After Two Years Away, What Will the New Office Be Like?

“Bet your dog’s missing you!” and “Do you miss your sweatpants yet?” are among a few of the malaligned slogans placed on billboards in one downtown Toronto office building meant to welcome employees back. 

Oof. The tongue-in-cheek humour fell flat and the signs spread around social media like wildfire as an example of what not to do to welcome employees back. 

As the world eases out of remote working mode there are sure to be many other gaffes committed by well-meaning but out of touch landlords. Avoiding such mistakes will require a little effort and reimagining on the part of landlords to determine what the “new” office will look like and what will help employees adjust to the change.

We’re Going Back…What Does That Look Like?

In a recent Bartleby article, The Economist takes a stab at imagining the new office and makes some very good predictions. Based on those, we’ve reimagined what the new office might look like and made some suggestions for bosses and landlords on how to make the return to the office a joyous occasion for everyone.

Readjusting To…People

It’s been a while since we’ve been surrounded by people, whether for business or pleasure, and a return to the office means a return to being surrounded by colleagues—colleagues that sneeze, chatter, fidget, and annoy. Getting used to working around people again and not simply being able to turn off your camera and mute your mic to get away from them will be an adjustment for most. 

Our tip to bosses and landlords planning on bringing employees back to the office is to ensure there is space for quiet reflection and work. If you don’t have the capacity to provide everyone with their own office then perhaps ensure there are ample breakrooms or quiet spaces where employees can go to finish work in peace and solitude.

The 9-5 Workday is a Relic

Pre-covid, asking to work from home for the afternoon because your dog needs company would have seemed absolutely preposterous, but now, flex time may be a must-have for employees. People have become accustomed to being able to tend to household needs during the workday, making lives easier for busy families. Now that those tasks will need to be completed after working hours, many employees will look for flexibility in their in-office schedule to conduct personal errands and take care of household issues.

Whether or not your company offers a flexible schedule depends on a lot of factors and it might not be the right choice for your business, but sticking to a strict be-in-the-office-from-9-to-5 may chase away top talent. Our advice is to be as understanding as possible and change policies where applicable, such as allowing dogs in the office or permitting people to leave for appointments or to accept deliveries. 

Clothing…Optional?

Of course, not entirely optional, but employees have become accustomed to working in comfortable lounge clothes, especially from the waist down. In addition to comfort, buying suits and ties can be a real financial challenge, especially for those making under six figures. 

In some businesses, looking dapper is a must and nothing can, or should, be done about the dress code. But our suggestion for bosses and landlords is to critically evaluate your business and decide whether or not track pants in the office is an acceptable compromise. If seeing shorts and sandals walk around your office makes you nauseous, consider offering employees a clothing bonus or allowance that can help cover the cost of new business-appropriate attire, especially for those who may have put on a few pounds in lockdown.

Getting Into the Groove

Simply learning to adjust to co-workers (some of whom may have been hired during the pandemic and have never met others in person) and the new working environment may present some challenges. 

Instead of welcoming everyone back and getting down to work immediately, consider running some team-building activities or getting-to-know-you exercises all employees can participate in. 

Welcome Back, Kotter

Our apologies for those too young to understand this reference, you can Wikipedia, but for those who know—be a Kotter, not Vice-Principal Woodman! Your employees are not a scattered bunch of ne’er-do-wells in need of discipline and supervision, they are incredible productivity machines looking for the right environment and the right leader in order to truly shine. 

Be the right leader, be the right environment.