As cities continue to administer vaccines throughout the United States and more people become protected from the COVID-19 virus, many companies are starting to think about moving their operations back to the office. While some businesses never went fully remote, some have already made the transition back. If your business is beginning to think about making this transition, you may be worried about how smooth the process will go down. Big changes, whether it be opening up new locations, hiring more employees, or returning workers to a new work environment, are often met with anxiety and stress and for a good reason. Many things could go wrong throughout the process, so you must have all the proper measures in place to streamline and ease the transition.
If you are thinking about hiring new employees and building up the team before entering the office, you will want to place immigration advertising and work with a recruitment company. They will ensure that your workforce is ready to tackle the new normal by providing you with qualified candidates. In addition to rejigging your workforce, there are also some other tips and ideas to keep in mind when making this transition which you can check out below. It’s never too early to start preparing, and delaying will only make things more difficult.
Inform Employees Early
When transitioning back to the office, you need to keep your employees in the loop. They will not respond well if you tell them that they need to come back to the office next week. There needs to be a discussion around the return to the office in which you include them. If you have some employees who are at higher risk than others, it might be best to break down the transition into phases. Rather than bringing all the employees in simultaneously, bring in only those at the lowest risk of contracting the virus. For example, families who have children still at home in school might not handle a complete migration back to the office. Additionally, they may be at higher risk of contracting the virus.
As there are varying risk populations, everyone must have ample notice about the transition. You can begin by speaking to all your employees individually and then meeting with everyone to discuss the plan. Let employees give their input as some of them might not be comfortable returning to the office. By giving them a heads up and informing them early, they will mentally prepare for the adjustment and start planning. Remember, it will be an adjustment for everyone, so ensure that you give employees the time and space to ease back into the office.
Provide A Preview of the New Office Atmosphere
When employees start returning to the office, it will not be the same place they left. There will be new protocols, and the layout may have changed to include more room for social distancing and shielded workspaces. You should provide employees a glimpse of what this new work atmosphere will look like so that they can adjust more quickly. If there are new rules that they need to follow or a change to how they maneuver through the space, it is best to keep them in the loop. Not only does this make the adjustment easier for them, but it also ensures that these measures you have set out in the office to curb the spread of COVID-19 are helpful.
There are bound to be many questions that your employees have during this time, and you must have answers. They most likely will want to know about different safety protocols, including what is and is not allowed in the new workspace. Depending on if you have a kitchen where employees eat lunch or similar spaces, it is good to outline rules set out for different communal spaces located throughout the office space. If you need an expert in planning these rules you may want to hire a third-party contractor from another country. In this case you will need to place permanent labor certification ads.
Be Flexible With Expectations
While you may be eager to get your business back up and running, you need to know that all your employees may not be in the same headspace. A lot has changed over the past year, and people have a different mindset towards how they operate daily. Along with this, their capacity to endure long, arduous tasks may be limited. This can happen after being confined into their homes for so long. As an employer, you need to be flexible with your expectations. Allow employees to readjust at their own pace. Offer them options for returning, whether it is partially remote or shorter office days.
Give them a chance to adapt to the new office environment, and they will be more likely to get back into the swing of things sooner than later. If you know that employees will need more time to complete specific projects, build this into how you assign them. Don’t set hard to meet goals that would even be difficult in a normal circumstance. By preparing for a lower level of employees’ productivity and being flexible with how you manage them, you can be sure that the transition back to the office is smooth.
Getting back into the office will take some hard work, but it can go smoother if you implement the right tactics. Preparing employees early and getting their input, managing schedules, and giving them a preview of what to expect will help them mentally get ready for the transition. By staying flexible with your expectations throughout the process, you can rest assured your workforce slowly progresses back to their productivity levels before the pandemic begins.
If you find that you require a consultant or more workers, speak to a recruitment agency. They often can provide you with a list of suitable individuals who will be fit to accomplish your needs during this time. They can also help you with immigration labor advertising.
