Resuming work can be an emotional and stressful experience. To ease your transition, make sure to plan your daily commute and know the work hours and safety procedures at your workplace. It is possible to create a routine before you return to work. These steps will help prepare you for your new job.
In-person meetings
As travel and meeting restrictions ease, in-person meetings are becoming more common. They are still below the pre-pandemic level. Future-looking leaders are helping define what is normal. The first meeting with a virtual team for two years will likely be filled with relief, but also with apprehension.
Virtual meetings can have significant drawbacks as well. Virtual meetings may not permit people to view non-verbal cues (which make up 80 percent in human communication), which can be problematic. Virtual meetings are also more likely to exclude people with different communication styles. One Harvard Business Review study found that some people are more comfortable speaking up in virtual meetings, which may allow for greater inclusion.
Flexible return to office policy
According to the Bank of England, it won't change its flexible return-to office policy. It cites individual circumstances and health concerns as reasons. Canva has also announced that it is creating flexible work models for its employees. Canva will place emphasis on flexibility and not enforce office attendance rules.
Flexible work arrangements are more likely to attract the best talent. But employees may not like the flexibility plan. While 94% of knowledge workers say they prefer more flexibility in their schedule and location, two-thirds of them say they have little or no flexibility in their hours.
Socializing lowers the risk of employee theft
Socializing is a common problem among employees and the workplace, but it isn't the only cause. Distracted employees may be attracted to using company time for their side businesses, or just to have fun with their coworkers. Time theft is a major problem in many workplaces. It is often hard to find the culprits. However, by providing employees with flexible schedules, employers can minimize the risk of time theft.
This type crime is so common, it has become one the leading causes of business collapses. This type of crime costs businesses billions each year. One estimate suggests that over 7% U.S. businesses are forced to close their doors due to employee theft. Over a third of employees have stolen at least once from their employers. Employees are responsible for two-thirds all cyber breaches.
Remain fully remote
There have been varying outcomes for organizations when it comes time to get their employees back to work after a break. Some found it hard to manage the chaos, others were able access a wider talent pool. While most organizations are happy for employees who can work remotely, there are many factors that must be considered before they allow this.
Nearly three out of ten companies currently use a fully remote work model. Another third intends to keep full-time workers on-site while approximately half the remaining companies will shift towards hybrid models.