HR leaders urged to come up with return-to-office plans

Workplace relations advisor Employsure has urged employers to start formulating return-to-work schemes right before the New Zealand government starts lifting restrictions in the future.

Employsure business partner Emma Dawson said employees have adapted to a much more flexible lifestyle, which extends to the way they work.

"Staff have gotten used to working from home over the past few years. Some have started working in a hybrid way, and for many businesses it has made an improvement to productivity and employee retention," said Dawson in a statement.

According to the official, this should make employers consider a flexible workplace arrangement in the future to have a middle ground to "appease employees and keep that retention high." She suggested an open conversation between employer and employees to find out how many among them want a flexible working model.

"They should also listen to their concerns, such as health fears upon returning to work, and also discuss what other alternatives could be mutually reached," Dawson said.

"If flexible work is a realistic option, then by all means that should be discussed."

Read more: Return to work or WFH? HR leaders face challenges with hybrid model

In a different case, however, where an employer wants staff back on-site full-time and the employee disagrees, Dawson suggested looking at a compressed work week to give staff members additional rest days.

"Adding two extra hours a day from Monday to Thursday for example will allow for the employee to come into work full-time, while also still receiving a Friday off," she explained. 

The workplace advisor issued the suggestions after revealing that they have been receiving a lot of calls from business owners who are requesting help with employee management, especially as government recommendations on remote work start getting lifted in Australia.

"This trend is likely to extend to New Zealand when Covid restrictions eventually lift," said the organisation.

A peek of how employees feel about returning to work was unveiled by the ELMO Employee Sentiment Index.

Its findings showed that 64% of employees are concerned about returning to the workplace out of fear of new COVID-19 variants, while 63% are uncomfortable working alongside unvaccinated colleagues.

According to Employsure, it is crucial for a company's success that they ensure their employees are "seamlessly set-up."

It is also important for them that they ensure all Health and Safety at Work obligations are met by minimising or eliminating risks to employee safety at the office and even at home.

"For every employee that can return to the workplace, that’s one more potential coffee sold, one more meal purchased, and one more sale that assists in the economic recovery of New Zealand," said Dawson.