2. Established Boundaries

Make-shift offices and workstations have been the reality for many who have been working from home. Working from an office can help employees to get back to clearly defined borders between working life and home life. Some employees made the transition to home working without difficulty, separating their work from everything else with ease. Usually this has come down to “where” the work is carried out: those with a dedicated office have a place that is used exclusively for work and are able to switch off when they leave it. For those without that luxury, a return to their employer’s office can make a huge difference to establishing important boundaries for a healthy work-life balance. 

3. Better Communication

Video calls have been the norm for the last few years. Technology allowed us to adapt as seamlessly as possible where meeting face-to-face was no longer feasible. However, even Zoom and Teams are limited in their capacity when it comes to improving communication. Whether you are part of a small close-knit team or a larger collaborative group, meeting in person allows for a much greater depth of understanding and interaction than a video call. Returning to the office allows employees to learn more about their leaders and colleagues and improves communication all round. The benefits to new staff also cannot be understated. While employee induction and training is possible online, new staff more often prefer to be onsite when starting a new job. Trainers can also easily supplement their programme with additional support where they identify the need. For new staff, being in the presence of tenured employees is a huge advantage over working remotely, where shadowing and on-the-job learning are more practical. 

4. Social Interactions

We spend a large amount of our time working: it’s only natural that we develop connections with our colleagues. Of course, many businesses have done their best to ensure staff are equipped to do their job from a practical perspective, but also have done much to focus on mental health projects, virtual team building events and remote initiatives. However, there’s nothing like actually being in an office with real people to help satisfy our social needs – the cup of coffee in the canteen; the walk in the park; small words of encouragement or a quick joke! For some staff, a “return to the office” will actually be their first time in the office and gives these employees the opportunity to build new connections with their peers. Not only this, but being around colleagues, in person, can help to boost morale, alleviate the loneliness of working from home, and correlates with positive mental health. 

5. Open Doors

Most businesses that operate with an open-door policy welcome the opportunity to discuss work, performance, productivity, and job satisfaction with their staff. Genuine feedback and action leads to an enhanced work environment for everyone. However, there are challenges in maintaining an open-door policy when working remotely. Remotely, the door is a virtual one, and while employers do their best to support their staff in the same ways as before, many employees can feel disconnected. Being in close proximity to their employer in the office can alleviate feelings of isolation, particularly for newer staff who would otherwise have undergone induction, training, and probation periods all on a remote basis. Having a tangible resource to hand, and seeing colleagues benefit from the support of their boss is both reassuring and encouraging for the office as a whole.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking forward to the return or not, it’s important to prepare for the change. Remember that safety is paramount, and while many might see a move back to the office as a return to the way things used to be, the reality is that it’s something new. If you’re employer has implemented safety protocols, it’s important to familiarise yourself with these before you return. Glassdoor have compiled this useful Survival Guide for returning to work in the office, which should help in terms of what to expect and additional tips on how to make the most of your transition from remote working.

If your business is making the move back to the office and you need help sourcing candidates, reach out to our Employer Services team today for free advice and support.Click here to see how we can help or email us on recruitment@turasnua.ie