5 tips on how to reason about presence in hybrid workplaces

Hybrid workplaces and mandatory attendance? How to think? Does it come together? Should it go together? How to design an attendance policy for your hybrid office.

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Few of us have missed the rise of the hybrid workplace. After the pandemic, the hybrid work model, which in short terms means that employees have the opportunity to alternate telecommuting with office work, has taken root and is probably here to stay for good.

At the same time, many workplaces and decision-makers are now faced with the challenge of finding a good balance between remote and office work, but above all to communicate this balance clearly, without stepping on any toes. Because in the transition between pandemic and the new normal, precisely the attendance policy has many times fallen between the chairs. Many have mostly just run on without really implementing any actual strategy for how, if and when to show up at the office.

So how to do it?

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Should attendance be required in hybrid workplaces?

Before we get into the question of how is should An equally relevant question to ask. Should one even require attendance at the workplace?

The best answer to that question is probably: it depends.

Because in truth, there is no right or wrong answer here. It all depends on what kind of company you are, what culture you have, what culture you want and what kind of business you do.

But establishing an attendance policy should At least be a well thought out, clearly communicated and conscious decision. It's not something you do and just for the sake of it, because you want it the way you've always had it. The workplace, like everything else, is constantly changing and this relatively newfound flexibility is appreciated by many today. Therefore, the attendance policy must, above all, be anchored in a clear why.  

With that out of the world, how do you do it?

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5 tips on how to best create an attendance policy in your hybrid workplace

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1. Define why you want employees to return to the office

Remember: Mandatory attendance in the office should have a clear purpose. If a task or service can be performed with good results from home, requiring your team to come in to the office just for the sake of it probably won't be super popular. So start by thinking about why employees and colleagues should work from the office and define what goals are most important to your company.

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2. Consider Everyone's Circumstances

Do some employees have a long way to work? Having too many mandatory days can lead to unnecessarily complicating life for many employees. At the same time, too few mandatory days can lead to distanced feelings and a worse group dynamic. So start from where your team is and think just right, because right is always the best.

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3. Listen to your team

Find out what your employees want. How often do they actually want to come into the office? And under what circumstances do they want to do that? A little at random, or on specific days? What are their preferences when it comes to work in the office? Before defining policies, consider sending out a survey to gather feedback.

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Workplace giant Eden Workplace did exactly this before they put their own attendance policy into operation. Some questions they recommend including in a similar survey are:

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• How often would you personally like to work from the office?
• Would you rather have set office days or do you prefer random office days?
• What do you miss about working from the office?
• What don't you miss about working from the office?
• What would make it easier/more pleasurable to get into the office?
• How would you feel generally about the introduction of a mandatory attendance policy?

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4. Don't forget about logistics

Logistics is an incredibly important piece of the puzzle that must not be forgotten. Because regardless of how you ultimately design your policy, if you decide that everyone has to come in every day, on specific days, or whenever they want, it actually has to ensure that everyone has a place to sit when they get to the office. If they don't, the whole concept of an attendance policy falls flat. So don't forget about planning.

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5. Communicate expectations clearly

Hybrid models between workplaces will always vary. Therefore, it is important to set clear expectations and communicate these equally clearly in order for the hybrid application to fall out well. Therefore, be sure to share your expectations in all available internal channels, and hopefully you can avoid misunderstandings and dissatisfaction.

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At the same time, it is important to remember that you can never make everyone happy. But by being transparent throughout the process, asking for feedback as you build your attendance policy, communicating your plan with your employees, and making adjustments along the way, you'll at least make it clear that you value creating a policy that works as well as possible for as many people as possible.

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We help you create the workplace you want

At XLNT Workplace, we are experts in everything related to the workplace. Are you thinking of making changes to your workplace or is your office in need of a boost? We can help you both big and small, with everything from office customization and smart IT solutions to cleaning and handyman assistance. Get in touch via our contact form and we will tell you more.

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