Work from home (WFH) might be temporarily over for some, so how do we return to brick and mortar while retaining what we have learned?
Companies are only just getting back into full swing after all the closures and supply chain disruptions brought about by the pandemic. With offices opening back up and remote staff suddenly called in again, there is a lot of change in the air – and not all of it is good.
There are protests among IT workers who now know that they can do their jobs without being in the building. These are staff that used to struggle to achieve one task in a day because of the frequency of being called to look at someone’s computer. Without those calls, they get so much more done.
Remote Work Is an Ideal
Remote work isn’t for everyone, but for some IT professionals, it is a lifeline. Granted, some found being away from the office a challenge, but reports show there are numerous remote workers out there who would willingly take a pay cut if it meant they didn’t need to return to the office.
As managers and business owners, we need to go through a process similar to onboarding if we want them to return to work. Otherwise, we run the risk of losing many of our best IT professionals to other companies. It’s no joke; employers could soon be short-staffed in a world where everyone is retraining.
Staff That Won’t Return to the Office
For employers that are experiencing a challenge to get staff to return to the workplace, it is recommended to use a niche technology job board like icrunchdata, one of the best IT job boards on the internet, to advertise your job openings. If employers are forced to replace them, they should do it using the best resources available online, as well as an appropriate onboarding process to help their workers transition back to the workplace.
Getting Staff to Return to Offices – Onboarding
Across all industries, employers need to utilize proper onboarding, in ways they have never really done before. For example, making sure those employees aren’t alienated from the workplace when they are faced with returning to the office. But, if employers take the same approach as they would if they were onboarding a new member of staff altogether, they can give their workers a running start to an already challenging process.
It is recommended to try these helpful techniques in managing returning staff who are reluctant to return to the office.
Have an Orientation Day
A first-day-back meeting, training session, or refresher course in the office could be fun for everyone. Not only fun, but it would help people remember their roles better and create ease for your IT staff.
Engage in Team Building
Everyone has only seen each other through screens for the last few months so a team-building day could be productive. You don’t even have to leave the office. Here are some ideas for good team-building exercises.
Bring Back the Swag
Just like you would if you were trying to invite a new talent onboard, you should dish out the company swag a little. Some tech gadgets and accessories, apparel, drinkware, and wellness items are generally well-received.
Role-Specific Training
One of the most critically important phases of onboarding is for employers to target their workers for role-specific training, blended learning, micro-learning, and self-paced learning to fill roles that require specific skills.[1]
