After more than two years of working from home (can you believe it?), the movement to a hybrid work environment is in full swing. Whether it’s “Monday/Friday WFH” or design-your-own-schedule, many companies are expecting employees to spend at least some of their working hours in the office.
For many companies, three days in the office is not enough. As of March 2022, 50 percent reported that they want employees back in the office five days per week. However, employees do not seem to share this mindset. The majority (59 percent) prefer a hybrid environment, working remotely 10 to 90 percent of the time.
As we continue to navigate this “new normal,” plan for employee engagement and morale to fluctuate. Supporting employees through these transitions is key. Here are three ways communicators can help:
1. Seek employee feedback and then acknowledge it. Employees who feel heard are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to perform to the best of their abilities. This includes employees working remotely, in the office and everywhere in between. Make sure your senior leaders hear this feedback, too, so you can build your communications plans around it.
2. Check that your communications channels are effective for all types of employees. Seventy-four percent of employees feel they are missing out on company information and news. Depending on if employees are in the office or remote, they may expect to get information from different channels. Figuring out which channels your employees prefer – email, intranet, mobile, DoorDash delivery driver, drone drops or carrier pigeons – helps capture their attention.
3. Communicate your goals clearly during this time. Seventy-one percent of employees feel managers do not spend enough time explaining goals and plans. Studies show that when employees understand their company’s goals, they are more likely to perform better. With the work landscape ever-changing, constant and consistent goals can help your employees focus, no matter where they’re working.
Wherever your company falls along the hybrid work spectrum, remember your superpower: communication. Use your powers for good by gathering employee sentiment and then passing along their feedback to leaders, meeting employees where they are with your comms, and communicating company goals.