Returning to the Office? Top Tips to Make ‘In-office’ Culture Work

Companies have started their return-to-the-office mandate. Some notable brands returning to the office are Amazon, Disney, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup. Flex Index conducted a study on companies’ work models, and the most popular one is the structured hybrid office at 43%, followed by full-time in-office at 32%.

With the return of the in-office model, big and small companies are expected to create a healthy in-office culture to boost morale, work quality, and productivity. Companies must balance profitability and providing employees with attractive in-office benefits.

Is your business returning to the office? Here are some tips to make a great in-office culture.

Returning to the Office: Tips for Great In-Office Culture

Encourage Supportive Leadership

Creating and maintaining a healthy office culture starts with leaders’ initiatives. They are the role models for teams to follow. They are expected to cultivate a good office culture and atmosphere. And, of course, training up and coming talent to become reliable leaders in the future.

Another example is practicing inclusion in the office. Welcoming different cultural conversations and discussions can help improve team performance and productivity.

Address In-Office Challenges

Some employees are facing major anxiety due to work PTSD and are now heavily concerned with the return-to-office mandate. A good way to address this is by implementing agreements with flexible schedules and workspace tools. Especially with neurodivergent employees or those who might be facing major anxiety with returning to the office.

This is an important factor to include in your in-office culture, as 33% of recorded absences in recent years are related to mental health. The American Psychological Association reported that 92% of workers also see it as important for companies to value their emotional and psychological health.

Returning to the Office? Implement SOPs

This is a challenging transition, so an organisation needs policies and guidelines to maintain stability. So, setting your company SOPs is a must. Provide the team with office attendance guidelines. Some extra reminders may be needed of this, especially in the early days of your in-office transition, as everyone adjusts.

Another important thing is communicating attitude expectations in the workplace. This is often carried out as an unspoken rule rather than on paper. It’s about treating every member of your team how you want to be treated. Expecting excellence while having room for growth and mistakes.

You can also set performance targets, of course, with equivalent rewards, like bonuses, recognition, and opportunities for career growth (e.g., training, mentorship). This encourages your team to give their best performance, helping them grow and improve in their fields, which consequently results in improved quality and productivity of your organisation.

Value Team Well-being

A global report by Cigna showed a high burnout percentage among employees. Those in the 18-24 age bracket are at 98%, while the 25-34 age bracket said that they feel stressed at work. This shows the importance of valuing team well-being.

As you transfer to the in-office model, make sure to implement physical activity initiatives as well as mental health breaks among the employee benefits. This will help in building team camaraderie to solidify the company culture within the organisation. It can also be a way to celebrate individual or team achievements.

Another important thing to practice when returning to the office is the mindset of “every member is doing their best to adjust.” This may help to minimise issues like team conflict and misunderstanding. It also makes giving and receiving feedback much smoother.

Don’t forget the importance of proper lighting and enough spacing in the office. A study by Future Workspace found that talents with access to natural lighting have improved work performance (70%) and satisfaction (73%), and they are overall happier with better well-being (78%).

Establish Proper Communication When Returning to the Office

Last is proper communication. If you want your in-office culture to work, welcome questions and foster psychological safety in communication. Build a culture where everyone is allowed to express their concerns and ideas are welcomed. Show transparency, especially with financial matters that concern them.

Great Company Culture

To build a great in-office culture, you’ll need a mix of proper amenities and healthy social connections. Perhaps the biggest influence is social connections where a healthy attitude towards yourself, the business, and the well-being of the team is always promoted.

It’s not easy to implement as returning to the office also means experiencing your team’s different personalities and work strategies. But as leaders of the organisation, it is your task to continue growing both in leadership and  EQ to build a healthy in-office culture.

Of course, not all employees will return to the office and may choose to opt for employment with companies that offer remote or hybrid work. If this is the case and you have some spots to backfill, we are a technology and sales recruitment agency that may be able to help. Visit our page for more information.