partners on a new level and working with new team members that were hired during the pandemic.

Managing change in the current world can be challenging. Perception is reality. But companies can come out stronger and retain sustainable change if they take the time to identify the pros and cons, understand the importance of employee engagement and be empathetic to employee needs and their motivation to change while taking a greater look at the company culture moving forward. With the right plans in place, successfully transitioning people back to the office is possible.