How to Help Employees Transition Back to the Office

Even companies that have decided to reopen offices at full capacity must reckon with the fact that there is no “going back” to exactly the way things were before the pandemic hit. Full capacity offices present new challenges: some employees may have taken on additional family needs and responsibilities, some may have medical concerns or not wish to be vaccinated, and others may be uncomfortable working in the old office layout. Nonetheless, there has to be an end to the uncertainty of working in “pandemic mode.” In this session, Debra Helwig of K·Coe Isom will share the tools and techniques her firm used to navigate employee communications throughout the pandemic, with the end result of a successful return to offices across the US on June 1.

You’ll learn:

  • How to examine your previous COVID communications for signals that affect employee trust and readiness to return
  • The value of a third-party single source of truth as the North Star for setting and communicating COVID policy
  • How to build a well-managed partnership between internal communications, HR, and office leaders for effective response to employee concerns
  • How to determine and communicate a timeline for full office capacity that meets the needs of your workforce and your business
  • A permanent, non-COVID-related method for accommodating remote and hybrid workers in offices that are fully transitioned and open for business
  • Debra Helwig
    Senior Internal Communications Manager
    K·Coe Isom