Expert Insights: Getting Workers Back to Office

How Office-Based Businesses Can Compete with the Rise in Demand for WFH Jobs

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, many workplaces encouraged employees to work from home but since then, some employers have been gently encouraging workers back into the office full-time.

While this may be better for employers, staff may begin to push back – and with a 302% increase in search volume for remote or WFH jobs between 2019-2023, it is clearly a desirable option for employees.

Make the office a comfortable space to be in

A major benefit of home working is the comfort that comes with it, with access to snacks, a couch, plenty of natural light and some home comforts. By replicating this welcoming space, you can encourage employees to make use of the office space.

Things such as natural light, comfortable seating arrangements, top-notch kitchen facilities, and access to snacks & drinks are all achievable options that mimic the creature comforts that are available to WFH employees.

Flexibility

Giving employees the flexibility to work from home for a couple of days per week, or even as and when they need to can make a world of difference to workers who are unsure about having to work in the office.

Allowing this freedom can improve your staff’s work-life balance, which will pay dividends to the quality of their work in the long run.

When employees are shown trust, they frequently demonstrate trust in abundance in return.

Team-building activities

In order to encourage people back into the office, you must lean on the primary benefits of being in the office: socialisation and relationship-building.

Team-building activities can help to foster good relationships between employees, which leads to improved happiness in the office, better collaboration and better outcomes for clients or customers.

We’d recommend things such as team lunches or social activities within the office to encourage people to attend in person”.