The Office: There Must Be Some Kinda Way Outta Here
“There Must Be Some Kinda Way Outta Here…” Although the pandemic created a rush for the exits, lingering attitudes about work-from-home have stifled the return to the office. According to a Gallup Poll in a recent Forbes article by Ashley Stahl, “A Gallup poll found that 37% of workers surveyed want to continue working fully from home, 54% prefer a hybrid model, and only 9% want to return to work full time. And for those who never worked from home but whose job can be done remotely, 48% want to give it a try.” So does your company want to bring in the herd? Then you’re going to have to turn up the incentives bigly.
Paid Time Off
The pandemic, more than anything, made people realize that time only goes in one direction. Away. Stahl adds, “The only thing we can never get back is time. Once it’s spent, it’s gone. Studies have shown that beyond meeting our basic needs, long-term happiness is achieved through experiences, not material things. So companies are offering open vacation policies or PTO, meaning employees can take as much time as they need to recharge. The catch: they must meet deadlines and produce results.”
Flexible Scheduling
Although 90’s tech startups would have told you the 40-hour workweek dies with Grunge, 2022 shows beyond the shadow of a doubt that being chained to your desk all week is as dead as your favorite trend before it goes retro. The article continues, “Employees don’t want to be chained to their desks 8 hours a day 40 hours a week. Proactive companies have learned that logging more hours doesn’t equate to higher productivity. Give your employees a chance to find their most productive time of the day to work…A traditional workweek is antiquated; it just won’t work in 2022. But employers can cash in on the benefits of offering flexible schedules. Giving people time outside of the office improves mental health. One study showed that productivity increased by 12% in workplaces with high levels of mental wellbeing. Other options include a 4-day workweek.”
Pet Perks
Some people like bringing their pets to work. Others want people who enjoy bringing their pets to work to leave them home. Adds Stahl, “Google, Amazon, and Etsy have embraced a pet-friendly workplace. And each year since 1999, the day following Father’s Day has been “take your dog to work day.” Some of the more unusual office mates include fish, birds, rodents, amphibians, and reptiles.”
Corporate Wellness
Although seeing your workmates in Yoga pants may not inspire a return to work, bringing the things you would do on your own time to the office sounds sketchy. The article concludes, “A survey by the Virgin Pulse showed that 88% of workers believe health and wellness programs give employers a competitive edge in terms of company culture – for current and prospective employees. Many companies are converting to app-based wellness. App-based wellness offers more choice for your employees including financial wellness, personal and life coaching, exercise, mental health, and more. They create a space where employees can access a total wellness package. Employees can take classes at any time of the day, from their desks or the comfort of their living rooms.” Because who doesn’t believe big tech needs more influence in their lives?
So should corporate tastemakers look for more inventive ways to get people back into the office, or is sitting behind a desk now something “your dad use to do,” like changing the oil in the car? Time will tell, but casual Friday is transforming into casual forever.
Trent Lyons is a Technical Recruitment Lead at Business Centric Technology. If you are interested in learning more about how to get the best IT talent in the Dallas metroplex, contact Trent, who specializes in recruiting IT talent in Dallas, Ft. Worth, and North Texas. If you are looking for a rewarding career, contact us today.