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.
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Jeff Lupinacci is the Co-founder of Evolve HR Solutions with Derek Lutz, a Global HR search, advisory, and software company. Jeff is the former Chief Talent & Integration officer of a Fortune 1000 company with 25 years of experience in HR, IT, Finance, and M&A. Jeff has lived in eight countries, is a published author, an adjust professor for Baylor University, and is based in Dallas, Tx.
