Conversation about hybrid work is all the rave right now. Companies have been phasing employees back into the office all over the world, and this has become a lightening rod of conversations. Do employees want to return to the office at all? If so, how frequently? Does everyone need to come in on the same day? Will we see each other or be ships crossing in the night? How does our work location impact our customer? What do we need to institute to make sure everyone can continue to thrive?

I am sharing a few important considerations for you as your organization moves into the next phase of the workplace, whatever it is (full remote, hybrid, full office). These very considerations:

1. Culture remains the staple to drive employee engagement. Do what’s right for your culture and values. Culture is created through work practices, management behaviors, reward systems, and how much flexibility you provide. ***Not doing anything intentional? It’s time to start considering the impact of your culture, values and behaviors on your workforce and ability to attract and retain talent.
2. Determine key desired outcomes for office presence and measure success by attainment of those outcomes. This is an opportunity to permanently cut the idea that productivity equals time in office. If the past pandemic time hasn’t Work is not a “place” – it’s “what people do.”
3. Communicate the “Why” behind decisions to employees now more than ever. People need to understand why decisions are being made and what they mean. They are then evaluating that company “why” against their personal “why”s and deciding if they can believe in what you are saying or not. In organizations where the “why” is not communicated, they are experiencing even high turnover in these times of ambiguity. Why? Because the employee’s personal “why” is more compelling.

So, what’s your next step? What are you going to do?

PS – whatever you do, don’t call it “Return to Work”. Most of your employees have worked harder in the past 18 months than ever. Don’t slap them in the face with this language. You’ll thank me later.