Before the arrival of the global pandemic, almost all employees went to the office and worked on-site. Millions of workers woke up each day and endured the morning commute so they could get to work on time. Once there, we could collaborate with coworkers, be part of a broader corporate culture and have the camaraderie that only comes from time spent together. Many a creative idea or new plan was crafted because we could easily brainstorm ideas with those around us.
When the pandemic came rolling in with full force, our traditional way of working changed in the blink of an eye. Instead of spending our day with coworkers, we found ourselves needing to work remotely from our home. Face to face collaboration was replaced with Zoom sessions, and all of our communications was done via phone, video or email. As employees spent countless hours at home, they also had time to reflect on what they really wanted out of life. As a result, when the pandemic ended, numerous employees lobbied for being able to still flexibly work from home. Employers had to work hard to find ways to entice workers to return to the office.
Hybrid Work Models
One of the models companies turned to when they wanted to persuade employees to come back to the workplace was hybrid work. This model of distributed or flexible work lets employees work wherever they can be most productive. It typically involves employees being in the office for part of the week, which helps build a sense of work community and fosters collaboration.
The flexibility of this model is very attractive to workers, as it allows them to create a far better work-life balance in comparison to full-time at the office work. Employees who can adjust their schedules to accommodate important things in their personal lives are far happier and more loyal to their employer.
Modern Workspaces
The traditional office model of working in isolating cubicles with low light and limited opportunity for human interaction made many offices depressing. Open plan workstations offer a flexible layout that encourages communication and interaction. Being able to easily share ideas can help spark creative innovations within a firm.
This type of modern workspace decor also gives employees a far more welcoming environment to look forward to when they return to the office after many months at home. This far more relaxed, social workspace emphasizes the benefits of interacting with other employees in a comfortable environment.
Offer Quality of Life Incentives
One of the best ways to get employees to come back to the office is to offer well thought out incentives that bolster the workers’ quality of life. One offering employers could consider is to make on-site childcare available to parents who work for them.
Other incentives that are proving popular include an on-site cafe, free drinks and free or subsidized lunches. Providing stipends to subsidize a worker’s daily commute costs also helps encourage employees to return to the office. Extra perks like gym memberships and regular social events, are additional offerings that workers appreciate.