Entice, Cajole, Coax Employees Back To The Office
I was talking to a long-time colleague yesterday. Like most Sr HR Executives, he was lamenting the challenges of getting employees back into the office. CEOs everywhere want people back in the building. I understand both sides of the debate. I believe the right answer depends on the organization’s culture and leadership. Rather than discuss the merits of both sides, I want to provide a few practical ideas for those whose CEO has said they want employees back in the office.
Here are a few low or no-cost solutions that incentivize employees to get out of their pajamas, hop in their cars, and commute to the office.
1. Offer a flexible work schedule: Many employees decry the loss of flexibility if they have to come back to the office. So, could you take that reason off the table by letting them know they can have flexibility when they come to the office? Let them come in later or leave earlier to miss the heavy commute times. They can still schedule doctor appointments or attend their kid’s baseball games.
2. Offer free meals or snacks: Who doesn’t like free donuts in the morning? Maybe it is free avocados, given the rate of inflation. I remember living in Japan, and we would provide fresh fruit on Fridays. Everyone was in the office since fresh fruit was so expensive. An apple was $5 each. Look for food unique in the region or a real draw to bring folks together. If you made an event out of it, you also get to build relationships and connections without significant extra costs.
3. Offer commuting benefits: I was in California recently and saw that gas was $5.81 per gallon. No wonder employees in high gas states don’t want to commute. To help offset this, offer discounted public transportation, parking stipend, shuttle service, toll stipend, or even mileage reimbursement.
4. Plan in-person activities: I was going to say team-building activities, but only some people are into the fluffy HR stuff. But, play on people’s FOMO and create events or activities employees want to be at. Maybe it is time with the CEO or executive team, happy hour, or watching the local sports team in the playoffs. Whatever works for your culture, there are ways to engage employees that excite them to be in the office and with people.
5. Bribe them to return: When all else fails, you can always offer bonuses or incentives for employees returning to the office. Unfortunately, though, money is always a short-term motivation.
I would love to hear any other creative ways to entice, cajole or motivate employees back to the office.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Lupinacci spent the last 25 years at some of the world's best-known companies, such as Intel Corporation and Kimberly-Clark. His career spans key executive roles such as Chief Learning Officer, Chief Talent Officer, and Chief Integration Officer. After a successful corporate career, Jeff turned his focus to his true passion—serving the overworked and under-resourced HR profession.
Beyond his corporate success, Jeff is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, with his insights featured in leading publications such as CFO Europe, Nikkei Business Magazine, and Baylor Business Review. In addition to his business leadership, Jeff is an adjunct professor at Baylor University, where he teaches Human Capital Management for the Executive MBA program and leads the HR Strategy and Analytics capstone for undergraduates.
Jeff is the best-selling author of The Talent Advantage: A CEO’s Journey to Discover the Value of Talent. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife and two doodles.