How to wisely weigh return-to-work scenarios

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Research shows the office is a hotbed for collaboration, innovation and relationships, but is it worth the risk—or the cost? Experts from top companies share guidance on proceeding with empathy.

Is the office officially dead?

COVID-19 has at least blown up the traditional workplace and all the baked-in notions we’ve just sort of accepted as the cost of doing business. So what’s next?

Some companies, such as Basecamp and Quora, have already announced plans to allow workers to remain remote—even after the pandemic ends. Many more have committed to a hybrid model moving forward, with the idea of pursuing a “remote-first” mindset yet maintaining a physical office space. But what about you? What do your employees want, and what sort of environment do you want to cultivate in a post-COVID world?

It’s a tricky question with no easy answers. The world has changed so profoundly in just one agonizing year. Employees’ workplace expectations and perceptions have completely flipped, too, to the point where many execs are weighing whether to shutter their brick-and-mortar locations for good.

Ragan Consulting Group’s new download, “What Return to Office might look like—and when,” lays out how companies in an array of industries, from small creative agencies to billion-dollar biotech firms, are navigating the transformed business landscape. The free guide, which features insights, strategies and takeaways from Spotify, GoDaddy, McKinney, Starmark, CSL Limited, and Appriss, shows how your peers are wrangling return-to-work considerations while balancing employee needs and preferences.

You’ll learn how GoDaddy is using Slack to help managers cope with—and identify—burnout, and how Starmark is using VR headsets to stay connected and engaged. You’ll learn how CSL Limited, one of the world’s largest biotech firms, is doubling down on ways to help remote workers stay connected and thrive while working from home. As the piece explains: “The company is hosting its first Global Development Days, a virtual week-long event. Via a bespoke portal, employees can visit a variety of “booths” on topics such as career-building, diversity and inclusion, mentorship, work/life balance, resiliency, and elements of CSL’s growth strategy. The company is also producing interactive content, including live sessions based on time zones, Q&A chats with leaders, and videos.”

Of course, every company is different, and each business should proceed in a way that best suits its unique workforce. However, some crucial considerations are universal right now.  The download covers those big questions every employer should be wrangling:

• Are your employees craving more connection to each other? If so, how can you scratch that itch while still keeping costs down and everyone safe?
• Is it time to create or update your digital workplace tools? If so, where do you start?
• Do you need an employee communications campaign for your return to the workplace?

Download your free guide today to get smart insights on how to proceed during this pivotal moment in history.

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