The pandemic forced us to work remotely, to transform our home into an office, and to adopt new rhythms.
Finally, employees can return to the office a few days a week, but not all of them could be ready.
Do you want to know how to help them get back in the office without stress? Read this article to find some tips.
The pandemic forced us to work remotely, away from the office, where we used to spend at least 8 hours a day, five days a week.
We have transformed our home (or our trusted bar) into our new workstation, completely changing rhythms and habits.
The line between personal and professional life has thinned.
For a few months now, many companies have been adopting a hybrid work model (if you don't know what it is yet, we recommend that you read the three most common types) so their employees have had the opportunity to come back in presence at least a couple of days per week.
However, getting back to the old rhythms may not be easy and immediate for everyone.
In this article, we share three tips with you to better prepare your employees for return to attendance and help them transition to a hybrid work model.
1. Find a balance between work and relaxation
In the workplace, you can have a conversation with colleagues at any time of the day, have a coffee, have lunch together and quickly resolve work issues.
One of the great benefits of returning to the workplace is that you can interact with people and enjoy these extra benefits.
Anyway, coming back to the workplace can be very distracting.
It is fundamental to balance these workplace benefits with actual work.
You can encourage employees to develop a time management method to keep their working day structured.
For example, a simple trick could be to set a timer to manage work and breaks. An example is the tomato technique, which allows you to alternate work phases of approximately 25 minutes with 5 minutes breaks.
2. Organize moments of interaction between colleagues
Being back in the workplace also means being able to relate to others in person, not in a virtual way.
As much as video calls can simulate the experience in person, they are not the same as being the person in front of you.
During the pandemic, if for some reason we didn't want to be seen, we could turn off our webcam. This can't be done in person, and sometimes, it might seem like a disadvantage, but face-to-face interaction is irreplaceable, and there is nothing so enriching.
After the pandemic, it is necessary to encourage employees to rediscover the joy of the relationship in person and this can be done through the corporate culture.
Culture is that force that drives actions and interactions in the workplace. What makes office life enriching is that it promotes corporate culture. That's why it's essential to inspire connections between employees.
And advice we give you is to organize regular in-person meetings, where your employees can have a drink or an aperitif while getting to know each other, on a personal level and outside the workplace.
Another effective strategy could be to invite people to bring breakfast or something to eat to the office to share with colleagues.
These actions help recreate that pleasure of being together and feeling part of something bigger, which we missed while working remotely.
3. Take some time to rest and charge the batteries
69% of employees experience symptoms of burnout while working from home.
On the other hand, those who have returned to work face-to-face may somehow feel drained after a long day of socializing.
If your business has adopted a hybrid work model, allow your employees to take full advantage of the flexibility this model gives to recharge their batteries when they are not in the office.
You can also encourage your employees to take time to recharge while they are in the workplace.
This could be achieved by including spaces where people can work in peace, or a relaxation area, where talking and interacting are forbidden.
Of course, every company must find the solution that best suits everyone's needs.
One suggestion would be to ask your employees what types of spaces they would like to see in your workplace.
Making people feel balanced will help them feel more energetic when they are in the workplace and keep burnout under control.
Conclusions
If this pandemic has brought any good, it's that employees and employers finally have the power to redefine the workplace by making a place tailor-made.
The first step is to work together to create a new normal, where we can find the perfect balance between productivity, culture, and happiness.
If you are looking for help to achieve all this, click here and write to us!
