Exceeding staff expectations when returning to office working

Employees’ plans for returning to the office are far from conclusive, and more businesses are adopting a hybrid approach to provide staff with more flexible options. But in order to encourage staff back to the office, you need to ensure you’re setting the scene in the correct way. Businesses need to understand why employees might be hesitant to come back to working at the office so they can make changes where necessary.  

Why a positive work environment is important

Maintaining a positive workspace offers several benefits for businesses and employees alike. Firstly, it provides staff with a work-appropriate environment where they can work comfortably and in peace to get more done throughout the day. It makes it easier for staff to communicate and work collectively as well as independently, and keeps morale up. 

Cultivating a positive work environment has been shown to increase productivity and motivation, and this in turn can help to improve staff retention. If your employees work in a dreary, uncomfortable office, they’re not inclined to want to come into the office every day and this will impact their motivation to work. Keeping staff engaged and happy is vital for any business, and the right work environment is key to that. 

What should a positive work environment include?

Positive work environments put employee happiness on the same level as business success, and companies which focus on this understand that one can’t succeed without the other. There are various ways to achieve a positive work environment, from allowing flexible working so that staff can strike a better work-life balance, to practising open communication and a flow of ideas from all levels of the employee hierarchy. 

Employee benefits also go a long way to boosting morale and making your business an enjoyable place to work, from paid time off and mental health days to training packages and more. But there are ways to foster a calmer, more productive business and that is with your office itself. Staff want to be sure that when they come to work, their needs will be met and they’ll be safe, comfortable and able to work well. 

return_to_the_office_blog_images_1.png

Tips for creating the perfect office environment

Creating a positive, comfortable work environment doesn’t necessarily mean starting from scratch. In fact, minor tweaks to both interior and exterior areas can be hugely effective in transforming your workspace. 

Make the right first impression

If you want to encourage staff back to the office, you need to pay as much attention to the exteriors as you do inside. From making sure windows are clean to let plenty of natural light in to making sure doors are secure, walls are clean and graffiti-free, and grounds are kept free from litter, keep the exterior of your building as clean and tidy as you can so you provide a professional impression for staff and customers alike.

Improve the lighting

Lighting plays a surprisingly large role in the performance and attitude of your staff. In fact, a study by researchers at Imperial College London found that exposure to natural light can be an effective way to improve mood, energy levels and even mental health. Blue-tinted lights can help to reduce fatigue, where natural light can’t be incorporated, and enhance work performance, while warmer toned light bulbs are perfect for meeting rooms to promote relaxation and calm. For areas of the office where you want to keep staff alert and active, mid-toned bulbs are the right choice. 

Provide thermal comfort

Comfort is important in an office. Employees won’t be lining up to return to the office if it’s cold, dark and dingy. So make it as comfortable and conducive to work as possible. Thermal comfort is vital, so make sure that there aren’t any draughts from windows and doors, and that there are HVAC units installed and working properly. Likewise, you want to ensure that there’s solar shading in place so that workers don’t get too hot in the summertime and there’s no glare on screens. Temperature regulated offices create a comfortable place for your team to work from.

return_to_the_office_blog_images_2.png

Crafting the perfect workplace value proposition

Leaders are accountable for ensuring the business delivers an attractive value proposition to encourage people into the office. After the past few years of remote working, many staff are now finding it hard to come back to full-time office working, so businesses who don’t want to be completely remote need to offer something more. This means crafting policies that foster communication and workplace culture, and ensuring that managers are empowered to adapt policies to meet the needs of individuals in the team. 

Managers are responsible for bringing the workplace value proposition to life and acknowledging what staff need to make the return to the office easier and more appealing. Make sure those conversations are authentic, and come from a place of wanting to help without touting the benefits of working from the office when they’re not genuine.

Putting health and wellbeing at the forefront

Since the pandemic, hygiene is a bigger issue than ever before, and workers want to know that they’ll be safe if they come into the office to work every week. It’s important that companies step up their cleaning regimen with regular deep cleans, using antibacterial cleaners and making sure that sanitisers and hand gels are positioned throughout the office to make it easier for staff to stay safe. 

Health and wellbeing is no longer a luxury. It’s something that staff expect to be a priority, and if you want to encourage people back to the office, then you need to make it clear that it’s integral to the company ethos. Whether it’s subsidised gym memberships, lunchtime yoga sessions or complimentary health insurance, offering benefits that help staff stay healthy is a great way to bring people back and encourage presenteeism. 

Creating a positive, safe and comfortable work environment is a responsibility all business owners have, and if you want to encourage staff back to the office then it’s even more of a priority. It will not only encourage higher levels of productivity but also lead to higher job satisfaction, employee retention and lower workplace stress.