Before the pandemic, the office was viewed as a place individuals can get work done. As vaccines roll out, many business leaders are beginning to understand that an office is a social place for collaboration. There are four things to keep in mind when bringing employees back to the office, according to a March article in Harvard Business Review.
Studies have shown that many employees want to continue working remotely in some capacity. What the pandemic has shown is that a lot of work does not need to be completed in an office space, but some human interactions do. Many businesses are expecting to adopt a hybrid model, which means employees will work in the office some days and from home on other days.
Here are four things to think about when returning to the office:
- Bonding and building relationships
Video conferencing platforms have affected how brains process body language, the article said. Face-to-face meetings between teams can build trust, cooperation and support. - Mentorship is how new employees learn
New employees learn just as much from peers as they do from onboarding orientations, the article said. Access to peers is valuable in training processes. - Impromptu collaboration
Being near peers allows teammates to collaborate casually throughout the workday. Companies like Microsoft keep an in-office communal workspace to allow employees to meet up and talk. - Redesign desk spaces
Low-budget design plans and cramped seating can harm morale. Incorporating designs to encourage social interaction while enabling privacy can provide the best spaces.
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