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Back to Office Guide for HR Leaders7/6/2021 Today, more than a year after WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, we have four highly effective vaccines and 44% of the US population fully vaccinated. Encouraged by these positive signs, companies are now reimagining their work policies and thinking about bringing employees back to the office. Leaders expect half of their workforce back by July 2021.
So, how can you decide how many employees to call in and which ones to let continue working remotely? How can you draft new policies that balance in-office and remote staff? Which HR tools will you need to support hybrid work? We recommend the following practices: Follow government guidelines for employee safety So the first step in returning to the office will be to help your employees feel safe to be back. CDC has clear guidelines for workplaces with hazard assessment, ventilation, social distancing, and cleaning. You should follow these religiously to protect your employees. Create and communicate flexible policies You can draft a flexible policy that you can update as you go for in-office work and communicate that to employees in advance. But, do not let your employees choose their remote work schedules. That will create a diversity problem because single young men can come to the office all five days while women with children can not. Keep the focus on the big picture: Purpose Most people define their purpose in life through the work they do. Employees who feel living their purpose at work are happier, more productive, and likely to stay at the company. HR leaders have their work cut out: help employees discover their purpose and live it at work. Flatten the hierarchies for agility You can build on the productivity and efficiency gains of the remote work period by developing new hybrid structures that provide the same flexibility and agility to the office staff. It will empower managers to make decisions swiftly, and less red tape will keep employees engaged. Address employee anxiety Give your returning employees some time to adapt to new ways of working. And organize virtual get-togethers on team levels to help remote workers feel included. Humor is also a powerful tool to make employees feel at ease, unlock their creativity and productivity, and strengthen relationships. Deploy HR tech to support hybrid work When the world was under lockdowns during the peak COVID-19 crisis, HR tech kept businesses operating. These tools will play an even more extensive role in the new normal.
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