Globally, a recent study funded by Slack software (Future Forum Pulse) reveals that only 34% of employees are back in the office full-time. This same study also mentions that the general level of employee stress has never been so high1. It also mentions that in France alone, more than half of those surveyed are considering changing jobs. In this regard, it was mentioned that employees who have to deal with a strict work schedule are 2.6 times more likely to change jobs. Finally, we see that the hybrid model has become the norm and that employee mental health is one of the key considerations in this reorganization. Where is the middle ground between Tesla forcing its employees to do their 40 hours a week in presence and AirBnB allowing them to work from wherever they want?
From an employer's point of view, how do we get there? There are a few avenues open to you.
Reinventing the concept of the office
It is obvious that employees will no longer come to the office as they used to and that telecommuting has become the norm for many. It is entirely possible to juggle this reality if the workplace becomes a place of "experiences" where the employee can explore, develop projects with colleagues and enjoy human contact. The employee must perceive a real added value in coming to the workplace. People come to exchange, create links and belong to a project bigger than themselves. It will therefore be the manager's role to review the office configuration in order to promote a real, immersive, productive and attractive collaboration.
It's all about communication
What are the preferred modes of communication within your company? Is it by phone? Email? Chat software? Considering the way employees communicate on a daily basis, isn't it worthwhile to rethink the organization of offices? More and more organizations are redesigning their workspaces to eliminate assigned offices. Each employee can choose one office or another depending on the time of day, the tasks he or she has to accomplish and the colleagues with whom he or she must collaborate. Local companies such as National Bank, Ubisoft, Desjardins (and even Technologia!) have redesigned their office space. One more way to motivate the troops!
Beware of procedures!
With the return to the office, it's easy to get lost in too many procedures: plexiglass, cleaning products, hand washing, provision of masks, etc. Remember to stay focused on the needs of your employees who are returning to work after many months. They need to be taken care of. Circulate a survey to get their ideas. Spend a little more time with them or offer them a teambuilding outing. Meeting your team through activities, one-on-one meetings and taking the time to understand their daily lives and ideas is a great step forward if you want to "reconnect" with them.
Put a game plan in place
As employees return to the workplace, they may have a number of legitimate questions. Do I have to wear a mask? Do I have to stay in the office on a regular basis between 9am and 5pm? Will the chat programs we use still be the norm? Do we have face-to-face meetings anymore? All of these questions should be anticipated and answered through an internal communication plan. This will ease the anxiety experienced by many of your employees and will allow them to quickly regain an appreciable level of efficiency and collaboration.
As we know, returning to the office will not be without its challenges and headaches, but it is entirely possible for the employer to foster collaboration and a smooth transition by working in stages. Remember, your employees will return to the workplace for one reason: the social connection with their colleagues. It is your role to foster this and to do everything possible to make them happy. They will be more productive, motivated and will continue to be the positive leaders you once knew. So, have a great transition!
To go further :
Team Collaboration: Enhancing Cohesion to Build on Successes
