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Working from home has become the norm for many people over the last 18 months or so - and many workers admit to rather liking it. With no stressful commute to worry about, avoiding office politics and Zooming with your slippers on, what hasn't there been to love about the WFH set-up? Nice as it has been, there has been a shift of late; employers are starting to take a keener approach to encourage their cohort back into the folds of their office space. But, how can bosses convince their team to fall back in love with the office? Highlight The Social Aspect When it comes to working from home vs office, the office wins hands down from a social aspect. Let's face it, working from home can be pretty lonely sometimes, without a sense of camaraderie and community that is embedded into office life. Bosses should aim to highlight the social side of office working, so that staff don't feel like they're missing out if they're working from home. Ask For Feedback Many staff might be reluctant to get back to the office because they remember the things they didn't like about it before working from home became the norm. Ask for feedback from staff to find out how the office environment could be improved for their return so that any niggles or concerns can be ironed out. This will show that you have the welfare of your employees in mind and that they are your priority when making decisions - hopefully enticing them back into the warming embrace of the office environment. Regardless of obtaining feedback from staff, now is a good opportunity to think about ways to make the office more comfortable, more welcoming and more modern, so consider a revamp before luring the team back. Highlight The Office Benefits Working from home isn't necessarily always a winner in the work from home vs work from office debate. While there are obvious advantages to remote working, there are also plenty of plus points that come with being in an office. You just need to gently remind your staff of these! For starters, working in an office allows for better communication with colleagues, and there aren't any of the distractions you might get at home, such as answering the front doorbell, pets needing feeding or jumping on the laptop, etc. Staff don't need to worry about the costs of putting the heating on when in the office, and getting out of the house can provide for a refreshing change of scene. If your staffing requirements have changed now that your team are heading back to the office, get in touch with the experts at Headway Recruitment for a range of solutions. Image Source: Unsplash

If you've noticed that morale seems to be flagging in your workplace, it's time to take some swift action. The good news is that knowing how to boost morale at work is easy, with these five simple tips. 1. It's Good To Talk Staff don't like to be kept in the dark, so hone your communication skills and keep them up to date with everything that's going on in the workplace. This can make them feel more valued and involved within the business. Even better, try to get them involved with any decision-making matters which could impact them - they'll feel grateful for being included, and it's a sure-fire way to get morale levels soaring. 2. Dish Out The Praise When there's lots to do and deadlines to meet, it can be easy to forget to say thank you to staff who may have gone the extra mile. Get into the habit of dishing out praise to your workers, no matter how big or small their efforts might have been. Regularly praising staff can help to keep morale levels high, and workers will feel appreciated and valued for everything they do. 3. Create a Sense of Community Not sure how to boost team morale? Get social! All work and no play can send morale levels plummeting, so organise some out-of-work, social activities and events to get staff together, now and again. This can encourage a sense of community within your organisation and will let staff get to know each other better, improving working relationships and the office atmosphere. Plus, having a sociable workplace can be a boon for bosses, as it can raise staff morale, productivity and even retention. 4. Office Makeover Understanding how to boost morale at work involves taking a good, long and honest look at the environment your staff spend their working day in. If you think it's dull, drab and dated, chances are your workforce will be of a similar opinion - and you won't be doing employee morale and productivity any favours. Therefore, consider giving your office a revamp, so that it's more modern, brighter and more appealing to work in - the impact this has on employees will be well worth the effort. 5. Introduce Incentives Simple, easy and effective - three words to describe using incentives to boost staff morale. Incentives can be anything that an employee values, and it doesn't need to bite into your budget to have an impact. Incentives could be things like offering more flexible working, an additional day's holiday, or discounts. Bosses will be rewarded too, as introducing employee incentives can increase productivity, motivation, morale and staff retention. What's not to like? If you're looking to add new recruits to your team, get in touch with the specialists at Headway Recruitment. Image Source: Unsplash

If you're looking to get the thumbs up from your staff, giving them a nice, comfortable, clean and modern space to work in is essential. Here's why nice office design matters. Improves Productivity There's tons of evidence to suggest that when staff work in a comfortable and pleasing office environment, it can have a positive impact on their productivity levels. This kind of makes sense - after all, if you like where you work, you're going to feel happy being there, which can improve staff wellbeing and make you more motivated in your work. Better Collaboration and Communication When deciding how to make an office look nice, one of the main issues is to make sure that employees can easily collaborate and communicate with each other. Key design features should include an open layout or communal spaces, for instance. Being able to work better with colleagues can encourage a team spirit, increased creativity and improve ways of doing things. Ergonomic Considerations A nice office should look great, but in the quest to win over staff, it should also be comfortable and ergonomically well-designed. After all, if staff are expected to spend eight hours of their day in your space, it makes sense that they should have somewhere comfortable to sit, with the right kind of equipment they need to do their jobs properly. You should also consider giving staff different areas to work in, to provide a change of scenery as well as accommodate for various task requirements, such as a quiet space or a collaborative space. This can help staff to stay focused, and foster engagement with their work. Welcome Nature To Your Space Increasing numbers of savvy businesses recognise that introducing nature into the working environment can have a positive impact on employee wellbeing, productivity and morale. Adding plants to an office can provide a soothing effect, and it's also good for mopping up chemicals and such emitted from equipment or furniture. Think about natural lighting, too, rather than harsh, strip lights, which make a space feel cold and unappealing to work in. Caring about how the office environment looks and adding features that enhance staff wellbeing, makes for a happier and more productive workplace, which could improve your bottom line, and may even boost staff retention. If you're looking for new recruits to enjoy the benefits of your appealing office environment, contact the experts at Headway Recruitment to discuss your staffing needs. Image Source: Unsplash