Making hybrid work models work for your employees

When we introduced home office, many employees were fascinated by “working from home”. You can wear what you want without worrying about how your appearance reflects on the company and you can cook while you work or even go for a quick jog before starting your day.
Now, however, many employees are switching from full-time home office to a hybrid work model, some of them voluntarily and others at their employer’s request. That means spending a few days a week at the office. While this transition offers greater flexibility, it sounds easier than it is. After all, adjusting to a hybrid model can become quite a complex process. This article discusses a few ways employers can help employees acclimate to a hybrid work model.

Combine socializing and work

It is common for employees to engage in casual conversations with their colleagues at the office. Who doesn’t remember the time before home office – having a nice cup of coffee in the kitchen, maybe even having a piece of chocolate and chatting with your colleagues. Meeting others is one of the benefits of working at an office. However, going back to the office can be distracting, especially once you have gotten used to working from home.

That is why it is important to combine the fun aspects of the workspace with the actual work that needs to get done. Our tip: encourage your employees to develop a type of time management that lends structure to their workday, for example, using a timer.

Time for new contacts

It should be noted that returning to the office can also mean entering into actual, personal contact again. While working from home, employees got used to communicating without any personal contact with their colleagues. In the end, Teams and Zoom meetings could never replace actual contact with colleagues, especially when many employees turn their cameras off during meetings. It is important to remember that nothing can ever replace personal interaction.

When bringing employees back to the office, it is important to foster the rebuilding of relationships between employees, because it makes office life all the richer and promotes the corporate culture. To promote employee interaction, especially interaction between new and existing employees, employers can organize regular, in-person meetings in, say, the office kitchen, where employees can grab a coffee or a snack and get to know one another better. . That, in turn, helps bring back the relationships and interactions that were lost when employees worked from home.

The most important time: downtime

According to Forbes magazine, 69% of employees experience burnout when they work from home. On the other hand, working in an office and having your day full of social interactions can also be exhausting. In hybrid companies, employees should take advantage of the flexibility the work model offers and relax when they are not in the office, but enjoy the interaction when they are.

If not already the case, it is advisable to organize lounges or relaxation rooms for employees where they can go during breaks or if they just need a few minutes to themselves. If employers make sure their employees feel well-balanced, they will feel better at the office and be able to avoid burning out.

Good health is everything

The pandemic has made it incredibly difficult to return to the office. Conditions are constantly changing, so make working at the office comfortable, it important that employees feel appreciated, especially in times like these. That is why more and more employers are relying on workspace reservation software, which offers an overview of the available spaces at the office, ensures social distancing is observed at the office, while the 3G rule-of-three (vaccinated, recovered, tested) verification ensures safety measures are being met to the greatest extent possible.

One example is the YOUR SPACE workspace reservation system. It ensures an easy return to the office and helps employees feel comfortable and safe. The Covid integration and 3G rule verification means less work for employers and employees alike. Available workspaces can be reserved from a smartphone in just a few clicks or canceled if no longer needed.

More information on the YOUR SPACE workspace reservation software can be found at www.deinraum.io