How to support colleagues who are anxious about returning to the office

For many, after having spent the past two years working from home, going back to the office won’t be easy. Workers are likely to have return-to-office anxiety, and it's important that employers support those who need it the most.

Research from Westfield Health revealed that more than half (54%) of employees feel pressured to return to the workplace full-time. Businesses need to remember that each employee will have different feelings towards returning to the office.

Dave Capper, Group CEO at Westfield Health, identifies the most essential practices businesses can implement to ease return-to-office anxiety.

Communication is key 

To make the transition as easy as possible, it's vital to keep staff informed of intentions as soon as possible. 

Our report on flexible working identified that 40% of employees said a lack of communication was the top reason they felt hostile towards changes in the workplace. 

Whether it’s logistical anxiety, social anxiety, professional anxiety or worry about routine disruption, make sure you’re giving your people the chance to communicate their worries. This gives managers the opportunity to address individual concerns and reassure them.

Be flexible 

Aside from flexible working, which was the most popular wellbeing initiative, our report found that a four-day working week (26%), hybrid working (26%) and more mental health support (20%) were in demand from employees to improve their wellbeing at work. 

45% of employees wanted their employer to be more flexible with how and when they work on a hybrid basis. 

Since the pandemic, working habits have adapted to individual circumstances. A whole-of-population approach means introducing flexible ways for employees to engage with their workplace while striving to provide equal access to support. This should be clear and visible for employees, varied enough to take into account individual circumstances and versatile to flex to changing situations, a ‘one-size-fits-all approach’ will not work. 

Additional support

Some employees may still feel anxious over returning to the office, whether that’s difficulty sleeping, feeling tired and irritable, stress and nausea, or even feeling overwhelmed by the commute. However, companies should bear in mind that anxiety levels will vary for everyone. 

It can be helpful to remind staff that a period of readjustment is standard and try to give extra support as people get back into a routine. Advise staff to take regular breaks and get some fresh air and encourage teams to take time to build relationships in person. 

Wellbeing workshops

Wellbeing workshops are designed to empower staff and help make positive changes to the workplace. They also positively transform company culture and create a happy and healthy environment.

Most people spend over a third of their lives at work, so it's crucial that your employees feel fulfilled and valued. Interactive workshops also allow you to cover all areas of employee wellbeing, including psychology skills, health awareness, leadership, communication, stress management and so on. They also help increase productivity, improve staff retention and build a reputation of respect.