Want Employees to Return to Office? Here’s How Your Office Can Attract Employees

As businesses navigate their return-to-office initiatives, their focus must be on creating spaces that foster collaboration, productivity, and well-being. The traditional office setup has evolved! To successfully encourage employees to return to the office, you must offer an environment that meets their needs and preferences. We have over twenty years of experience creating offices that work. Read on for our key strategies to make your office an inviting and productive space for your team. 

Return to Office Key Takeaways:

• In the push to return to office focus on the biggest point of the office: team collaboration.
• Offering office perks like lounge areas, standing desks and ergonomic seating can make the office more productive than home offices.
• Don’t forget about hybrid work environments. Listening to employee desires is important!
• Workplace wellness programs can help employees feel positive about their time in the office while building interpersonal relationships.

Focus on Collaborative Workspaces

What is the point of the office? Gathering people to work together. Your office should be a place that fosters collaboration and creativity. We have all learned in recent years that some focused solo work is easier to do from a home office. But, what is remarkably harder? Collaboration. Brainstorming sessions, team meetings, and even water-cooler talks are better done in person. In-person meetings help to jog creative ideas that video-only meetings miss. In fact, Stanford found that in-person meetings generated 15-20%* more ideas than video meetings. 

Want to make your office more meeting-friendly? Designate areas specifically for team meetings and brainstorming sessions. If you have an open-concept office space, consider creating breakout rooms. Utilizing architectural pieces like Haworth Pergola, pictured above, is a no-construction way to create a new meeting space. 

You can encourage smaller interactions with employees in common areas too. Open spaces with comfortable seating arrangements encourage spontaneous idea-sharing. Collaborative workspaces can reignite the sense of teamwork that many have missed while working remotely.

Offer Hybrid Work Options

Flexibility is key. Keep in mind many employees learned during COVID that it is possible to do their jobs from home. Instituting 100% return to office policies is widely unpopular for most employees. The compromise: hybrid work environments, where employees work from home some of the time, and from the office the rest of the work week.

By offering hybrid work options, you can accommodate employees’ needs and preferences. Gallup found that in jobs that are remote-capable, 80% of employees work in a hybrid environment*. The majority of these employees come into the office two to three days a week and work remotely the remaining days. 

This approach not only helps employees maintain work-life balance but also demonstrates trust for your employees. A hybrid model can ease the transition and reduce resistance to coming back to the office.

Upgrade Ergonomic Support

Comfort is crucial for productivity and physical well-being. Investing in ergonomic furniture, such as adjustable chairs and sit-stand desks, can significantly improve employee comfort and reduce the risk of work-related injuries. This can also benefit your return-to-office initiatives. If someone’s desk at work is more comfortable, they will be more likely to choose to work from the office.

We highly recommend investing in ergonomic chairs for your employees. The Zody II is a great all-round option for most desk workers. With posture options for both sitting and standing desks and great back support, it’s a chair that will work for decades. It’s also rated one of the most comfortable ergonomic desk chairs!

Even smaller ergonomic upgrades like adding adjustable monitor arms can make a huge difference. Ergotron NX is a great option for many desks because it does not need to be wall-mounted. Having the computer screen at eye level rather than desk height helps to reduce neck and eye strain. This is a budget-friendly upgrade that your employees can appreciate. 

Ergonomic workstations show employees that their health and comfort are priorities.

Create Inviting Employee Lounges

Everyone needs a break, and having a dedicated space to decompress at the office is vital. Employee lounges with comfortable seating, outlets to charge devices, and even healthy snacks can provide a much-needed escape from work-related stress. These employee lounges are a great place for employees to gather and build interpersonal relationships that keep them returning to the office. They’re also the best way to generate an aha moment at work! When your employees are given the opportunity and space to step away from the computer and relax, it helps to clear the mind and allow inspiration to spark.

We created several of these lounge spaces for the Campus Federal Headquarters. With fun-colored upholstery, comfy seats, and tables for snacks, employees can relax and recharge. A well-designed lounge can be a great incentive for employees to take breaks, boosting overall productivity.

Personalize Workspaces with Homey Touches

Help employees feel a sense of ownership over their workspace. When you allow them to personalize their desks with rugs, desk lamps, and plants, they feel a stronger connection to the office. These homey touches can make the office feel more welcoming and comfortable, easing the transition from home to office.

We particularly like adding these cozy touches throughout the office. Adding in plants throughout the office is a great way to literally enliven your office space! Biophilic design can help to invigorate creativity, improve air quality, and create a more positive work environment. 

Provide Quiet Phone Call Pods

While open and collaborative spaces are essential to the return to office movement, it’s also important to provide areas for focused, quiet work. Phone call pods or small, soundproof rooms allow employees to take calls or work on tasks that require concentration without distractions.

We recommend the HushHybrid pod. It has enough space for the pod to feel comfortable for users, an integrated desk, and soft lighting. HushHybrid is also on casters making the pod easy to move when needed. This makes it easy to create a comfortable place to take a call without needing to do any construction. These pods can really help maintain productivity in a bustling office environment.

Offer Wellness Programs

Consider implementing wellness programs that focus on physical and mental health. Offering mindfulness sessions, encouraging walking groups, or even subsidizing gym memberships can show employees that you care about their overall well-being. Wellness programs can enhance employee morale and reduce burnout. Keep in mind that wellness programs should be created with accessibility and inclusion in mind. Not every employee will be able to participate in daily walks or other wellness programs in the office. Instead, offer a variety of options and don’t make them mandatory for employees to participate. 

Encourage Open Communication

Transparency and open communication are vital during the return to office transition. Keep employees informed about any changes in requirements, and listen to their feedback. Regular check-ins and surveys can help address any concerns and make employees feel valued and heard.

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Returning to the office doesn’t have to be daunting. By prioritizing collaborative spaces, ergonomic support, hybrid work models, and employee wellness, you can create a workplace that employees enjoy. Ready to transform your office into a space that promotes productivity and creativity? Contact us today to learn more about creating an environment that your employees will love.