Bringing employees back into the office is not going to be simple, and companies need to have a well-thought-out plan that ensures workers are safe, productive and healthy. Although there is no guidebook on how to properly do this, keeping the wellness of employees in mind guarantees a great work experience.

When making a plan about how and when to open the office space, consider the opinion of employees. What do they need in order to feel safe? Some may feel uncomfortable being in the workspace until a vaccine is available, while others are more stressed out about childcare. Whatever it may be, it is vital that the company receives feedback from their workers in order to accommodate those needs.

There may be facets of the old way of working that will not or cannot apply to today’s standards. Having an understanding of what employees do find to be important can make this balance easier. For instance, ask  workers to rank various aspects of their “normal” pre-pandemic and remote working routines to see exactly what employees value during the work day.

Lastly, companies should not limit their operations to just working from home or in-office. Explore the possibility of a hybrid workforce, or purchase coworking memberships to offer a variety of environments for employees.