Is your company planning to return to an in-office or mostly in-office workforce in 2022?
Our clients have been talking about this a lot lately. We also hear concerns and opinions from our job-seeker clients on the subject.
I think we would all agree that the subject of returning workers to the office can be a controversial one, to say the least.
There are several areas of concern for both employers and employees. It never hurts to engage an expert to address a subject as touchy as this one.
It also can’t hurt to have a trusted partner who has a comprehensive understanding of your business, industry, and hiring needs. 2022 looks like it will be a whirlwind of hiring and staffing as companies look to grow and expand.
At Patel Consultants, we specialize in a wide range of custom Recruiting and Staffing Solutions for companies just like yours. We probably have great candidates looking for great employers like you right now. We can help you with all of your recruiting and staffing needs—from direct-hire to contract workers, temp-to-hire, and everything in between. Call us today at 908-964-7575.
So what are some of the most significant concerns with returning your workforce to the office? And how can you address them?
Areas of concern range from privacy and safety to logistics and ergonomics and everything in between.
In this post, we’re going to discuss three core elements to embrace when adopting your in-office work platform:
- Transparency
- Flexibility
- Collaboration/Participation
The pundits at The Hill weighed in recently with a succinct analysis:
From the Beltway to the boardroom, across the country, the debate about when and how (and even if) we should return to our workplaces continues. As the vaccine rollout continues and offices reopen, our expectations for employers are clear: we want them to keep us safe, give us the flexibility to choose where we want to work, and respect our privacy.
That sums it up pretty well. There is no clear-cut plan or template to fit every company’s workforce management needs. One thing is certain, however—great plans always start with transparency.
And transparency starts at the executive level.
If you’re like most companies, you don’t even know what you don’t know about reopening the office. And that’s OK. There is a lot of confusion and uncertainty right now. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning strategically. There’s nothing wrong with having a “Plan B!”
Just be open and honest with your workforce. They will respond positively to a candid, free flow of information—even if that information is somewhat vague at times.
The executive team will set the tone for the rest of the workforce. An open, transparent, collaborative mentality will be contagious to the whole company.
Encourage participation and collaboration from employees and staff.
Make sure you get feedback on your plans down to the grassroots level. You will be amazed at the level of cooperation and valuable input you will get from your employees. Remember that everyone wants a successful return-to-the-office strategy, whatever that looks like!
Take surveys on preferred work environments and schedules. Your office environment will be changing from what it used to be. Everything from in-office work schedules to distances between desks, number, and type of offices, conference rooms, break rooms, etc. All these parts and pieces will be different now, so get feedback from your team at every level of planning.
Embrace flexibility!
Regardless of size or scope, every company will likely have some level of remote, in-office, and hybrid work options in the near future. The real estate experts at Jones Lang Lasalle recommend getting started by classifying your workforce ecosystem in one of three broad categories:
- Office-centric is the preference of companies that believe their strong culture is built and fueled by in-office collaboration
- Hybrid works for companies focused on innovation that can only happen in person while also championing and supporting flexible lifestyles and personal choice of workspaces for their people
- Remote-first fits companies focused primarily on cost savings with a culture that allows for flexibility and independent working with occasional in-person work or flex space options
This broad classification will help you level set. From here, you can drill down into your more granular planning schemas. Virtual and physical facility and logistics planning will start to take shape once you’ve determined your overarching workforce persona.
Patel Consultants is Here to Help
A trusted recruiting firm can help you find and hire the right candidates for remote, in-office, and hybrid work environments.
When we place a candidate for one of our clients, whether it’s a direct-hire, temporary, temp-to-hire, or contract position, we are meticulous about placing the perfect candidate for our client’s needs.
Are you a hiring manager or human resources professional with a job search, or searches, underway? Are you looking for workforce management solutions?
Maybe you just have some questions about how we can help you with your staffing needs?
At Patel Consultants, we help clients like you find that perfect candidate every day!
Call us today at 908-964-7575, or get in touch online. Our expert recruiters are waiting for your call.
