With a tight labor market, workers are increasingly empowered to leave jobs they don’t like. While many employers have backed off this return-to-office agenda, those that haven’t may be losing workers to more accommodating workplaces. Tech companies are offering bespoke amenities to lure people back. Here are a few of them. What will work for your business? Below are some tips for improving employee morale.
Flexible schedules
A recent survey by USA TODAY and LinkedIn found that nearly half of all hiring managers are experimenting with flexible schedules and remote work. While this number is less than other measures, it likely captures employers who are already using formal strategies to attract and retain talent. Regardless of the reason for your organization’s shift toward flexible schedules, here are three things to keep in mind. First, make sure that you have clear expectations of your employees. Keep in mind that your workforce may not want to work remotely if it means having to work flexibly.
Flex time is a great way to empower employees. It makes it easier for staff members to balance their lives while still fulfilling their jobs. Flexible schedules also help reduce employee turnover, which is an important factor in reducing the stress level in a company. Moreover, flexible schedules support the UN’s sustainable development goals. In addition to empowering employees, flexible work schedules have environmental benefits as well.
Lastly, flexible work schedules are an excellent way to retain valuable employees. Flexible work schedules are one of the top perks employees seek in a job. According to Zenefits, 77% of employees would choose a position if it offered flexible hours. Flexible work hours also ranked high amongst employees over vacation time and prestigious titles. The benefits are numerous.
Paid time off
Many companies are offering new ways to motivate their employees to use paid time off. Some companies have offered creative ways to get people back into the office by offering new benefits such as free food and gym memberships. Some employers even have raffles that include prizes like Teslas or an all-expense-paid trip to Barbados. In fact, some offices are encouraging employees to take advantage of paid time off by encouraging their employees to spend the time doing whatever they want.
While the time-off policies described above may not be applicable to every organization, they can help you address the needs of your workforce. The most successful policies are embedded in organizational cultures that support them. The key to embedding an existing time-off policy is permission, prioritization, and persistence. While not every business can benefit from these time-off policies, they are a positive step for any company’s culture.
Team building activities
One of the creative ways to get employees working together is to play games that require thinking and problem solving skills. For example, a jigsaw puzzle game could get employees working in pairs to solve the puzzle together. Each group would have a different piece of the puzzle, which they had to put in the right order in order to complete the puzzle. Teams would have to work together to figure out how to solve the puzzle without letting the other team get the pieces.
Another way to get employees working together is to hold an office book club. Office book clubs can lead to stimulating conversations among employees. They can even develop into a book. To encourage teamwork, divide employees into teams of four or five and present clues to a mystery. You could also give each team a time limit to solve the mystery. This way, everyone in the office gets to work together to find the object.
Other fun activities that get people working together are karaoke nights. While not everyone in the office is a fan of sports, a karaoke night can bring the team closer together. You can also let everyone vote on which team building activity they liked best and use this feedback to guide your next steps. Overall, team building exercises are a great way to motivate employees and boost their morale.
Your employees will love coffee from a tap
If you enjoy your morning java chilled, then you have probably heard of cold brew for offices. A variation of cold brewed coffee, Nitro cold brew uses nitrogen gas to create a smooth texture. While it was only invented in the early 2010s, this new coffee style is gaining popularity in recent years. But what is it exactly? How does it differ from regular coffee? And how can you enjoy it?
If you like your coffee with a little extra sweetness, nitro cold brew is a delicious option. You can even pour it straight from the can. The best part is that it’s not bitter at all! Try King’s Brew nitro cold brew and enjoy! Those on a diet can try it too by adding some sugar free syrup. It has only 5 calories naturally. If you’re looking for a delicious drink without all the calories, try nitro cold brew coffee.
Another nitro cold brew coffee product that’s worth trying is the kegged variety. While the name is a misnomer, this coffee has a surprisingly thick texture and is free of dairy or sugar. The only catch is the high price tag – it costs about $6 per cup! It was actually invented by a former employee of Cuvee Coffee, Lorenzo Perkins, who says that his idea was inspired by conversations with Intelligentsia employees. Although both men are in agreement that the Slow Food Quiz Bowl was the first public demonstration of kegged cold brew coffee.
Small initiatives
Many companies are experimenting with small initiatives to entice people back to the office. The New York Times announced a plan to gradually return employees to the office beginning April 4. The company is expecting to transition to a hybrid work model starting June 6. Employees who face special circumstances can work with their managers to determine an appropriate time to begin hybrid working. Some companies are taking a more aggressive approach. Some employers are offering paid vacation or flexible working schedules to encourage people to return to the office.
While many American companies sent their workers home two years ago, the executives have finally delivered the message that the coronavirus is a thing of the past. Managers are hanging welcome balloons and dusting monitors in anticipation of workers’ return. Some employers are even offering coronavirus tests to their workers. As a result, many workers have recovered from the virus and are back in the office, but the company must work to reassure them that they will be safe once they are back.
While there are numerous methods for enticing employees to return to the office, these strategies are most effective if leaders focus on the relational aspect of the workplace and the work-life balance. Achieving this requires leveraging five communication strategies. All of these strategies emphasize the human side of working together. They also create a strong sense of company community and foster trust. Ultimately, these initiatives will increase the likelihood that people will return to work in office.
Personalization
Employers are increasingly looking for creative ways to get employees back to work in the office. Newer work setups encourage workers to stay in the office longer, and others have made employees write their own job descriptions. As a result, a recent study by the JLL Research Institute found that 36 percent of employees were lacking energy. Additionally, a quarter of those surveyed were too exhausted to care about their personal lives.
Flexible workspace
If you’ve been considering making the office more flexible, you’ll be pleased to learn that flexible workspaces are becoming increasingly popular. Not only do flexible workspaces give employees the freedom to choose their own workstations, but they also help companies reduce costs by maximizing office space. With fewer people in the office, it’s much easier to establish quiet zones or common areas.
These office spaces incorporate innovative ideas for workplace flexibility. These workspaces can be shared with coworkers and include shared amenities such as printers and snacks. Some companies have even set up entire spaces with communal amenities, such as WiFi and power sockets. Flexible workspaces can be used by multiple employees, with different settings for different tasks. Whether you’re a lone freelancer or work in a large company, flexible workspaces are a great way to attract and retain employees.
While office space is not dying, it has seen a significant shift in design since the recession. Today’s workplaces need to accommodate different behavioral patterns and a blended workforce. Gensler’s Houston office, for example, is adaptable to this shift. To make employees feel comfortable, the Houston office provides social spaces. This is especially important when the work force is largely remote or not accustomed to being in the office on a certain day.