We were a little surprised to read a recent article stating that more than half the respondents to a survey are ready to return to the workplace. It seems they miss interacting with co-workers (55%) while another 43% look forward to having a personal workspace. It seems “death by Zoom” is the motivation for 32% who want less video-conferencing. However, the return isn’t all or nothing: most want a hybrid arrangement with 67% of workers preferring flexible hours and staggered on-site work times.
The workplace area of greatest concern to returning staff members is meeting and conference rooms, cited by 58%. Common areas worry 53% of workers while bathrooms and work stations were cited by slightly less than half of the survey’s respondents. As the author summarized, transparency is a key factor in restoring employee confidence in embracing on-site work. Employers should over-communicate (if that’s even possible) the preventive measures they are taking to minimize the spread of COVID and other communicable conditions. Managers should explain any new workplace policies as well as how sanitizing practices have been enhanced and how compliance is being monitored.
Many employers anticipate transitioning workers to some on-site work beginning in January. HR managers should consider which workplace policies they will implement to lessen the amount of employee traffic, streamline operations to continue allowing remote work, and how they will get the word out (loudly and frequently) of the steps being taken to keep everyone safe. Who knows… maybe the new normal will revert to the old normal sometime soon.