As more Americans are vaccinated, many companies are grappling with if, how, and when to reopen and return to the office. While the road to workplace re-entry will have its challenges— it’s also a moment rife with the opportunity to work with your employees to rewrite the new workplace rules.

For many, working from home has not been the dream experience they anticipated. According to this survey by Capgemini Research Institute, the trade-off for working from pajamas all day has been long hours, more meetings, and increasingly blurred lines between work and personal life. While on the one hand, many employees have seen the benefits of more flexible schedules and locations, they have also come to value in-person experiences and the sense of camaraderie, connection, and boundaries that can come from having an office to work in. 

So, how do you create a return-to-office model that supports both? We loved this article by Inc. magazine, which emphasizes the importance of not making any assumptions when it comes to designing a re-entry model, as well as includes several great suggestions on how to keep employees engaged during this transitional time. 

As many businesses begin exploring a variety of return-to-work models, many will likely consider a mixture of on-premise and at-home work. But before they make any decisions, the key is to involve your employees, who will be more engaged and amenable when they feel seen and heard and feel they have a choice in the matter! 

Here are three questions to ask your employees today about their return to the office: 

• What fears do you have about returning to the office? 

• What do you value most in a workplace? 

• What is your ideal re-entry scenario? 

Creating a hybrid workplace that supports both employee and organizational goals is possible.

We would love to support you with it, and have many ways to do so right now. Book a call to find out how we help the world’s top organizations understand the motivations, values, and priorities of their employees and then create a customized action plan to support both individual and organizational needs. 

Your turn: Are you excited about the return to the office? Check out this article on how to make the most of your commute to work! And, don’t forget to emotionally prepare yourself as well!