Ask what flexibility means to them
An RTO mandate that doesn’t consider what your employees want will leave you vulnerable to losing valuable talent. One survey found that 56% of respondents would consider employment elsewhere if flexibility was no longer an option. With that staggering number, it’s important to put your employees first and listen to their questions and concerns.
Let employees know why you think RTO is important
Giving a detailed answer as to why you would like employees back in the office is key. Employees want to understand where the decision is coming from and what benefits the organization is expecting to see from it. A “because we said so” explanation is likely to ruffle some feathers.
Clearly communicate RTO plans or adjustments to hybrid work schedules in advance
Are all employees expected to come in on the same days? Will you be taking an approach that lets the employee determine what days they come in and what days they work remotely? Do individual teams need to agree on specific days? Make sure you are clearly communicating any expectations ahead of time so that your employees have adequate time to prepare.
Ensure the office space can support the influx of employees
Your organization’s office space most likely looks different than it did pre-pandemic. You may have downsized in your current location or moved to an entirely different location. Either way, as employees are asked to RTO, it’s possible that you’ll have to adapt again to support more in-office employees. As you determine these changes, listen to what employees are saying they need or want within their workspace. Working technology, conference rooms for meetings, and gathering space for socializing are a few examples, but paying attention to what your employees are asking for can help make the RTO a positive experience.
Offer various ways for your employees to provide feedback and concerns
We’d argue that giving the employees a means to provide feedback is the most important consideration. Create a space where employees can voice concerns, send in recommendations, and provide feedback on the RTO plans. Be prepared to implement reasonable requests that might make the transition back to the office easier.