5 Strategies to Rebound Your Onsite Team After a Long WFH

The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly changed the way we work. Many workers had to work from home due to enforced lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus.

Even with the pandemic shifting, the office of the past is now gone. Schedules are now more flexible, and daily employee attendance is not mandated. However, there is an attraction to working from the office—team members get to collaborate on projects, bond with colleagues over coffee, and order meals using office lunch delivery in Boston.

Whether your team is coming back to the office full-time or as part of a hybrid office, you’ll need to put strategies in place to ensure that all returning workers remain productive.

Welcome your workforce back to work after lockdown with our helpful tips and ideas.

5 Tips to Rebound Your Team After Work-From-Home

Company-Wide Communications

When planning your employees’ return-to-work, remember to distribute company-wide communications well ahead of the day.  This information helps reassure your workers and keeps them informed throughout the process.

Give your workers plenty of time to prepare for the transition, as it isn’t a straightforward process. Many will have been at home for a while and will need ample notice to arrange childcare, buy new work clothes, work out office lunch delivery in Boston (if not provided) and plan a safe commute.

Use our checklist below to see what to include:

• Set dates for the office reopening
• Desk booking system, if needed
• Emphasis on flexibility and wellbeing
• Outline of COVID-19 health and safety measures and guidelines
• Days employees can attend the office (if you’re on a rotation system)

Welcome-Back Gifts

The COVID pandemic was so unexpected that many colleagues did not get a proper chance to say goodbye to teammates. What’s worse, some colleagues may have succumbed to the virus.

A warm welcome back to work, such as a surprise gift on their desks before your workforce returns, speaks volumes about how much you care about and support them.

Practical gift ideas include:

• Bespoke and branded masks and hand sanitizer
• Food or wellness hampers
• Sweet treats, e.g., cupcakes, brownies, or chocolates
• Desk plants
• Streaming or magazine subscriptions

Flexible and Phased-Returns

While many workers are excited to return to the office after lockdown, it’s important to remember that not everyone feels comfortable with the transition.

Also, some may have developed a preference for remote working. A recent survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that 55% of employees would prefer to work remotely at least three out of the five workdays in a week.

Here are some of the ways you can create a flexible, phased return to work:

• Listen to employee opinions and act on them.
• Assign office days to teams to avoid maxing out office capacity.
• Make working full-time from the office optional.
• Opt for a hybrid work model and a remote-friendly approach.
• Stagger working hours to limit office footfall and avoid busy commutes.

In-Person Team Meetings

2020 was the year of Zoom meetings, and understandably, many team members may be sick of them.  An in-person team meeting might just be the break they need.

Schedule some team meetings to get your team members used to the format again. Ensure that your meeting room is ready to use. Ensure that all the tech is in place and that there’s enough space to accommodate all team members safely.

Remote Team Inclusivity

If you’re adopting a hybrid and remote-friendly back-to-work model, ensure that your welcome-back-to-work celebrations include remote workers and those who can’t come back to the office just yet.

Here are some tips:

• Encourage remote-friendly cross-team socials.
• Keep remote colleagues in the loop regularly.
• Use technology to include remote colleagues in the meetings.

The Role of Lunch in Hybrid Offices

The role of lunch in hybrid offices is grossly underrated. Apart from ensuring workers remain productive throughout the day, lunch also offers workers an opportunity to bond and socialize.

Companies should leverage food as a tool for motivating in-person workers coming back from a work-from-home scenario. In addition, as the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, going to lunch at offsite restaurants increases the potential of COVID exposure.

Lastly, when you order lunch for your team at the office, it can go a long way toward showing them that you care for and appreciate them. In turn, their loyalty to your organization and determination to work harder to achieve organizational objectives increases.

Order Lunch With Rootastes: Customizable Lunch Delivery in Boston

At Rootastes, we have a wide range of lunch options that cater to varying dietary needs for your office team. Reach out to us to inquire about:

• Budget-friendly treats such as smoothies, yogurt parfaits, brownies, pies, and cookies.
• Office lunch delivery in Boston with individually packaged meals that are easy to eat and fit any budget.
• Regular employee meals with safe, COVID-friendly contactless delivery—set your budget and schedule for individually packaged meals that arrive at set times and places.

Check out our menu and contact us at hello@therootastes.com to learn more. We are your premier lunch delivery service in Boston, ready to help you integrate your WFH team back into the office.