How to Bring Employees Back to the Office in a Hybrid World: A Design Thinking Guide

The pandemic has changed the way we work, and many businesses are now considering how to bring employees back to the office. There are two main approaches: bringing employees back full-time or creating a hybrid workplace.

Design thinking can help businesses decide which approach is best for them. Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving that focuses on understanding the needs of the people involved. By using design thinking, businesses can create a hybrid workplace that meets the needs of both employees and the business.

In this blog post, we will discuss the pros and cons of bringing employees back to the office full-time and creating a hybrid workplace. We will also provide some tips for businesses that are considering creating a hybrid workplace using design thinking.

The Current Landscape

The pandemic has changed the way we work in India. For many years, the traditional office was the norm. Employees would go to the office each day to work, and they would stay there for the majority of their workday. However, the pandemic forced many businesses to adapt to remote work. This was a major shift, and it has had a lasting impact on the way we work.

Currently, 73% of companies in India are bringing employees back to the office. This means that employees will have the flexibility to work from home some days and come into the office on others. The remaining 27% of companies are planning to have employees work from home full-time.

According to a recent survey by NASSCOM, the top reasons why companies are bringing employees back to the office are:

• To improve collaboration and communication: Many businesses believe that in-person collaboration is essential for innovation and productivity.
• To create a sense of community: Some businesses believe that the office is an important place for employees to connect with each other and build relationships.
• To maintain company culture: Some businesses believe that the office is an important part of their company culture, and they want to keep that culture alive.

However, there are also some challenges associated with bringing employees back to the office. These challenges include:

• Managing a hybrid workforce: It can be difficult to manage a workforce that is split between the office and home.
• Creating a safe and healthy work environment: Businesses need to take steps to ensure that the office is safe and healthy for employees.
• Providing the right tools and resources: Businesses need to provide employees with the right tools and resources to be productive both in the office and at home.

Despite the challenges, bringing employees back to the office can be beneficial for both employees and businesses. This is because it can help to improve collaboration and communication, create a sense of community, and maintain company culture.

How to Bring Employees Back to the Office: Why to Consider the Design Thinking Approach

Many businesses are now considering how to bring employees back to the office. However, this is not a simple task. Employees have different needs and concerns, and businesses need to find ways to create a hybrid workplace that meets everyone’s needs.

Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving that can help businesses bring employees back to the office in a way that is both productive and sustainable. Design thinking focuses on understanding the needs of the people involved, and it uses an iterative process to generate and test solutions.

Here are some of the benefits of using design thinking to bring employees back to the office:

• It can help businesses understand the needs of their employees. Design thinking involves conducting user research to understand what employees want and need from their work environment. This information can be used to create a hybrid workplace that is tailored to the needs of the workforce.
• It can help businesses generate creative and innovative solutions. Design thinking encourages businesses to think outside the box and come up with new and innovative ways to bring employees back to the office. This can lead to solutions that are more effective and sustainable than traditional approaches.
• It can help businesses test and iterate on solutions. Design thinking is an iterative process, which means that businesses can test and refine solutions as they go. This helps to ensure that the solutions are effective and meet the needs of the employees.

If you are considering bringing employees back to the office, I encourage you to consider using design thinking. Design thinking can help you create a hybrid workplace that is productive, sustainable, and meets the needs of your employees.

How to Use the Design Thinking Approach to Bring Employees Back to the Office

Here are the steps on how to use the design thinking approach to bring employees back to the office:

