Tips to Help Employers Gain Employee Trust During the Transition
When it comes to enticing staff to spend more time in the office – when it’s safe to do so – and less time working from their homes (or kitchen tables), employers across the nation should be covering their bases to ensure a safe, swift, and practical transition.
In an attempt to attract more staff to work from the office, some organizations are revaluating their assets. Whether employers are considering a private outdoor courtyard or terrace, state-of-the-art café, fitness centre, or entertainment room, one thing is clear. These amenities are certainly attractive, but employees are prioritizing the fundamentals of workplace health and safety before considering returning to the office.
Amenities are a wonderful way to show your staff you care, and if organizations are able to provide these morale boosters, why not treat your hardworking team to joyful work-life experiences? So long as the following key elements are carefully and thoroughly ironed out.
How to Gain Employee Trust When Transitioning Back to Office
Return to work plan with official policies – Employees feel confident about their employer’s choices when they’re clearly outlined in a timely, accessible, and transparent way. Keeping your staff comfortable and feeling supported means identifying problems and solutions and developing a clear plan with supported policies your employees can get behind.
Read More: Why your company needs a remote work policy (& How to Build One!)
Tip: Stuck? Look up your provincial, municipal, or other government body for resources. It also doesn’t hurt to ask for input and feedback from your employees on what they expect upon returning to the office.
Adopt a hybrid workplace –Your staff have had the experience of working from their homes for the past year+, and while some might be banging down your office doors to get in, others might not be so eager. When an employer gives autonomy and freedom of choice to their employees, they are much more likely to stick around and feel appreciated for having the opportunity to work at home and in the office. Flexibility is paramount when gaining employee trust, particularly when navigating the return to work.
Communication – Now that you’ve got your plan and supporting policies, it’s time to communicate these developments with the rest of your organization. Remember, transparency and clarity go a long way – your staff have been through the wringer (as have you), and it’s time for some matter-of-fact discussions that won’t leave anyone in the dark. Whether you opt for an all-staff meeting or send management to discuss these policies with their employees, be sure to allow for some Q&A or private one-on-ones for those who need clarification or wish to share a concern.
Tip: Be sure to send a soft copy to your staff or directions to where it’s stored on the cloud so that they can refer to your organization’s internal policies during their own time.
Assets and asset management – With the fundamentals covered (i.e., you have policies, and they have been communicated), take a look at your assets and determine if there is a budget for improvement after all your maintenance has been taken care of. The employee experience is more important now than ever, and talented people are constantly faced with more attractive offers on LinkedIn, Indeed, and their social networks.
“These are things that tenants had been asking for even before the pandemic, but the pandemic has focused our thinking. Companies that want to attract and retain top talent are going to have to offer great spaces and great amenities to bring people back to the office,” says Brandon Donnelly, Managing Director of Development at Slate Asset Management. “I think most people are sick of working at their kitchen table,” he adds, “but in a post-pandemic world, workplaces will still have to be attractive alternatives, performing as social hubs with opportunities for collaboration and engagement while addressing employees’ needs for health and well-being.”
More Return-to-Work Resources:
- Tips for Creating a Return-to-Work Strategy
- The Future of Work, Post-Pandemic
- 5 Things We’ve Learned That Will Help Prepare for Return to Work
- Meeting Space Solutions for the Hybrid Workplace
- Stressed About Returning to Work?
After the year we’ve all endured, the workforce is enthusiastic about resuming a new normal that involves working out of the office. By adopting a collaborative office space, you’re building a sense of trust, appreciation, and innovation – and that’s a workplace that’s in high demand.