6 Steps for Businesses Planning Their Return to the Office

2.  Find your thought framework

Find a framework for thinking that will enable you to chart a course of direction.

With changing guidance from government and healthcare officials, it is critically important to regularly revise and update your business’s navigation plan: using a consistent thought framework will help align every iteration.

There are plenty of approaches outlined by industry experts. Some of our reference points include Cushman & Wakefield’s ‘Recovery Readiness: A How-to Guide for Reopening Your Workplace,’ and Steelcase’s ‘Navigating What’s Next: The Post-COVID Workplace.’

“At the start of our journey we were in chaos and confusion,” says our Group Technical Design Director and now Programme Lead, Claire Elliott. “So many documents and articles have been produced, many of which are reinventions of a wheel that actually does not exist.”

“We took a breath,” she explains, emphasising that it was important to prioritise a calm and thoughtful approach during a time that has brought panic for many. “We realigned ourselves, formed our response team, sifted through all the documents and data and came up with a foundation plan that we could build on.”

Claire shares that the most important thing for Oktra, “was to ensure everyone in the company was involved and joined this journey together, listening to the same messages at the same time.”

3.  Set up a system for collecting data

Set up a system for collecting insights and information from key stakeholders including but not limited to: your team, clients, partners, your landlord and the government.

Your people are the guiding force for your re-integration plan. Establish a data collection system to gain a true understanding of wants, needs and concerns. Whether or not your workforce is comfortable or able to return to work will decide whether you start planning the re-opening of your workplace or find new ways to support your remote workforce. Your system should enable you to capture data throughout this process in order to accurately reflect current sentiment and updated government guidance.

“With so much uncertainty clouding our ability to move forward at speed with confidence, it is essential that businesses plug into the sentiment of their key stakeholders throughout this process,” says Craig Smith, Oktra’s Chief Development Officer. He explains, “these feedback loops help to mitigate any risk, preventing the alienation of the most fundamental part of your operating model – your people.”

We’ve just completed the first round of our Employee Sentiment Survey, and are offering our template as a starting point for your own – fill out the form at the bottom of this webpage to request a copy.

5.  Understand the limitations of your space

Start to understand the limitations of your current space, using design principles established by the government and insights from stakeholder feedback.

Space plans are a great place to start understanding the implications of official safety measures like two-metre distancing. Use stakeholder feedback to get a more accurate idea of people’s feelings towards the proposed environment. You’ll also need to include your landlord in the process as they play an instrumental part in deciding what is and isn’t possible in your building and planning for safe communal spaces.

“For me the office layout is a small cog in a big wheel,” says Claire. “As designers, we could redesign layouts to meet current social distancing and safe working guidelines, but these guidelines are changing.”

Claire explains that Oktra is focusing on understanding their teams’ concerns, challenges and demands for how the office functions during the Transition and into the Future.

“It’s an inclusive journey,” she explains, adding that “the final layout is very much unknown and that is absolutely fine – we will adapt and change as the guidelines flux to ensure that, if and when we do get our staff back to the office, it will be in the safest and most functional way possible.”

Request a call-back from our workplace experts to discuss space rationalisation exercises, surveys and modifications to existing space and designing new workspace using government guidelines and stakeholder feedback.

6.  Communicate your plan

Develop a specific communications approach to let everyone know that you have a course of direction, a team to guide the business through the process and a system set up so everyone can help shape the path forward.

Bringing your people on the journey by communicating effectively and openly is arguably the most important part of this process. Successful navigation depends on constant communication as businesses update their processes and policies to reflect current guidance and regulations. In other words, yesterday’s plans will need to be tested against today’s logic and updated as subsequent versions over time.

“In the current climate, you won’t always be able to control how the outside pressure will impact your organisation,” says Craig. “You can, however, take control of how your organisation internally manages the process,” he explains, adding that “clear and constant communication will help your teams feel empowered to commit and engage in the desired change.”

Every business’ move back to the workplace will look different, but these six steps can help begin planning for it. Our workplace specialists can help you with any of the above steps in your planning process. From administering and analysing sentiment surveys to designing and delivering your final scheme, we’re here to help you move forward.