As offices reopen after more than a year of remote work, you may be looking for ways to support your team through the transition process.
Here are some tips for ensuring your team’s return to the office is as smooth as possible.
Support your Team with Clear Timelines
Keeping your team informed ahead of time about your business’s reopening plan will help them mentally prepare for the return.
As early as you can, send your team a timeline of when they’ll come back to the office. If you’re moving to a hybrid model, make sure to communicate exactly what days employees should plan to be in the office as opposed to working remotely.
Review Safety Protocol
Before you return, send employees information about your workplace’s policy on masks, social distancing, and sharing office equipment. You should also let them know about the cleaning standards in the workplace.
This demonstrates your business’s commitment to safety and may help ease anxiety among workers who are still unused to being in close quarters with other people outside their households.
Upgrade Your Workspace to better Support your Team
When your offices reopen after a year or more away, it presents an ideal occasion for making some changes around your workplace.
From paint touch-ups to a whole new office layout, there are many opportunities to ensure employees come back to a better space than they left.
Upgrading your workspace can help put your team in a positive mindset and help them think of returning as a step forward, rather than simply a reversion to a past work environment.
Celebrate your Offices’ Reopening!
Show appreciation for your team on the first day with a team breakfast, “Welcome Back” banner, thank-you cards, or another gesture celebrating your return to the office.
While there may be mixed emotions among your staff about returning to in-person work, many or all will be grateful for the recognition of the hard work they put in to achieve reopening.
Show Empathy
The transition back into the physical workspace will be harder for some people than others. In the wake of a global pandemic, you may encounter employees struggling with mental and emotional challenges during the process.
To best support your team, check in often with individual employees during the first few weeks back. If they confide in you about struggling with the change, be empathetic. Listen to their concerns and work with them to make their return to the office as comfortable as possible.
Grow Your IT Staff with ABBTECH
Reopening your office may require you to seek out new staff. ABBTECH will help you find skilled professionals for placement in your business.
ABBTECH works with you to recruit top IT talent and fulfill your company’s needs. Contact ABBTECH to learn how our strategic staffing can help your business succeed.