1. Empathize with your employees. The first step is to understand the needs of your employees. What do they want and need from their work environment? What are their concerns about returning to the office?
   You could conduct surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather information about your employees’ needs and concerns. For example, you could ask them what they liked and disliked about working from the office, what they are looking for in a hybrid workplace, and what their concerns are about returning to the office.
2. Define the problem. Once you have a good understanding of your employees’ needs, you can start to define the problem. What is the specific challenge that you are trying to solve? For example, are you trying to increase collaboration, improve communication, or create a  sense of community?
   You could define the problem as “how to bring employees back to the office in a way that is productive, sustainable, and meets the needs of our employees.”
3. Ideate solutions. Once you have defined the problem, you can start to brainstorm solutions. What are some creative and innovative ways to bring employees back to the office? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
   You could brainstorm solutions such as:
   • Offering a hybrid work model that gives employees the flexibility to work from home some days and come into the office on others.
   • Creating a more collaborative and creative work environment by investing in new technology and workspaces.
   • Building a stronger sense of community by creating opportunities for employees to connect with each other both in the office and virtually.
4. Prototype and test solutions. Once you have some ideas, you can start to prototype and test them. This will help you to see what works and what doesn’t. You can test your prototypes with employees to get their feedback.
   You could prototype and test solutions by creating a mock-up of your office space or by conducting a pilot program with a small group of employees.
5. Implement the best solution. Once you have found a solution that works, you can implement it. This may involve making changes to your office space, your policies, or your culture.
6. Iterate and improve. The design thinking process is iterative, which means that you can always go back and improve your solutions. As you learn more from your employees, you can continue to iterate on your solutions to make them even better.
   You can always go back and improve your solutions as you learn more from your employees. For example, you could ask them for feedback on the new office space or the pilot program.

These are just a few examples of how you can use the design thinking approach to bring employees back to the office. By following these steps, you can use the design thinking approach to bring employees back to the office in a way that is productive, sustainable, and meets the needs of your employees.

Here are Some Specific Design Thinking Tips for In-office Work

• Create a collaborative and supportive environment. If you’re thinking about how to bring employees back to the office, consider the following. The office should be a place where employees feel comfortable collaborating with each other and building relationships. This means providing the right tools and resources, such as meeting spaces and technology, and creating a culture of openness and respect.
• Encourage innovation and creativity. The office should be a place where employees feel free to experiment and try new things. This means providing them with the freedom to take risks and the support they need to succeed.
• Make the office a comfortable and productive space. The office should be a place where employees can focus on their work and be productive. This means providing them with a comfortable workspace, access to natural light, and a healthy environment.

Here are Some Specific Design Thinking Tips for Hybrid Work

• Create a seamless work experience. The hybrid workplace should be a seamless experience for employees, whether they are working in the office or from home. This means providing them with the same tools and resources, and ensuring that they have the same access to information and communication.
• Support collaboration and communication. Collaboration and communication are essential in the hybrid workplace. Businesses need to provide tools and resources that support these activities, such as video conferencing and online collaboration tools.
• Encourage a sense of community. Even though employees are not always in the office, it is important to create a sense of community. Businesses can do this by organizing events and activities, and by providing opportunities for employees to connect with each other online.

By following these design thinking tips, businesses can create a workplace that is both productive and engaging, whether employees are working in the office or from home.

Read more: Hybrid Working Culture: 4 Design Thinking Tips for Better Management

Conclusion

Bringing employees back to the office is a complex challenge, but it is one that businesses need to address. The pandemic has changed the way we work, and businesses need to adapt to these changes. The traditional office is no longer the only option, and businesses need to be open to different ways of working.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for bringing employees back to the office. The best approach will vary depending on the specific needs of the business and its employees. Some businesses may want to bring all employees back to the office full-time, while others may prefer a hybrid model where employees work from home some days and come into the office on others.

However, by using the design thinking approach, businesses can create a hybrid workplace that is productive, sustainable and meets the needs of their employees. The design thinking approach involves understanding the needs of employees, generating creative and innovative solutions, and testing and iterating on solutions.

By following these steps, businesses can bring employees back to the office in a way that is successful for everyone.

About the author

A Haryanvi by origin, an entrepreneur at heart, and a consultant by choice, that’s how Ajay likes to introduce himself! Ajay is the Founding Partner at Humane Design and Innovation Consulting (HDI). Before starting HDI, Ajay founded the Design Thinking and Innovation practice at KPMG India. His 16+ years of professional career spans various roles in product and service design, conducting strategy workshops, storytelling, and enabling an innovation culture. He has coached 50+ organizations and 2000+ professionals in institutionalizing design and innovation practices. He loves to blog and speak on topics related to Design Thinking, Innovation, Creativity, Storytelling, Customer Experience, and Entrepreneurship. Ajay is passionate about learning, writing poems, and visualizing future trends!

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