Returning to the Office Checklist

It’s alright to be concerned about the uncertainties when you get back to the office. Sometimes, the social, professional, and logistical anxiety incapacitates you when thoughts of returning to work cross your mind.

Whatever your reason, returning to the office can be a positive and productive experience if you are open to tools to help with the transition. This starts with understanding why it is essential to return to the office. 

1. Individual happiness and fulfillment

The most important reason for returning to work is not productivity or efficiency. Instead, it is the feeling of belonging and social identity that employees get when in the workplace community. Paradoxically, some of the things employees are looking for in a hybrid world include:

• Flexibility in office and remotely workplaces
• Excellent use of physical office space

While overlooked, human connections significantly impact how we perform as individuals. We are made for relationships and companionship. A workplace allows employees to positively connect and contribute to a more extraordinary cause with their talents.

Research also shows that employees are more likely to get a sense of social identity with their colleagues than with their gym or investment buddies. So, if you need a good reason to get back to the office, contemplate the happiness and fulfillment you get from solving problems with your teammates.

2 Technology only helps to a certain level

Technology has enhanced the capabilities of human connection, but talking on the phone every day doesn’t compare to face-to-face interaction.

Isolation results in increased health and well-being issues, and technology fatigue can lead to exhaustion. That said, being in the office gives you a break you need from zoom calls and the face-to-face interactions you need to keep you healthy.

Moreover, research shows that socializing makes people smarter because it improves their mental function. This means that the more you interact in the office, the more you improve your cognitive performance because your mental processes emphasize, listen, respond, and think. 

What To Expect When You Return to the Office?

Expect to find these changes in the office as you start preparing to return to the office:

1. Prepare to split your time between working from home and in the office. Unless your position and responsibilities require you to be in the office full time, the hybrid workplace model will be your norm.
2. Expect to lose your desk for hot desks or workstations. Open workspaces or boardrooms where employees can interact and collaborate will stay. But the likely shift to a hybrid workplace is that you will lose your desk in favor of a hot desk that allows you to reserve a spot you like.
3. Your office might be operating as a “hub and spoke” office concept to accommodate your remote work schedules.
4. Don’t throw away your comfort clothes just yet. Many employers are getting comfortable with flexible working models and processes, so they also consider relaxed dress codes.
5. Expect to find enhanced safety protocols, like regular temperature checks, screening at the office entrance, and socially distanced workstations. Employers are keen on keeping the safety protocols regardless of the administration of vaccines. 

Employers find returning to the office just as overwhelming as employees do. In some cases, employers’ pressure is more prevalent because you have to think about yourself, your company, and your employees.

48% of employees say they feel uneasy about in-person interactions in the office regardless of the vaccine. How do you ensure that the returning to the office processes provide the correct comfort levels for everyone in the organization?

Start by explaining why you need employees back in the office. Employers will have different reasons to want their employees back to the office. Some of the reasons to guide your decision are:

• You want to promote collaboration.
• You want to make your workflow processes more efficient.
• You want to build a community where knowledge is shared to boost employee performance.
• You have a new business mission or vision you want to share with the organization.
• You want the opportunity to communicate and connect with your employees face-to-face, like showing gratitude for a job well done.

Then allow your employees to phase out their return to the office. This will enable them to move back slowly until each is comfortable being in the office. Ensure you have a precise phasing-out period. Offer your employees transition objects like a welcome back gift or offer your employees the flexibility to work from home or in person.

Encourage socialization and connections, not just among colleagues but between the employee and the company’s mission. The resulting sense of purpose motivates employees to return to work faster. Remember to communicate clearly and comprehensively with your employees about your reasons for wanting them back to the office.