How To Approach Apprehension With Employees Returning to the Office

7/29/2021

How to Approach Apprehension with Employees Returning to the Office | James Kassouf | Leadership

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How to Approach Apprehension with Employees Returning to the Office

by James Kassouf | Jul 28, 2021 | Entrepreneurship, James Kassouf, Leadership, Small Business

The pandemic was an unprecedented global and life event that each person processed and managed in their own unique way. After months of being sequestered in their homes and acclimating to working in their own comfortable environments, some people are leery of heading back to the office. Others are more than eager to return. Learning how to temper your approach to the transition back to pre-pandemic working conditions is essential for boosting morale and making sure that everyone’s needs are being met.

Not Everyone Loves Remote Work and Not All Work Is Best Done Remotely

Certain concerns may make you lean towards retaining more of your team in remote positions rather than reverting completely back to full, in-house staff. Although working from home can certainly seem ideal, most have seen firsthand that they aren’t quite cut out for it. The bustling and highly social environment of the workplace can be motivational, and it can also stimulate https://jameskassouf.co/how-to-approach-apprehension-with-employees-returning-to-the-office/

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7/29/2021

How to Approach Apprehension with Employees Returning to the Office | James Kassouf | Leadership

certain employees’ competitive edge. Both of these things are beneficial for you. There’s also the fact that certain tasks are always best handled in person. Training and other efforts to share information can be infinitely more effective when a hands-on and far more personable approach is taken. If you’re looking at a more balanced plan of remote workers and in-office employees, take stock of the positions that work best when performed onsite just as much as you consider individual preferences and personalities.

Good Communication is Key

For employees, one of the major drawbacks of remote working is a pervasive sense of disconnect. Your remote employees may feel as though they’ve been missing out on important developments and announcements. Whether you decide to keep all or some of your team as remote workers, make sure that you have a clear, consistent, and ultimately effective way to ensure that everyone is getting the same updates. When people feel left out or overlooked, morale, productivity, and loyalty can decline.

Stay Flexible

Flexibility is also critical for ensuring that your trained talent stays happy and on target. Whether choosing a remote working style, a hybrid return-to-work plan, or a full-on return to prepandemic operations, you’ll have to have some faith in your employees. Dedicated team members will give their jobs their all no matter where they work. People who want to return to the office are going to diligently follow all health and safety processes and protocols. When you allow yourself to trust the people that you’ve hired, you’ll eliminate the apprehension and fear from your decision-making.

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