It seems that no one truly understands what the new workplace will look like in the coming months. As many large companies, like SalesForce, Google, and Spotify are opting to allow employees the choice of how they would like to proceed, it’s important to figure out what model works best for your organization and your employees.
The pandemic has shown employers everywhere that the rulebook on how employees function can be thrown out the window. Companies can grow, operate, and succeed regardless of where their employees are located. Many are predicting that large collaborative spaces will take the place of the traditional office.
Discovering the proper program for your business, and navigating the balance if you decide to go hybrid is essential prior to allow employees to return to the office.
It’s important to understand a few key areas of your organization before you decide how to proceed.
Understand the function of each team member, and whether or not they need to be in the office to be effective. Teams that require more time to brainstorm and collaborate with others may need to be in an office setting more frequently than those who do more individual-focused work.
If your employees can function effectively from home, it might be perfectly okay for your employees to work from a different city. However, if your employees’ role requires more collaboration and may need to meet up easily for one-on-one meetings, it may be necessary to have them all in one location.
Research shows that a flatter organizational structure is more effective in a highly virtual work environment. An organizational structure that is flatter allows for employees to feel closer to the center of the organization.
If your culture involves significant collaborative work, it may be difficult to transition into a completely virtual workforce. However, you may be able to opt for a hybrid work environment that allows your company culture to shine through, while also offering a remote work option. Your culture should be at the forefront of all of your decisions in order to ensure greater success for your organization.
If you have a remote workforce that has employees in various time zones, you may need to set common windows of time for real-time live communication. Outside of those windows, the rest of the work can unfold through email or document sharing. If employees are in the same time zones, it may be productive to ensure your team works around the same time each day.
Regardless of what this looks like, building a community within your organization is essential to the success of your business. Some companies are opting for a larger community workspace that employees can meet in while providing a flexible work schedule. After all, according to Citrix Systems, 52% of employees want a hybrid model where they can choose to work remotely or from the office each day.
Employees have largely enjoyed the flexibility of working from home, as it has allowed them to maintain a comfortable work/life balance that they appreciate. Because employees save time in their day from not commuting, and not physically being in the office, they may lean more toward a flexible environment that allows them to choose how they work best. Because let’s be honest, running to grab your kids in the middle of the day, or taking a 20-minute break to walk outside is unbeatable!
If you do decide to bring your employees back to the office full time, be sure you are placing your employee’s mental health as a top priority.
It’s important to give your employees enough time to prepare for the new changes. If you’re choosing to come back to the office, work to give your employees enough time to find childcare, prepare for the office, and ensure there isn’t stress surrounding this event.
Given the guidelines that have changed quite a bit day-to-day, this can be challenging for some organizations. Once you have communicated your return-to-work roadmap, be sure you stick to it as much as possible–– as long as another complete shutdown or more strict regulations aren’t necessary.
Part of this communication is talking with your employees about their thoughts on returning to work. Ensure your leaders are communicating with their team on how they work most productively. If an overwhelming amount of your workforce is more productive at home, consider sticking to remote work, or potentially a hybrid model.
There is so much to consider as you navigate your return-to-work roadmap. Our best advice is to ensure your company’s purpose and people are top of mind as you proceed. At Culture Works, we understand how important your company culture is to the success of your business. Our goal is to keep your company culture intact, regardless of how you choose to proceed in or outside of the workplace. Contact us today to see how we can support your human resources needs during this ever-changing time!