From WPP and Amazon to Manchester United, remote working policies are being tightened by large companies across all industries. It’s likely that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) will follow suit.
However, some companies are finding themselves short of desk space to accommodate returning employees. CEOs may have recognised the benefits of having staff back on site, but unprepared businesses could find that productivity and staff satisfaction suffer unless they make the right alterations to their setup.
The return to the office offers an opportunity to reshape and improve working practices, but businesses will need to think about more than just squeezing people into one room. The technology that has been so effective remotely may no longer be fit for purpose as staff increase office hours.
Protect your business
The pandemic changed traditional working practices. The vast majority of companies had to transition overnight to full-time remote working. For many, this meant that personal mobile phones and laptops were pressed into service for business purposes. It was a short-term fix for an immediate problem, which had long term consequences. Allowing staff to use personal devices for work purposes is a convenient and low-cost option for employers, but it comes with risks. Private browsing can leave company networks vulnerable.
Insecure home routers are vulnerable to data breaches and unauthorised access. Such security risks could be costly and must be taken seriously at a time when 93% of companies in the UK are being targeted by fraud. As employees return to the office full-time, businesses should take the opportunity to transition away from personal devices and invest in company equipment that prioritises security.
Improve workflows
Ending the use of personal devices also offers the chance to rationalise the communication tools and software that have come into use because of remote working. By adopting a unified communications strategy, everything from instant messaging, video conferencing and voice calls can be consolidated into a single platform, simplifying company communications and facilitating collaboration to support customers more effectively.
As a result, the number of devices used by staff can also be reduced. A company will no longer need to supply two headsets – one for home, one for the office – instead it can invest in one high-quality headset while reducing spending. The same applies to laptops.
Cut the noise
A busier office means more conversation – and with it better collaboration and more opportunities to learn. This is one of the major reasons given for companies bringing staff back to the office full time. However, too much office noise can be disruptive. Customer-facing teams like sales are reliant on voice communications. Any dropped calls or a reduction in audio quality can very quickly cost the company in lost orders and damage a brand’s reputation.
Returning teams expect to have a desk phone at their disposal, whether a corded device or a cordless one, that enables them to move around the office while taking a call or in a hot-desking setup. They also need to be provided with noise-cancelling headsets, rather than relying on earphones, and require a stable, reliable network to ensure any calls they make can be handled smoothly.
For many businesses the return to the office has provoked mixed reactions, to say the least. But, if the professional workspace is able to provide an environment that is a step above remote-working setups, employees will feel supported. This transition can be the catalyst for a healthier and more productive workplace.
The human element: An untapped power in cybersecurity resilience