With Covid restrictions relaxing, many companies are looking for ways to celebrate the return of their employees to the office
What a crazy couple of years it’s been! For many of us, being cut off from family and friends left us feeling isolated and alone. FaceTime and virtual meetups became a lifesaver for many but of course could never truly replace the intimacy of in-person gatherings.
Although technology (for the most part) has liberated us from needing to physically go to an office, for many people, a huge part of their daily social lives has always included their interactions with co-workers. Almost overnight, when employees, either voluntarily or as a result of public health orders, started to work from home, these opportunities to socialize at the office also ended.
In the early days of the pandemic employees were often excited to work from home as it meant no more commute, more time with their families, a flexible schedule and no one watching over their shoulder. However, as weeks turned into months, many employees began to miss face-to-face communication, social interactions, and the ease of quickly being able to collaborate with a co-worker. Others found that working at home lacked structure, making it hard to stay motivated or difficult to maintain a regular work schedule.
New employees are often most negatively affected by working from home. In many cases these new hires have never had the opportunity to meet the rest of their team in-person. Not only does that leave them feeling isolated, but they can’t benefit from watching what their coworkers are doing and managers or teammates may not notice if they’re struggling.
While some companies will continue to support remote working or offer more flexible schedules, most have begun to reopen offices and welcome their employees back. Whether someone enjoys working remotely or is excited to get back to the office, after such a long time working from home this is going to be a huge adjustment for many employees. It’s important to let your employees know that you acknowledge that this could be a difficult or stressful transition, and build some excitement about returning to work.
With that said, as promised, here are 5 exciting ways to welcome your team back to the office!
1. Have a Parking Lot Picnic
2. Personalized Welcome Back Gifts
3. Host an IRL Happy Hour
4. Take the Team Out For Dinner
No matter if it’s a single office return to work party, or a multi-city, multi-day event, Sip Social Co. can help make your celebration one to remember. Contact us today to learn more.