What Internal Communicators Need to Consider While Planning Return-to-Work Programs
By Dana Haase,
SVP, Communications Strategy
April 26, 2021
Return-to-work efforts are on the minds of many company leaders. Days ago, President Biden announced that 200 million Americans have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and as efforts continue to ramp up across states, the discussion around the return to offices for many companies is gaining momentum.
We’ve seen the headlines: some companies are implementing ambitious plans to get employees back to the office, while others have committed to long-term remote work…and of course, many companies, large and small, fall somewhere in between. For communicators, getting the messaging right – and ensuring employees’ voices are heard – will be critical in implementing a smooth return to the office, no matter what your company’s plans are. But, with so many conflicting ideas and headlines out there, you might be overwhelmed.
Below are some recent articles and resources that have helped us at SPI Group consider what the return to the office might look like, and how internal communicators in particular play perhaps the biggest role in ensuring a successful transition – for both the short-term, and the long-term, as more companies shift to a permanent hybrid model. We hope you find them useful in your own planning!
The Next Great Disruption Is Hybrid Work—Are We Ready?
In its “2021 Work Trend Index” report, Microsoft draws on data from over 30,000 workers to confirm a permanent shift to hybrid work is imminent and uncover seven trends organizations will need to navigate in this new environment.
How to Get Employees Ready to Return to the Office
With employees accustomed to the benefits of remote work, companies will need to make a cogent case for returning to the office. This article from Fast Company provides tips on how to motivate employees to come back to the office and how to make the switch from the couch to the conference room easier for them.
Return-to-Workplace Checklist for Internal Communications
This checklist from Gartner outlines six actions internal communicators should take when announcing a company’s return-to-workplace policies and emphasizes the importance of collaborating with an organization’s Human Resources department.
Returning to Work: How Listening can Help
In this piece, management trainer, Julie Winkle Giulioni, highlights the communications style leaders will need to adopt to rebuild in-person connections with their teams.
Biggest Risks in Return to Offices: Harvard Remote Work Guru
Harvard Business School professor, Raj Choudhury, shares advice on how employers can arrive at return-to-work policies that are practical, effective, and meet the needs of both employees and the organization.
Has your company announced its plans for the return to the office? What are you doing to keep employees informed? Tell us in the comments!
