As restrictions begin to lift and vaccination rates rise, many companies have begun to make, and in some cases have actioned, plans for a safe return to the workplace. However, for some employees, this transition may be harder than first thought, with a resistance to return due to safety concerns or a reluctance to give up the flexibility they have had with remote work.

A recent study by the Harvard Business School revealed that nearly 80% of employees would prefer to keep working from home or adopt a hybrid model of work, where they can work from home at least one day a week. While this may not be completely representative of your team, it may be fair to say that a large percentage of your employees weren’t overjoyed with the news of having to return to the office.

If you are in the position now of re-opening your office or if you still have a few employees to transition back, here are some practical tips to help ease the process towards whatever the ‘new normal’ is for your organization:

• Give them time to adjust: Returning to the office doesn’t have to be as abrupt as the transition to remote work was. With more time to plan and time to communicate expectations to your employees, your team will have more time to adjust to the ‘new normal’ of your organization.

• Be transparent: Be transparent with your employees about the measures you have taken to ensure their safety and comfortability with returning to the office.

• Listen to their requests and concerns: Allow your employees to voice their concerns with returning to the office and offer up alternative plans that will work for them and the company.

• Have a flexible transition plan: With many employees’ work-life balance impacted by remote work, as a leader, it is important to consider the return to office transition objectively. Having a carefully considered and flexible plan is important. Consider the preferences of your employees and the culture and goals of your organization and establish a plan within the bounds of what your organization allows.

• Consider a hybrid model: To ensure your employees feel at ease during this transition, you may consider offering a hybrid work model, combining remote and office work during the week.

• Have clear safety protocols in place: Reconfiguring the workplace to allow for social distancing while also considering the need for a collaborative space is an important step in this transition. Ensure the COVID-19 and cleanliness protocols specific to your organization are made visible to everyone in the office to ensure compliance and eliminate some worry.

• Re-establish a positive workplace culture: We have all changed over the last 18 months and creating a space and opportunity to interact and rekindle team bonds is a refresher for your company culture. Having these conversations and being able to demonstrate the understanding and support everyone has for each other is a great team-building tool for your employees as they reenter the office.

Transitioning your employees back to the office requires a considered approach, and at this time it is important to ensure that your team feels safe and that their wellbeing and concerns are being considered.

We are still living with uncertainty in the world, so in addition to defining the expectations of your employees during this reorientation and creating a safe environment for them to return to, the health and safety of your employees should be your top priority.