Re-onboarding staff successfully in the wake of Covid-19 will pave the way for future success, says Philip Walter, chief operating officer of Leeds-headquartered Bailie Group.
If working from home has become the norm for your business during lockdowns and restrictions, the chances are, getting people back to the office is an ongoing process.
Many organisations are keen not to rush workers back in, or to insist on a pre-coronavirus style working pattern which entails colleagues being present in the office five days per week.
Employee worries – including among the C-suite — are numerous and, under the circumstances, justifiable. But while not all concerns can be remedied, there are certainly elements which can be eased to minimise any additional, avoidable pressures.
Anxieties may include the use of public transport. While you cannot influence what happens on or around trains, trams or buses, you could reassess car parking, for example, sourcing and subsidising extra spaces for staff use.
There may be stresses around the proximity of team members within the office. Re-arranging furniture to give each employee more space could be a sensible option.
Here are some further thoughts and ideas for navigating this unprecedented situation.
Treat returners as new starters
If staff have been away for a long time, many will feel unsure and unsafe. They will require a full re-induction on everything from what happens when the fire alarm goes off, to where to find pencils and paper clips.
Be careful to action what’s likely to be a long list of requests for adjustments to individual workspaces – personnel are used to having their essentials arranged just how they like them, and there’s no ‘one size fits all’.
Hopefully by the time staff begin to return, the building will have undergone a deep clean, with perhaps some fresh décor and even a reconfiguration of room layouts – giving as much thought as possible to environmental sustainability, of course – to provide comfortable breakout and meeting spaces.
Also, have specialists been called in to service the lifts and clean the gutters? Have all other fixes and checks been carried out? Staff retention is likely to be an issue for many firms in the months ahead and it really is a case of first impressions count.
Involve everyone in changes
During lockdown many people have been rethinking their futures, considering long-held hopes and dreams. Being back with their old team, and the same old irritations, might not be top of their wish-list.
What can you do to make employees see their role anew, and fall in love with it again? It costs time and money to travel to work, so what will make them excited to be back? What is the benefit to them, in comparison with staying at home?
The answer to this will depend on the company culture and your workforce profile in general but a complete overhaul of things like perks, teambuilding and social opportunities could help – alongside those new sofas and plants, of course.
It’s crucial that your vision for change is sustainable, properly consulted upon and communicated. Build in opportunities for all colleagues to have their say, at every stage – ideally before they set foot in the office, if there’s still time.
Sharing your strategy, and acting upon the contributions of others, will lead to their buy-in, and your ultimate, collaborative success.
Think about moving
Now might not be the time to make permanent decisions about your company’s future home, but you could certainly consider, say, three different scenarios and monitor them, ready for when working patterns and preferences settle down.
In the longer term, do you need to be city centre based, or would a move elsewhere offer a more relaxed environment? Would a reboot in a fresh, eco-conscious building help energise your teams for the challenges ahead?
Looking to the future and anticipating how business needs may change will put your company in a well-researched and considered position to act, when the time is right.
So, in conclusion, an all-round special effort is needed – with attention to personnel, buildings and ways of operating – to make re-onboarding go smoothly.
This year is truly the start of a new era – and what firms do now will pave the way for future success.
Wanda Rich has been the Editor-in-Chief of Global Banking & Finance Review since 2011, playing a pivotal role in shaping the publication’s content and direction. Under her leadership, the magazine has expanded its global reach and established itself as a trusted source of information and analysis across various financial sectors. She is known for conducting exclusive interviews with industry leaders and oversees the Global Banking & Finance Awards, which recognize innovation and leadership in finance. In addition to Global Banking & Finance Review, Wanda also serves as editor for numerous other platforms, including Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.