How to Get Employees Back in the Office and Motivated Post-Pandemic
May 2022
When COVID-19 first forced working from home on companies, there were widespread reports of increased productivity. However, two years later, it is clear that remote workforces have significant downsides. Communication and creativity are suffering, individuals don’t feel the same sense of loyalty to employers, and much of the invaluable on-the-job training that comes from shadowing colleagues is lost.
Employers must balance employee concerns with the imperative to be competitive and effective. Many companies are allowing employees to work from home one or two days a week. The way employers manage concerns about coming back to the office is a key differentiator in relation to staff enthusiasm and ability to attract and retain staff.
Managing Employee Anxiety and New Habits
Fostering an engaged and motivated atmosphere as staff return to the office can make a big difference to productivity gains. Many businesses are taking an empathetic approach that recognizes how employee attitudes and expectations have shifted and tries to allay their anxieties.
Companies are proactively communicating their risk management measures, have mechanisms for employees to suggest ways to make the workplace safer, and are listening to employee concerns at a 1-to-1 level. Some employers are allowing working days in the office to flex around core hours, enabling staff to avoid crowded hours on public transport and provide greater flexibility.
Encouraging Inter-Function Communication and a Greater Sense of Team
Re-establishing the sense of shared purpose that drives success and improving communication across the business is important. Companies are implementing re-onboarding programs, social activities, and introducing core days when all employees must be in the office to improve collaboration and creativity.
Employers who listen to staff, communicate what the business is doing and why, and foster a sense of common purpose will thrive. With staff shortages across construction, companies sympathetic to employee concerns will experience relatively lower attrition.
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