The global business arena shifted when the Covid pandemic hit and many employees turned to digital solutions and did their work remotely, which was designed to stop the spread of the ‘virus’ and as we are now returning to normal life, many businesses are reopening their offices and asking all employees to return to their usual location.
Potential Obstacles To A ‘Return To The Office’ Plan
There can be many issues that impact a return to the office plan, which we outline below.
- Lack of employee interest – When you look at this from the employee’s perspective, what’s not to like about working from home? You would expect a large percentage of the workforce to be unhappy about the return and that is often the case. Employees might make a case for remote working, stating that they reach all of their targets when working from home, add to that the money the company is saving by closing the office and you have a compelling case to continue working remotely. This would be a time to arrange a social gathering one evening and get everyone prepared for the return, citing the positives rather than the negatives. There are informative articles online on preparing for a return to the office, which highlights the issues and offers good advice.
- Office cleaning – You have probably had the office cleaning contract on hold since the start of the lockdowns; if you are planning a return to work, the office cleaners should carry out a deep clean, which includes disinfecting the entire complex.
HR Agency Support
They’re the best people to assist you with your return-to-work initiative work for a leading HR agency. An outsourced HR support UK businesses go to is available and their team would design an implementation plan that leads to a smooth transition. The first thing the agency would do is carry out a needs assessment to see what is in place and what is not; they then present you with an HR proposal that maximises workforce productivity and ensures the well-being of all employees.
Careful Research
We recommend that you thoroughly research the pros and cons of a return-to-the-office policy; if the benefits of remote working outweigh the pluses for a return to the office, it might be better to hold off on the plan. Of course, a lot depends on the nature of your business and the role of each employee; bookkeeping and accountancy staff do not necessarily have to be onsite, while a design team would perform better if they are at the same location. You might find it better to stagger the return to the office, starting with essential employees.
24/7 HR Support
There is 24 hour HR advice for UK employers when you enlist the help of a leading HR agency and this can be a life-saver if you encounter employee conflicts. No matter the time of day, you can speak to a UK labour law specialist to get advice on any aspect of HR.