5 Key Advantages of Well-Defined RTO Procedures for Individuals and Enterprises
Goin' back to the office? Clear return-to-work (RTW) policies are rapidly becoming the talk of the town. While some businesses are insisting on employees returning to the cubicles, many continue to give flexible options for when, where, and how workers show up.
No matter what your stance— and whether you're compulsory or not— having a transparent RTW strategy is imperative for success. Over half of remote workers report that their company is demanding more face-time at work, according to TopResume data. But about one in five workers ignore their company's RTW policies, according to Resume Builder's findings.
It's smart for organizations to opt for an approach to RTW that is clear and equitable instead of letting things slide. A clear RTW policy impacts everything from recruitment and retention to motivation and productivity.
The Importance of RTW Policies
Clarification on RTW policy is beneficial for a multitude of reasons.
1. Reinforces Culture
Whether you're forcing people to be at the office or offering more flexibility, clear RTW policies help solidify your company culture. Communicating what is acceptable, expected, and where employees have a choice in their roles becomes key to shared values and alignment.
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Explain the logistics of returning to the office, but also make clear how the organization’s values translate into actionable policies to foster collaboration and reinforce culture.
Share the reasons for return— not just in terms of what the company derives (improved decision-making, better collaboration, stronger alignment). But also share the benefits for employees (connections, friendship, career growth).
Some companies prioritize in-person experiences, while others focus on flexibility and autonomy for employees. Many aim to offer both.
No matter what your policy or reasoning, clarity empowers employees to make decisions that align with their values and priorities for work and life.
2. Less Friction
Clearing up the guidelines for where and when people work can benefit both employees and leaders by reducing friction.
One of the main reasons people go to the office is to collaborate in person. But without clear instructions, employees must make extra efforts to coordinate and coordinate face-to-face time with colleagues to ensure their commute is worth it on that day. With clear guidelines, workers don’t have to guess or cooperate as much, leaving them more efficient and streamlining the planning process.
Consider establishing patterns for days of the week people work in the office or core hours for each day. For example, if the sales and marketing departments often collaborate, they may decide to split their teams so that one works Monday and Tuesday, while the other works Wednesday and Thursday. Or teams may elect to set core hours from 10 a.m. on Tuesdays to 3 p.m. on Thursdays.
Flexibility can still be provided on an as-needed basis for issues that arise, but it helps establish predictability for the week’s flow.
3. Equitable Treatment
Equity is one of the biggest challenges in granting flexibility. When decisions seem arbitrary or unfair, employees might question why some are permitted to work from home, while others aren’t.
When things are left to personal preference or leadership discretion, it can lead to increased stress for leaders as they attempt to balance the needs of individuals, teams, and the organization while ensuring fairness.
By implementing clear RTW policies, you provide context, ensuring policies are applied consistently and reduce the potential for bias or discontent.
4. Empower Your Employees
Clearly defined RTW policies offer several advantages, such as empowering people to make decisions about their work-life arrangements based on their personal values and needs.
Running pilots permits trying out new practices or workplace designs. Sprinkle in RTW policies that encourage feedback, giving employees a voice in what’s working well— and less well.
Phasing can be a strategy for letting people gradually adjust to new routines by starting with fewer days in the office and building up over time. Phasing allows employees to adapt to the new environment without being overwhelmed all at once.
5. Boost Productivity
When expectations and practices are streamlined, you can establish benchmarks for judging both the workplace design and the processes working for employees and from there, you can continually improve.
Transparency in the reasoning behind RTW policies and their application to roles and teams encourages a culture of increased openness and understanding while fostering trust.
Benefits of Office Work, Flexibility, and Choices
In-person work offers several advantages— but flexibility and choice also deliver benefits. A well-thought-out RTW strategy includes communication about the advantages of being together, going back to the office, and offering choice.
1. Less Loneliness
Working from an office is linked with less loneliness, according to research from the University of Michigan, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)[3]. Less loneliness is associated with better mental and physical health outcomes.
2. Building Connections
When given the opportunity to gather, whether at a coffee shop, park bench, or think: office cafeteria, 34% of individuals reported having good friends, compared to only 12% who didn’t have the ability to gather, according to data from the Survey Center for American Life[4].
3. Improved Inspiration and Engagement
When people collaborate in person, they pick up energy from others, according to research published in the Journal of Labor Economics[5]. Greater engagement can result in higher job satisfaction and better performance[6].
4. Increased Productivity
Being within 25 feet of colleagues increases performance by 15%, according to a study by Harvard[7].
5. Knowledge Spillover
When employees are within 65 feet of others, there is a measurable knowledge spillover, driven by information and learning that occurs via close proximity[8].
6. The Ill-Effects of Lack of Flexibility
Lack of flexibility in a stressful job has negative impacts on both mental and physical health, resulting in higher stress levels, worsened health, and increased mortality rates according to studies from Indiana University[9].
Flexibility also boosts employee morale and engagement. In particular,
- 71% of people with flexibility reported being innovative compared to 57% who didn’t have flexibility[10].
- 83% had a favorable view of their organization's culture compared with 47% of those without flexibility[10].
- Only 14% reported feeling burned out when flexibility was offered compared to 36% who reported exhaustion when it was unavailable[10].
7. Embracing Choice
Providing employees with the opportunity to choose their work arrangements can lead to increased job satisfaction, lower stress levels, and better health outcomes, according to studies by Indiana University[11].
Create Your RTW Policies
Assume that your team is best-intentioned and ready to perform at their best by creating fair, equitable RTW policies.
With clarity, empathy, and balanced presence and flexibility, RTW practices and policies can help create a thriving work environment for both the company and employees.
- For an organization to optimize career growth opportunities and foster collaboration, it's crucial to establish clear return-to-work (RTW) policies that are equitable and transparent.
- Implementing a RTW strategy with defined rules for commuting and working hours can help reduce friction between employees and leaders, ensuring efficient collaboration and a streamlined planning process.
- By explicitly articulating RTW policies, organizations can ensure equitable treatment among employees, reducing potential bias and discontent, and empowering employees to make decisions that align with their values and priorities.
