Office
culture might be on its knees thanks to the pandemic, but we can create
something new for the satellite office in its wake.
There are lots of myths about office
culture… the idea that everyone stands around the water cooler to chat, for
one. Really, we have created an intricate web of social connections at work, an
intricate web that was blown away in the winds of Covid-19.
Just because the old ways of working have
been lost to us, doesn’t mean that they are a) gone for good, or b) that they
can’t be rebuilt. Today, we want to talk about the rebuild of office culture to
incorporate those of us lucky enough to be working from home.
What is Office
Culture and why is it Essential?
Office culture is an
accidental-yet-essential part of the modern working world. We inadvertently
created this wonderful culture surrounding how we behave, socialise, and engage
with, our colleagues and bosses.
Office culture is a term we use to
encapsulate all the little things we associate with working in an office. If
you think about it with a little nostalgia, then it’s probably office culture.
Here are some good examples to give you an
idea:
·
Having a break room fridge
where you all put your lunch in the morning and from whence things regularly go
missing.
·
Having your own coffee mug but
having to keep it in a desk drawer because it always gets used elsewhere…
·
Having more paperclips and
elastic bands in your desk than you will ever need, so you unconsciously build
things out of them when you are on long phone calls.
·
Employees have friendships with
each other. They occasionally attend events or celebrate each other’s birthdays
with cake in the canteen.
From the point of view of the office
managers, a good workplace culture involves revisions in things like the hiring
and firing processes, staff wellness, training and staff development, and other
positive staff related matters.
Unfortunately, when we all made the switch
to working from home, we lost a lot of this. In places like the UK, staff were
sent home to work for months, without contact with friends in person. This
crushed something we had spent years depending on… so how do we fix it?
Instituting a new
Remote Office Culture
Asides from getting physically back into
the office, we can try the following tips and tricks to develop remote office
culture. Don’t forget that Staff
wellbeing training is an option, too.
1 – Keep it Light-Hearted
Browser games have shown to increase
productivity and can help keep your brain healthy. Playing browser games as you
work can be a great way to breathe life into your office… if they’re not too
distracting!
2 – Utilise Social Media
Use social
media to tag colleagues, keep a company group chat going, and make an
online “fun” side to your workplace.
3 – Create New Rituals
If you can establish new rituals for the
workday, this will bring people back together. A morning Zoom, a lunchtime
treats, finishing an hour early on a Friday… all these things could win hearts
and minds if used correctly.
Above all, put your staff first. It’s been
a tough time for everyone.
