MGA Return to Office Strategy: 5 Key Steps

Navigating the New Normal

With a large majority of us feeling pleased to be getting back out and enjoying a sense of normality, CEOs are turning their attention to the return to the office. This is a tricky subject to navigate as all situations will be unique, nonetheless, Paul has summarised his top tips for keeping office re-openings as smooth as possible

1. Communicate Clearly

Your employees will be looking to you for guidance and leadership, now more than ever, so it is important that communication surrounding the office reopening is succinct and direct to avoid any confusion. This may be as simple as establishing a clear date when employees can return to the office, and outline expectations – how many days they must come in or whether you will operate on a system which allows staff to be flexible.

2. Understand Employee Needs

After working remotely for so long it is understandable that some staff may feel apprehensive about returning to the office. Do not dismiss these concerns or assume that everyone will be willing to come in 5 days a week. Reassure your employees that you are taking adequate steps to keep them safe. Provide information on health and safety precautions in place such as social distancing measures or the presentation of negative covid test result if required. These things may feel small, but they will ensure that staff are reassured and feel comfortable re-entering their work place.

3. Adapt & Remain Agile – ‘Hybrid Working Model’

It is predicted that most businesses will not see a direct return to full office capacity, 5 days a week. Large numbers have experienced the benefits of working from home. Employers cannot expect staff to give up these home working benefits without reluctance, and so you may need to consider a Hybrid Working Model. This model enables staff to split their time between the office and home, whilst maintaining productivity and effective communication amongst different teams. Allow your employees to feel involved in the process of developing this model and use feedback surveys to gauge staff sentiment.

4. Review & Reassess

It goes without saying that this is a situation that most organisations will not have dealt with before, and so there will inevitably be challenges in implementation. The most important takeaway is to continually review and reassess how your strategy is working. Check in with line managers regularly to review staff sentiment and engagement. What is working well? What are the teething issues? Take these lessons and act on them, look at how your model could evolve to further benefit your staff and the efficiency of your business. Make the changes accordingly.

5. Be Strategic – Engage Support

As your company navigates this new working environment and develops a strategy that will work for your business over the near and long term, it is essential that you are thoughtful, strategic and well informed of the many considerations to be taken into account.

GreenKite can provide flexible solutions to support you in getting your team back to the office, ranging from risk assessment templates to compliance and legal advice on the implementation of a ‘Hybrid Working Model’ and essential advice on supporting your staff and managing team dynamics.  Visit our Products & Services page for more information

Join the conversation – sign up for the next webinar in our resilience series – People & Operational Resilience – Covid & Beyond on July 14th