What Can You Do to Make Workers Choose Work from Office Back After the Pandemic?

The time has come to go back to the workplace after working remotely. It may be challenging to convince employees to return to the office. After all, many have become accustomed to working from the convenience of their homes. However, a Smartway2 survey found that “37% of workers miss spontaneous collaboration and idea sharing, while 40% of workers miss the social interaction in the office.” According to a survey, most company decision-makers prefer to work from home and in the office. Only 6% of workers are interested in working from home full-time after COVID-19; instead, they are searching for a hybrid work environment.

In response, many firms are changing to work environments that are more flexible, independent, and agile. Organizations intend to introduce hybrid home-office work arrangements, more employee-friendly work practices, and health and safety procedures to raise morale and promote employee contentment. After all, content workers are more inventive and compelling.

So, what can you do to persuade your staff to return to work by giving them a sense of security?

 

Strategies to Attract Employees Back to The Office

Employees can be invited to work from the office just by updating the workspace, enhancing health measures, supporting various work styles, and promoting social connection. Companies should concentrate on the following four areas to design a workspace that encourages employees to return to the office:

 

Furniture to Keep Them Productive

In a modern office setting, furniture plays a significant part in the workplace’s ambiance, providing a secure and pleasant environment for everyone working there. Comfort is only one aspect of workplace furniture’s significance. We may need to realize how important furniture is to employee productivity and the smooth operation of a company.

Businesses should now invest in ergonomic office furniture that can significantly enhance employees’ posture, ease back pain, and boost output. The office furniture you select must be adaptable enough to accommodate the needs of every person working there. As varied as the shapes and sizes of your employees are, purchasing furniture that can be altered to fit their needs may keep everyone in the workplace relaxed and focused on their work.

For instance, when shopping for a work chair for the office, seek one with essential modifications like seat depth, back reclining, and movable armrests.

 

Change the Color & Lighting

The first noticeable part of the office is the vibrant colors of the walls and lights. Change the color of the walls and add lights to make the color more attractive. You can also play with colors to make the workspace infused with a creative vibe. Research has also shown that using colors that mimic nature can create a more pleasant work environment.

In addition, lighting is the other easiest and most efficient way to change the atmosphere in your office, transforming it from a drab area to a hub of inspiration and incredible productivity. A well-lit space can promote energy and alertness while reducing weariness, headaches, and eye strain, and it can also increase productivity. Most of us who work from home are accustomed to having control over our surroundings, including the freedom to open windows or change the lighting to set the mood.

Organizations should maximize the natural light, and adding windows to south-facing walls can be a way to do so.

 

Personalized Space Offering Homely Vibes

Given how much time individuals spend working from home, it’s not surprising that they’ve developed unusual work habits and a taste for the conveniences of home. As a result, upon returning to work, additional requirements and needs exist. Your workplace space can offer different amenities, even though home offices offer the possibility of including personalized elements or homey aspects.

Consider adding some cozy elements, such as indoor plants and flowers, room diffusers, and desk lamps for increased comfort and an opulent feel, to your company’s workspace to make it more personalized.

 

Design that Encourages Play

At any Google office, there is always some play in action. Similarly, you can include a play area in your office to give your employees a space to refresh and start their work more efficiently. The variety of play options you can build depends on the size, region, and budget.

 

Use the Third Space Within the Office

One of the critical features of the office that can encourage employees to return to the office is the casual seating areas – or third spaces. Essentially, these are alternative workspaces that aren’t your desk. Some are designed for groups of 10-20 people, while others are for smaller groups of 2-3.

Mobile workers and many of those who work outside the office are increasing, so organizations can develop creative areas within their offices that mimic third spaces.

 

A Better Cafeteria Keeps Them Working

Organizations can also provide free meals to their employees. Although this seems like a simple benefit, the intention is to keep staff on campus so they can work longer hours. It is possible to foster a connected and cooperative workplace culture through causal interactions in the cafeteria. Additionally, you may have some degree of control over your employees’ health depending on the food you serve. Employees should also be free to customize their meals per their dietary needs.

 

Make the Workplace Pet-Friendly

During the Covid-19, many folks adopted pets as companions. After all, with isolation and limited human interactions, pets offer important companionship and emotional support.

But what will your employees do with their furry pals if they have to come to the office—even in a hybrid or part-time routine? To put an end to this issue, many organizations included a flexible policy on pets in the workplace. Along with many recreational parks and a supportive culture, creating a unique space for pets can also help insist employees return to the office. Google even has an entire Employee Code of Conduct section publicizing its pet-friendly policies.

 

Introducing Gym in the Workplace

People got more health-conscious during the Covid-19 and they started working out to stay fit. However, coming to the office may hamper their routine as they may get less time to work out. For this reason, companies should invest in on-site gyms. Organizations have found that having a healthy support system in the workplace is a great way to treat employees’ mental health and helps boost employee productivity. So, planning the design of your workplace gym can attract employees to come back to the office.

 

Conclusive Thoughts

It may appear simple, but terminology is essential. The office should not be a place for knowledge workers to complete tasks. It is a place of collaboration, creativity, and learning, where employees are nurtured and have a sense of belonging. Giving names to buildings, floors, sections, or rooms may help fulfill this goal. Names such as “learning center” or “innovation space” communicate a new point of view, shape design changes, attract talent, and influence behavior.