Many business owners will be welcoming staff back into the office in the coming weeks and months. Whether this is on a part-time basis with a hybrid work model or full-time, you will want to make sure that you do this carefully and ensure that everyone feels happy, safe, and comfortable. This is a unique time with the world returning to some kind of normality while the pandemic continues, so you need to understand that this is a difficult time for staff and they may have reservations about returning to work. With this in mind, here are a few tips that should help with this process.
Offer Flexibility
First, it is a good idea to offer flexibility if you are able to do so. Instead of telling people that they need to start coming in Monday to Friday nine to five, offer them the freedom and flexibility to choose when they come in. This will help them to feel in control and ease their way back into office life, plus it allows them to choose a time when public transport will be quieter (a major concern for many). Remote work has been successful for businesses and staff in many cases, so you may want to continue with this on with a hybrid model moving forward.
Communicate
It is also vital that communication is a priority during this transition period. You need to make it easy for staff to contact you and raise any concerns that they have, get questions answered, and generally feel supported. This is a difficult time and many will have concerns about returning to the office, so you will want to do all that you can to help and provide support for those that need it.
Make Adaptations To The Office
You should also make changes to the office to make it a COVID-secure space and somewhere that staff will be able to work comfortably and safely. This might include rearranging desks so that people can social distance from one another, perspex screen and hand-washing stations. You also need to consider ventilation and ensure that there is plenty of fresh air that is being pumped through the office at all times.
Encourage Testing And Staying Home
The pandemic is not yet over and it is still a fast-changing situation. This is why it is important to encourage your staff to test themselves regularly even if they are not showing symptoms. In addition to this, there are many other illnesses circulating right now and it is important to encourage people to stay at home if they are feeling ill. You do not want your whole team to come down sick with a cold on their first week back in and this is why people should stay at home when they are ill.
Use A Health And Safety Consultancy
In a time of change and one where health and safety are at the forefront of people’s minds, you will find that using a health and safety consultancy is smart. The Health and Safety Dept in Bristol and Wales can be hired to ensure that your business is compliant with legislation and that your workplace is safe for employees, customers, and any other visitors that you have onsite. This will ensure that everything is above board and give you confidence knowing that your workplace is up to code and a safe environment for employees.
Remind Employees Of The Perks Of Office Life
You might find that some staff is reluctant to come back into the office after working from home. This is why it is a good idea to remind employees of the perks of office life, so you should try to create a welcoming and fun yet productive work environment. You should encourage collaborative projects, open communication, and arrange informal social events after work.
Expect Some Teething Issues
Finally, you should expect some teething issues when you start bringing staff back into work. This is a unique and challenging time for all, so there may be a few bumps in the road and it is likely that performance will be impacted one way or another as people adjust to this new stage of trying to return to normality.
Hopefully, this post will come in useful and help you to welcome staff back into the office. This is a challenging and unique period for everyone and managers will have their hands full trying to welcome staff back, keep everyone happy, and minimizing disruptions.
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