How to encourage your employees to work from the office? – 5 useful tips
As the world emerges from the pandemic, many organizations are looking to establish new ways of working. The remote work trend that emerged as a result of the pandemic is likely here to stay, but many companies are also looking to bring employees back into the office. However, motivating employees to return to the office after a prolonged period of remote work can be challenging. In this article, we will discuss some strategies for motivating employees to work from the office, based on insights from the Microsoft Work Trend Index, PwC Pulse Survey, and others.
- Create a sense of purpose
Employees are motivated by a sense of purpose. They want to feel like their work is meaningful and that they are making a positive impact. Organizations can tap into this motivation by clearly communicating their purpose and how employees fit into that purpose. Employees connected to their organization’s mission are more likely to be motivated to work on-site.
- Provide a safe and healthy work environment
Another key factor in motivating employees to work from the office is providing a safe and healthy work environment. The PwC Pulse Survey found that 90% of employees want their employers to prioritize their health and safety. Employers can address these concerns by implementing measures such as social distancing, frequent cleaning, and providing personal protective equipment. When employees feel safe and supported, they are encouraged to work from the office.
- Create a sense of community
The Microsoft Work Trend Index found that employees who have a sense of community with their colleagues are more inclined toward working on-site. Employers can create this sense of community by providing opportunities for socialization and collaboration. For example, organizing team-building activities, social events, and collaborative work sessions can help employees feel connected to their colleagues and are more willing to come to the office.
- Offer flexibility
While many employees are eager to return to the office, others may prefer to continue working remotely. To motivate these employees to work from the office, employers can offer flexible work arrangements. For example, allowing employees to work from home for part of the week and come into the office for the rest of it, can help ease the transition back to the office. This flexibility can also help to accommodate employees with caregiving responsibilities or other constraints.
- Implement new technologies
Employees do not want to come to an empty office. Or, in the case when not everyone has a permanent workplace in the office, it may turn out that despite their appearance at the company, there is no available workstation for them. The DigitalHQ platform solves this problem – it easily allows you to check who will work from the office on a given day and who will be working remotely. It also allows you to choose a preferred workstation, such as a desk by the window, next to a person they intend to collaborate with, or near other team members.
The platform also facilitates the integration of new team members who can easily find out in the application who they will be working next to or where a person they are looking for is sitting on a given day. Additionally, the DigitalHQ platform provides support for reserving other spaces, such as conference rooms or parking spaces.
Access to new technologies makes employees perceive the company not only as innovative and developmental but also as one that cares about the quality and comfort of their work by providing solutions that facilitate a hybrid work model.
In conclusion, motivating employees to work from the office after a prolonged period of remote work requires a thoughtful and strategic approach. Employers can tap into employees’ sense of purpose, provide a safe and healthy work environment, create a sense of community, and offer flexibility to create a motivating workplace culture. But above all, it is important to remember to provide employees with the right tools to easily plan their work.
By taking these steps, employers will not only help their employees thrive in the new world of work but also show their support and understanding, which will pay off in the future with committed, dedicated employees.