Revitalising Office Collaboration with Nudging Techniques

As a Business Manager in the HR field, I recently had the privilege of attending a masterclass organized by AG Health Partner. During this session, several speakers enabled us to collectively explore how employers can encourage their employees to return to the office. 

I want to emphasize the importance of the term "encourage" because it is closely tied to the concept of Nudging.

In a recent LinkedIn poll that I posted, I found that 44% of respondents had never heard of it this concept, and 23% thought they had some knowledge of the subject.

In a nutshell: Nudging is a gentle persuasion technique aimed at influencing individuals' behavior through subtle suggestions and positive incentives, without resorting to constraints or prohibitions. This concept stands out for its commitment to the ultimate well-being of individuals. 

Multiple surveys have revealed that employers are not opposed to remote work, and some even believe that certain tasks can be more productive when done from home. They want to highlight the advantages of returning to the office (even partially) with positive impacts on communication, knowledge sharing, and relationships among colleagues. 

The challenge we face today is that remote work is almost seen as a norm, as it was mandatory in times of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is now perceived as a granted right, creating what is known as the endowment effect. If we want to reduce remote work, it might be seen as a reduction of workers' rights. 

Possible solutions to ensure a smoother transition include: 

• Discussing the adjustments from remote – to office work

• Doing an office redesign

• Organising quality moments with your team

It's all about reimagining employee well-being in a positive, calm, and joyful way to naturally encourage their return.

At Evertys, there is no strict rule regarding remote work. We discuss it transparently with our manager and, more importantly, we try to work at the office on the same days to foster a more collaborative and productive environment. This often provides us with opportunities to bond as a team, whether it's during work-related meetings face-to-face or even outside the office, like grabbing lunch together.