The Top 5 Factors to Bringing Your Team Back into the Office
As it becomes more and more possible for businesses to return to the office, the question naturally on business owner’s and team leader’s minds is “how do we get things back to normal, and ensure the return to shared work environments is an easy process?”.
There is no easy answer that applies to each and every business, but keeping the following factors in mind as you meet people back in the office or other work environment will ensure you remove a few of the challenges you’ll face throughout.
#1: Talking to your team
Even though you’ll be back under the same roof, you’ll still likely need to adjust the way you work. Social distancing, rotas and scheduling, and more will all play a part. Ensure that however you return to work, it includes sensible considerations as to how people will be doing their work alongside each other, and what types of challenges they’ll face.
Staff will no doubt want to start re-socialising in person as they return to the office, and it’s up to you to ensure they have a safe environment in order to do so. Set up socially-distanced social spaces – eating areas and exterior spaces are ideal for this – and keep the internal environment dispersed enough to avoid any risks or issues.
#2: Some Will Take More Time Than Others
It’s worth remembering that your entire team has spent up to a year working remotely, and the way they approach and complete their work may have changed. Depending on your company’s flexibility, staff may now find their most productive hours are later in the evenings or early in the morning.
It’s going to take some members of your team time to adjust back to working in the office, and the responsibilities that come with working shoulder-to-shoulder with a team. Have patience when it comes to any dips in productivity or performance, and be open to discussing any challenges your team’s return to the office is uncovering.
#3: It Will Feel Different
If your team has been working apart for the last twelve months, unless you’ve made efforts to keep people socialising, working back in the office together may feel differently than it did before. Account for how the last year has affected people differently, and outlooks may have changed. Some people may be quieter during work; some may be more social. The return to working together is no doubt going to feel different, so ensure you and your team are ready for the new normal.
#4: Overheads, Insurance, and More
Bringing everyone back together has more challenges than simply re-developing that team cohesion. Ensure you have your employer insurance up to date and any other office overheads that have lapsed since you moved to remote working.
It’s likely some of these may crop up as you begin working together again, and won’t be major issues, but do your best to mitigate any obvious needs before they become too pressing.
#5: Technology Reintegration
Your team will be bringing company equipment back into the office with them as they return, and each device will need to undergo a security assessment, as well as possible upgrades and refreshes.
When it comes to security, your staff have been using work devices on external networks which could pose a security threat to your company. Before re-integrating devices into your office network, ensure they’ve been formatted and/or secured properly by your I.T personnel.
As for updates, upgrades, and refreshes, both the device user and your I.T department will be able to tell you when devices need attention. Regular updates should be being distributed anyway by a company-wide I.T policy. If this isn’t already implemented, use returning to the office as the perfect opportunity to do so.
Pay attention to these five factors, and enjoy a smoother return to working together. Want to make your return to the office even easier? Speak to ASUS Business today to discuss technology solutions.
There is no easy answer that applies to each and every business, but keeping the following factors in mind as you meet people back in the office or other work environment will ensure you remove a few of the challenges you’ll face throughout.
#1: Talking to your team
Even though you’ll be back under the same roof, you’ll still likely need to adjust the way you work. Social distancing, rotas and scheduling, and more will all play a part. Ensure that however you return to work, it includes sensible considerations as to how people will be doing their work alongside each other, and what types of challenges they’ll face.
Staff will no doubt want to start re-socialising in person as they return to the office, and it’s up to you to ensure they have a safe environment in order to do so. Set up socially-distanced social spaces – eating areas and exterior spaces are ideal for this – and keep the internal environment dispersed enough to avoid any risks or issues.
#2: Some Will Take More Time Than Others
It’s worth remembering that your entire team has spent up to a year working remotely, and the way they approach and complete their work may have changed. Depending on your company’s flexibility, staff may now find their most productive hours are later in the evenings or early in the morning.
It’s going to take some members of your team time to adjust back to working in the office, and the responsibilities that come with working shoulder-to-shoulder with a team. Have patience when it comes to any dips in productivity or performance, and be open to discussing any challenges your team’s return to the office is uncovering.
#3: It Will Feel Different
If your team has been working apart for the last twelve months, unless you’ve made efforts to keep people socialising, working back in the office together may feel differently than it did before. Account for how the last year has affected people differently, and outlooks may have changed. Some people may be quieter during work; some may be more social. The return to working together is no doubt going to feel different, so ensure you and your team are ready for the new normal.
#4: Overheads, Insurance, and More
Bringing everyone back together has more challenges than simply re-developing that team cohesion. Ensure you have your employer insurance up to date and any other office overheads that have lapsed since you moved to remote working.
It’s likely some of these may crop up as you begin working together again, and won’t be major issues, but do your best to mitigate any obvious needs before they become too pressing.
#5: Technology Reintegration
Your team will be bringing company equipment back into the office with them as they return, and each device will need to undergo a security assessment, as well as possible upgrades and refreshes.
When it comes to security, your staff have been using work devices on external networks which could pose a security threat to your company. Before re-integrating devices into your office network, ensure they’ve been formatted and/or secured properly by your I.T personnel.
As for updates, upgrades, and refreshes, both the device user and your I.T department will be able to tell you when devices need attention. Regular updates should be being distributed anyway by a company-wide I.T policy. If this isn’t already implemented, use returning to the office as the perfect opportunity to do so.
Pay attention to these five factors, and enjoy a smoother return to working together. Want to make your return to the office even easier? Speak to ASUS Business today to discuss technology solutions.
