What Are The Top Ways To Bring Teams Back Into The Office?

We are halfway through 2023 and many businesses and organizations are still trying to figure out the most efficient ways to bring their colleagues and staff back into the office. Though the pandemic may be behind us, there are still ways to bridge the gap between working remotely, being in the office, and doing the hybrid approach. Afterall, creating a fostering workplace where colleagues can thrive in goes well beyond office furniture.

Collaboration and In-Person Interactions

One of the main points that have been highlighted the most since returning to the office has been the need for collaborating and in-person interactions, and for good reason. It is no secret that these two areas alone are responsible for higher productivity, increased efficiency, and boosted morale.

Yes, being remote has many perks in itself, such as saving time on commutes, increased mental health, and cost-saving benefits for the employee, and it’s these reasons why many companies need to approach the return to the office and bring people back in a respectful manner. It is important to understand and listen to your employee’s point of view when returning to the office.

Highlighting and showing the benefits of utilizing in-person time effectively is a surefire way to bring people back into the office. If companies can show to their employees that their time is respected and coming into the office is not a waste of time (such as going into the office only to be stuck at the desk all day doing Zoom calls), then employees will be more willing to make that commute into the office multiple times a week.

“While the pandemic created an emergency scenario where companies had to figure out how to run while everyone was sent home, the following years of working from home became most employees new norm. Hybrid work solutions are the best way to get employees back in the office. Touch Down spaces, collaborative meeting spaces, and technology empowered spaces allow for team members to still work with each other despite some members needing to be in other locations.” – Nicole Wynkoop, Director of Design

Modernize Your Workspace

Nothing is worse than going back into an office that is outdated and not equipped to handle the post-pandemic workstyle that many come to expect in this day and age.

Having a set space where hybrid workers can come into the office, plot down, and do their work undisturbed is key to bringing colleagues back into the office. Having phone booths spread throughout the office for people to conduct meetings and one-on-one conversations with their staff is one of the top ways to modernize the office.

Not only that, but having a set schedule and cadence where people come in on certain days throughout the week is an added benefit as well. Knowing when people will come into the office so meetings and quiet hours can be expected is beneficial to working efficiently.

“At this point, I believe most teams are back in the office in some way, if not full time they are hybrid. So, I think it will depend on the company and what each department/team thinks works best for them. I see lots that require them to be in at least 2 days a week.” Stacey Schneider, New Business Development,

Be Respectful

If businesses and organizations are going to go with a set schedule of being in the office a certain amount of days, then one must do so respectfully. For instance, requiring people to be in the office two days a week, but not on set days, is one way to not bring people into the office, as no one wants to fulfill their obligations and then be the only one in the office, for instance.

It is with this that companies should respect everyone’s time in a fair and equal manner. Having certain teams be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays and other teams on Mondays and Wednesdays is one way to ensure that people’s time is not going to waste. No one wants to commute into the office to only stare at their monitor all day without talking to anyone.

“Creating a hybrid atmosphere where certain teams work in the office on specified days, with the option to work from home on the other days is one way to help bring teams back into the office. People have gotten used to the often heightened productivity of working from home, but having teams meet in person on select days may incentivize coming to the office for the socialization/team aspect.” Jennifer Anselmo – Showroom Manager