The workplace continues to evolve, requiring organizations to create environments where employees feel comfortable, protected, and engaged.
Recent reports indicate that employees increasingly value human connection, collaboration, and workspaces that support social interaction. Many professionals seek offices that foster teamwork while also providing flexible work arrangements and access to outdoor spaces.
Instead of focusing solely on when offices should reopen, a more important question is: What do employees need to feel supported and motivated in the workplace?
Three Key Steps Employers Must Take Before Employees Return to Work
Employees expect certain changes in their work environments to feel comfortable returning to the office. These expectations include:
- Stricter policies around sick leave
- Greater flexibility to work from home
- Enhanced office cleaning protocols
- Increased distance between workstations
- Access to hand sanitizer and hygiene products
- Touchless features for shared spaces, such as bathrooms and doors
With these factors in mind, here are three essential steps employers must take to create a safe and supportive workplace.
1. Develop a Comprehensive Workplace Strategy
Organizations must proactively plan for a smooth transition back to the office by involving multiple departments in the process. A dedicated team should oversee workplace safety, policy updates, and facility planning. This team should include leaders from HR, legal, IT, health and safety, and operations.
A well-structured return-to-office plan should address:
- Health screening and wellness initiatives
- Managing building occupancy and workplace flow
- Sick leave policies and flexible work arrangements
- Scheduling shifts or hybrid work models to optimize space
- Procedures for tracking and managing visitor access
Adhering to local and national regulations ensures compliance while promoting a healthier work environment.
2. Strengthen Workplace Safety Measures
A focus on cleanliness, social distancing, and responsible workplace policies is essential to maintaining a safe environment for employees, contractors, and visitors.
Workplace Hygiene
Organizations should prioritize workplace sanitation by frequently disinfecting high-contact areas such as shared kitchens, lobbies, and restrooms. Providing employees with hygiene supplies—including soap, hand sanitizer, and cleaning materials—helps maintain personal and communal cleanliness.
Employers should also consider assigning dedicated staff to manage workplace supplies and enforce cleanliness standards.
Optimizing Workplace Flow
Maintaining proper workplace flow and social distancing can improve safety and efficiency. Strategies for optimizing workplace space include:
- Implementing hybrid work schedules to reduce office density
- Adjusting seating arrangements to create more space between desks
- Using touchless access systems for entrances, elevators, and meeting rooms
- Limiting large in-person meetings and shifting gatherings to virtual platforms
Technology-driven solutions such as meeting room booking systems can also help regulate office space usage and prevent overcrowding.
Screening and Access Control
To ensure workplace security, organizations should have policies in place for managing employees, contractors, and visitors. Pre-screening measures, such as digital check-ins and access approvals, help control who enters the premises.
Visitor and employee management systems can enhance security by tracking on-site presence, enforcing workplace policies, and ensuring compliance with company regulations.
3. Improve Employee Communication and Training
A well-structured communication strategy is critical to ensuring employees understand workplace policies and expectations. HR teams should proactively communicate updates and resources to help employees navigate any changes to their work environment.
Organizations should establish clear guidelines around:
- What information needs to be shared with employees
- How frequently workplace policies should be communicated
- Who is responsible for addressing employee concerns
- How feedback from employees will be collected and addressed
Encouraging an open dialogue allows employees to voice their questions and concerns while fostering a sense of transparency and trust.
Creating a Future-Ready Workplace
A successful return to the workplace requires a balance of employee well-being, workplace flexibility, and innovative technologies. Organizations must implement solutions that create seamless, secure, and efficient work environments while supporting employee engagement and productivity.
By investing in workplace safety, communication, and modern office management solutions, companies can build a resilient and adaptable work environment that meets the needs of today’s workforce.
By Jonathan Davis
Jonathan writes about asset management, maintenance software, and SaaS solutions in his role as a digital content creator at Eptura. He covers trends across industries, including fleet, manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality, with a focus on delivering thought leadership with actionable insights. Earlier in his career, he wrote textbooks, edited NPC dialogue for video games, and taught English as a foreign language. He holds a master's degree in journalism.
