We are passing the one-year covid-anniversary, and what a year it’s been (understatement of my life, I know). Like the rest of the world, our clients have been able to pivot, adapt, and move forward in ways that astound me. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been really hard. 

We keep hearing that the world won’t ever return to “normal”, and I believe that to be true. For those of us who have been able to work from home for the past year it has taken some getting used to, but most of them have hit a rhythm. So much so, that all of the data I’ve seen tells us that employees are now feeling anxious about going back to work—not because of the virus, but because they have enjoyed working from home.  There is a lot about working from home that people really, really enjoy, and many don’t want to return to the office full time. 

What does this mean? Well, it depends. While many of us have really enjoyed working from home and have figured out how to make it work, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t value-adds for in-person work. My prediction is that many offices that want happy employees will adopt a hybrid model.

Here are a few places to start:

1. If you don’t have a remote policy for employees, it’s time to create one. The good news? There are many ideas for you to use as a template. I’ve advised all of my clients to think beyond covid when creating their plans (it might be time to revise your plan, if you were an early adopter of a policy).  The only way remote options are successful is if there are clear expectations. 

2. It’s time to have a conversation about what your policy will be once we’ve hit herd immunity with the vaccine. Talk to your people, see what they want, they will be relieved you are addressing the topic even if you don’t have all the answers right now. 

3. Think through what can continue to be done remotely and what can’t be. There might be some things somewhere in between, and those are the areas that you could bring to your employees to talk through. 

4. There isn’t a one-size-fits all approach to this topic (is there ever?). So you may find yourself charting your own plan for what works for you and your people. The most important thing is to strive towards equity in your decisions and to make sure that your reasoning for each decision is fair and transparent.

Everyone says that the working world will never be the same again, be ahead of the curve. You will get the most done because your employees won’t be distracted by wondering what is going to happen next. 

Here at The Spark Mill, we believe that people are your biggest asset, and we have many ways to support you in creating thriving workplaces. Find a time on my calendar to talk through what that might look like for you and your office.