With the digital age seeing a wide range of improvements in remote communications tools such as Teams, Zoom and Slack, not to mention the work from home boom which was made necessary by the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become customary for lots of office workers across the UK to spend some or all of their working week at home.
While there are certainly some perks to this – reduced commuting time, lower bills for employers in terms of heating and lighting offices and eating at home rather than shopping for lunch on the go, it does raise the question as to whether workers are as productive at home. Many would argue that in-person meetings are more effective, with improved collaboration and better communication. As an employer, you may be wondering how to get your workers keen on the idea of returning to the office. Let’s have a look at some ideas.
Make the office appealing
Gone are the days of grey cubicles with little opportunity for socialising at work. These days, offices with open spaces, uplifting colours and facilities such as coffee machines and breakout spaces are infinitely preferred by employees.
Likewise, boosting team morale by offering social trips, team bonding exercises and space for relaxed lunch breaks can all entice workers to come in – us humans are social creatures, after all.
Help out with commuting costs
A costly commute can really eat into workers’ salaries. Train fares, bus tickets and parking are all costly, especially in the capital. Consider offering perks such as money towards rail fares, or the Government backed bike to work scheme, which has over 200,000 businesses signed up according to the Bike to Work Scheme’s website.
Expert business accountants Tewkesbury, such as https://www.hazlewoods.co.uk/expertise/business-accountants/tewkesbury, can always provide tailored advice on the finances behind this and other schemes.
Hybrid working
Remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. A hybrid approach to working in the office provides your workers with a great balance and provides you with motivated, productive staff.