Unlock the Secrets of a Seamless Return to Office

Discover how your business can lead the way in creating a smooth, desirable, and stress-free return to the workplace   

Four years on from the Covid-19 pandemic, we find ourselves in the midst of another shift in workplace dynamics.  

Despite 40% of UK employers now offering a hybrid work model, and only 3 in 10 UK organisations requiring staff to work fully on-site, 90% of companies are set to return to the office by the end of 2024. 

When we consider that 71% of people believe flexible working to be important when contemplating a new role and 4 million people leaving their jobs in 2023 due to lack of flexibility, it’s clear that a balance must be struck if employers are to attract and retain talent in this new era of working.  

Let’s first look at the positive aspects of in-person working:  

• Helps create a sense of connection and community amongst workforces, with 15% citing loneliness as their biggest struggle when working remotely 

• Removes communication barriers to promote cohesive working 

• 43% believe it boosts their creativity 

• Enables staff to keep their home and work life clearly defined and separated 

• Provides greater networking opportunities  

• Can contribute to a strong company culture 

Now let’s take a look at the negative implications of bringing staff back to the office:  

• 50%+ of workers say that commuting increases their stress levels   

• More than a third say their commute impacts their sleep time  

• Over two in five people say their commute reduces the time they spend being physically active 

• Workers spend an average of £3,454 commuting to work each year, which can impact their financial wellbeing  

• The average person spends the equivalent of 7.5 days commuting each year, plus:  260 days working each year – significantly compromising their work/life balance  

• 77% of staff who work remotely at least a few times per month show increased productivity, with 30% doing more work in less time  

So, how can you make the return to work more desirable for current and future talent?  

1. Communicate your reasoning: Being transparent about your intentions will make staff feel more involved in the change and, as a result, more receptive to your new model. Make sure to explain the why, when, and how so that staff know what to expect and can plan for any adjustments ahead of time  
   
   
2. Encourage feedback: Implementing feedback channels and empowering staff to use them can help you shape a return-to-work strategy that appeals to a wide demographic 
   
   
3. Take proper safety measures: The pandemic caused people who were already clinically anxious to experience even more anxiety around germs, contamination, and sickness. With this fear still posing a concern for many – especially if they have worked from home since 2020 - it’s important to reassure your staff that you are following health and safety protocols, ensuring good ventilation, and maintaining a sanitary working environment  
   
   
4. Address their concerns: Having likely adapted to a remote or hybrid way of working, many employees may have worries around returning to the office. To help reassure your people that they won’t be negatively impacted in terms of work/life balance, commuting costs, and health management, you can offer a range of benefits that support the wellbeing of your existing workforce while attracting new talent to your business 

These benefits could include:  

Work/Life Balance Support 

Our Family Care benefit connects staff to all forms of care from one convenient location. This helps employees choose the care they need, when they need it, from a wide range of trusted providers.    

The benefit works by enabling you to provide a care budget that employees can expense back against once care is booked. Your people can search for local care providers or opt to use friends and family to deliver care - and still claim back any expenses.   

Through our Gym Membership benefit, your staff can reach their fitness goals with discounts at over 3,000 participating gyms, health clubs, and leisure centres across the country. With such a wide selection to choose from, staff are sure to find the right location to suit their needs.  

Vivup’s Lifestyle Savings benefit helps your people save more on what life has to offer with employee discounts from the nation’s leading retailers, restaurants, food delivery services, supermarkets, attractions, and excursions.  

Commuting Support 

With our Car benefit, your people can drive a brand-new, fully insured, and maintained car for a fixed monthly amount - with no deposit required. Plus, if they commit to making the switch to an electric vehicle, they could benefit even more from tax and National Insurance savings. This not only helps your people do their bit for the planet, but also enables them to access reliable electric cars for their commute that don’t cost the earth.  

Want to help your people enjoy a cleaner, greener, more affordable journey to and from work? Help them save up to 42% on the latest bikes and safety equipment for their commute with our Cycle to Work benefit, while also reducing their expenditure on petrol, parking, and public transport.  

Mental & Physical Wellbeing Support  

Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provides expert support for life’s ups and downs - 24/7, 365 days a year. Regardless of what mental, physical, financial, or personal issues your staff are facing, they can find a wide range of resources waiting to help - from online workbooks and self-help guides to telephone support and face-to-face counselling.  

To help you provide a whole-health approach to employee wellbeing, our Your Care platform offers a range of personal, emotional, and financial wellbeing tools to help create happier, healthier people.  

Your Care includes:   

• Assessments - Identify the risk of developing leading lifestyle-related diseases, along with mental health and financial scores   

• Goals - The option to set health-boosting goals with small, sustainable lifestyle changes  

• Activity Data - Connectivity with your health apps to automatically track goal progress   

• Resources - Blogs, videos, recipes, and more resources providing inspiration and motivation  

• Support - Access to 24/7 support and counselling, 365 days a year  

To learn more about how Vivup can help you elevate your return-to-work incentives, book a demo with one of our friendly team members by emailing us today.  

Terms and Conditions

Gym scheme – Savings are offered at variable rates please refer to Gymflex for further details. Terms & conditions apply       

Lifestyle savings – Saving or offers are accurate at time of sending email and are subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply for all third parties 

Car benefit – Terms & Conditions apply. In order to take a car on the Car employee benefit, you need to be a permanent and paid employee who has completed their probation, or if you are on a fixed term contract, your contract of employment must be for a longer period than the proposed Salary Sacrifice Agreement.  

Your gross salary must be above the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage after all salary sacrifice arrangements have been taken (not including commission, bonuses, overtime or additional payments unless guaranteed). 

If, prior to arranging delivery of the Vehicle, you decide that you no longer want to participate in the scheme you can cancel your order by telephoning the Tusker Driverline. You may be required to pay a cancellation charge. This will be notified to you at the time of cancellation. Car employee benefit is provided via a salary sacrifice arrangement and you will be participating in Hire agreement   

Cycle to Work benefit - For bicycles valued over £1000 Your organisation is a broker and not a lessor. SME HCI Ltd (trading as Vivup), 5 Margaret Road, Romford, RM2 5SH, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Ref 626422). UK Only, 18+, subject to status, terms apply. Up to 42% saving: Savings are realised through a salary sacrifice arrangement. Excluding End of Agreement fee (if applicable). Figures are a guide only and dependent on personal situation.  

Cycle to Work is provided via a salary sacrifice arrangement. Terms & Conditions apply **at least 50% of the cycle and/or safety equipment must be used for Qualifying journeys include commuting to and from work and/or business journeys from one work place to another.  Bikes available are subject to organisation scheme limit.