After almost two years of working from home, many workers in Britain aren’t quite ready to give it up. According to research from FlexJobs, around three-fifths of Brits want to be able to work from home all the time, while 35% want, at the very least, a ‘hybrid’ setup which combines office work with home work.
For some employers, these demands will be easy to cater to. And yet, there are a few upsides to the office that home-working can’t yet replicate. You might consider face to face meetings with staff and customers, and the order and structure that a fixed workplace provides.
But how can we make the office a more appealing prospect for the modern worker? Let’s take a look.
Community and Culture
One of the key downsides to remote work is that it can be isolating – particularly for single urban workers who lack access to convenient green space. If staff actually want to come in and see one another, then they’ll be more inclined to do so.
One powerful way to foster a community is to write a value proposition. This is a document which outlines exactly why employees might come to work, highlighting all of the benefits. This should cover time for personal connection and socialising.
Ideally, collaborative tasks which require interpersonal interaction should be reserved for the office. That way, when employees come into work, they’re not going to be wondering whether they should have just stayed at home, instead.
Make the Office More Attractive
Offering simple perks might make the prospect of returning to the office that little bit more attractive. These might include a more relaxed dress code, superior equipment, and more generous time for lunch. Reliable Wi-Fi and private space for unwinding are also nice bonuses to have.
Listen to Employees
The easiest way to get suggestions on what will entire employees back to the office is to simply ask those employees directly. Who will know better than the employees themselves? This should be an ongoing process of consultation. That way, you can make yourself aware of minor problems and address them promptly. Maintaining an ‘open door’ policy will also make employees feel that their opinions are being valued, and taken seriously.
Offer Flexibility
It might be that there’s a good reason that employees are unwilling to go back into the office. Perhaps, paradoxically, they have come to realise that they actually enjoyed a superior quality of life while a global pandemic was unfolding. This being the case, you might offer them a compromise: come into the office for a few days a week, and work from home for the remaining time. This may actually benefit you in the long run, as it’ll mean happier employees, and perhaps an opportunity to downsize your premises. Flexible working hours can be accommodated easily with the right payroll software – so you needn’t factor in the administrative cost.
