4 Effective Strategies to Bring Employees Back to the Office

Returning to office can seem disruptive for those having carefully crafted home offices due to extended remote work during the pandemic. According to Blind’s Poll, 76% of survey participants were not satisfied with their employer's return to work mandate.   

Companies are tackling this challenge by taking initiatives that benefit the working population. According to Resume Builder, 88% of the employers are willing to provide incentives, such as higher salaries, commuting benefits, etc., to their employees if they come back to the office. Along with these changes, business leaders must look from various angles to provide a comfortable working environment that entices employees.  

Begin with Remodeling

Renovating an office into a safe and productive working space shows your employees that the company cares about their well-being.  

Modification in offices is a concept embraced by many reputed companies during the return to work mandate with successful results, and some companies have chosen to build new offices as well. Mutual of Omaha, a US-based insurance firm, has begun construction of a new building in Nebraska. The offices will have premium meeting rooms and amenity spaces. 

The current lot of office-goers are well-informed and aware of their requirements for working in an office. Ask for their input and create a space that is conducive to their innovative thinking. SAPS Labs in India has done just that by inaugurating its first hybrid office. The Company’s MD has embraced the flexible working style preferred by the employees and redefined the traditional office space.  

What comes before remodeling?

Redesigning an office space for the return to work mandate is easier said than done. It requires careful planning, considering the life-altering changes that people have gone through during the pandemic. 

Having a design outline at hand is the first step in envisioning a new office space. But, to make this vision a reality, a comprehensive logistical plan must be implemented.   

Here are some of the key factors to consider before remodeling or searching for a new physical working space:

Workspace Feasibility Analysis

Establishing a new working space for the return to work mandate needs to be justified to the organization and its people. A feasibility study is an assessment made by the internal real estate management team to validate this decision. 

The team hires real estate agents from reputed firms to present them with a detailed report based on their specifications. A thorough analysis is conducted that presents all available data and information to the top management responsible for approval. 

These are some of the criteria researched thoroughly while relocating or renovating:

• Location: An office should be situated in an easily identifiable area and clearly marked for both the employees and outsiders.

• Budget: Companies with capital expenditure limitations should plan their investment around these figures.

• Regulations: A leased space or an owned commercial office space should undergo changes with the express permission of concerned authorities for remodeling. While looking for a new space, the concerned builders and developers must furnish certificates that are government-approved.

• Ample spacing: Companies should seek working areas that provide sufficient workstations and other designated areas such as cafeterias, washrooms, inventory, etc. Employers should also consider areas that allow them to change their settings if and when required. 

  
  

• Amenities: An organization is stipulated to provide access to certain facilities to its employees and, by regulation, make arrangements that safeguard the well-being of all occupiers working in an office. These include security, water, food, parking, etc.

Digital Administrative Solutions

Traditional offices need modern technological solutions. Digital connectivity has become an essential part of working in an office. 

Companies are contemplating using smart technologies to create an agile and efficient work environment. It will safeguard the physical workspace through the use of technologies such as cloud applications and Software-as-a-service models and improve the transfer of data and information through the use of advanced business applications.

Organizations should prepare a list of factors to consider before diving into innovative Information Technology, such as building management systems, before setting up an enhanced version of a physical workspace for the return to work mandate. Here are some that can be given some consideration:

• External IT Resources: A combination of a strong internal and external IT team can provide ideas with a holistic approach. The resultant system will safeguard the organization from any outside digital threats.  

• Security and Performance: A secure network and a robust framework is the key to a productive technological organizational system. A protected connection will ensure that internal information is in safe hands. The use of management solutions can handle user profiling, desk support, inventory account management, etc. 

• Occupancy Management: It comes under the space optimization bracket and can be used by building management applications to measure the occupancy of office premises. This particular feature is available in software that adjusts a building’s automated lighting, Wi-Fi, and air conditioners according to the occupancy level. 

• Energy Efficiency: Most offices are prone to energy wastage as they are unable to create or adopt an environmentally friendly system. An automatic sensor-based technical application that is connected to all electrical equipment is a wise choice for small and big businesses.  

  
  

• Organizational Design: A Company has an internal structure that is used while dividing responsibilities. It is also used to establish appropriate physical spaces for each department working in an office. Keeping track using a digital application can help organizations understand the reporting hierarchy and locate the departments accurately.

Office Expansion and Consolidation

Renovation is carried out in terms of future business planning. When an organization begins this process,  they expect to grow and accommodate more employees working in an office. The space, as well, should also showcase prosperity. 

Adaptability is a critical quotient for businesses. 

There should also be a rationale for such expansion and consolidation. The feasibility study presents research conducted from various angles. However, the tangible office needs a certain level of extensive examination to furnish a detailed report.  

The following points can shed some light on the report:

• Space Metrics: A workspace is managed based on pre-planned metrics. As different working models were incorporated, the metrics underwent changes. Some of the common metrics used are vacancy level, occupancy level, and cost per seat/demand for space. 

• Workforce essentials: A professional working space requires essential equipment that is used daily besides the standard stationary items such as paper, computers, printers, etc. The tangible space also has some essentials such as meeting rooms, auditoriums, toilets, electricity, security, etc. 

• Office Optimization: A cramped space provides little leeway for collaboration or creativity. The space of work should project upgradation. This can be implemented using the data collected from the organization’s space metrics, such as occupancy level, utilization rate, etc.

Health-certified Business Buildings

The COVID-19 disease created a huge uproar that increased health consciousness among the people. The same was adopted in business and workspaces during the return to work mandate. 

New entrant employees have clear-cut expectations, and they evaluate the working atmosphere and the overall construction of a business building. It doesn’t only mean the well-being of people working in an office premises but also the office premises itself. 

A person can only take precautions that individually prevent diseases, but a healthy building takes extra steps to ensure the minimization of such risks and putting control measures that reduce exposure. 

Business leaders should undertake steps that solidify the safety of their place of business and those who work in it:

• Green/Health Building Consultant: Engaging a professional with experience in the functions of a green building is the first step in this process. A specialist would recommend the changes that protect the health and well-being of its occupants. 

• Employee Centric measures: Businesses should create occupant services systems such as on-site healthcare, childcare, fitness activities, etc. This will increase the reliability of an organization as being health-conscious and employee-friendly.  

• Hygiene and Sanitation: These are basic needs in every commercial or non-commercial building. Sewage management and unclean air ducts are also a part of building sanitation. Employees spend a large part of their lives in offices, and regular cleaning services should be employed to maintain good hygiene. 

  
  

• Building Certification: Health building certification is no longer a subcomponent of green building certification. WELL building certification and the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) grant such certification after conducting inspections.

Conclusion

Business leaders have been traversing through various trends during the return to work mandate period. It has changed their perception and allowed them to embrace new ideas. As a leader in your area of business, you need to understand your company’s needs. 

The back-to-office trend has been and is still met with hesitation. A physical business place with safety necessities can bolster employees’ spirit and the above points are a step towards that process. 

A large part of our lives is spent in workspaces, so why not make it as comfortable as possible? 

Consult our Team of real estate professionals for more ideas to create an ideal workplace.