How to make sure they love coming into the office – every time

Take a look around your office today – how busy is it? And how happy do the people who are working there look?

These are key questions for today’s workplace leaders, who still face challenges when it comes to getting people back to the office. According to figures by the property management agent CBRE, only 43% of office workers are making the commute at least three days a week.

Which is fine – unless you want them in their office seats more. In-office working has many benefits including knowledge-sharing, mentoring, collaboration and just plain friendship. All of which adds to your staff members’ enjoyment and engagement with your company, reducing talent loss.

The workplace experts at NFS Technology – suppliers of industry-leading Rendezvous workspace management software – advise that there are many ways to encourage reluctant workers to return to the office.

CEO Luis De Souza says: “The principal incentive is easy to explain – you need to make your workplace a great place to come and work.”

The best way to do this, he explains, is by using workplace technology to create a seamless and welcoming environment for every trip into the office.

“The technology allows workers to locate and book the desk or room they need easily, using a mobile app, browser or even a kiosk,” he says. “It also includes a colleague search facility so you can be sure to be in the same place as your collaborating team.”

The technology also makes it easy to book meetings – even hybrid ones – in multiple locations, with services such as catering included and all changes notified automatically to everyone involved.

“The software integrates with other technologies, such as desk and room panels for easy check-in and out, and sensors to capture real-time space utilisation data,” says Luis. “That makes it easy for workplace leaders to reconfigure space when necessary to match requirements.”

One Rendezvous innovation is an employee portal that all staff can use as a neighbourhood, and which acts as a control centre for managers – allowing them to see where their staff are working, and book desks together for teamwork.

1. Be sociable: People like being in the office to interact with friends and colleagues. It can be a real motivator to create opportunities for collaboration, team-building and socializing.
2. Be flexible: Hybrid working, allowing employees to split their time between home and office, remains extremely popular.
3. Be a destination: With the help of technology, companies are redesigning offices to offer benefits beyond what employees have at home. This includes making dedicated space for collaboration, quiet work areas, relaxation zones and even rooftop gardens.
4. Be generous: Perks can help overcome the reluctance to commute. Examples include free breakfasts or team lunches, fitness classes and life services such as laundry and grocery delivery.
5. Be tasty: Providing delicious food and coffee simple but effective.
6. Be helpful: Offering services that make office life more convenient, such as on-site tech support, can make the office win over home. And don’t forget that in winter, it costs to have your heating on at home…
7. Be team-focused: Plan activities to bring teams together, such as guest speakers, learning or fun competitions.
8. Be aware: Commuting costs money. Some companies, such EY, have programs to help workers with this.

Luis De Souza says: “There’s a lot of variation worldwide, in different industries and even in different generations when it comes to how popular working in the office is.

“However, implementing some or all of these strategies can make your workplace a good place to be – one that’s definitely worth the commute, and where it’s possible to achieve a great day’s work that makes you feel happy, productive and healthy.”

Discover more about Rendezvous workplace management technology :

• Download brochure
• Request demo