Skip to main content
Contact Sales Support Careers
United States (English)
Americas
  • United States (English)
  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • Mexico (Español)
Europe, Middle East & Africa
  • United Kingdom (English)
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland (Deutsch)
  • Nederland (Nederlands)
  • Other EMEA Locations
Asia/Pacific
  • India (English)
  • Australia (English)
UKG logo UKG logo
Search
Get started Get started
    • Solutions
      Solutions by Need
      People icon
      Human Resources
      Payroll icon
      Payroll
      Talent icon
      Talent
      People connected icon
      HR Service Delivery
      Clock with Person
      Time & Attendance
      Calendar day icon
      Scheduling
      Document check shield icon
      Compliance
      Chart bar statistics icon
      Reporting and Analytics
      Product Suites
      UKG Pro

      A culture-driven HCM suite designed to support your enterprise organization's needs.

      UKG Dimensions

      Workforce Management solution helping you redefine the work experience for your people.

      UKG Ready

      HR solution to help small and mid-size organizations focus on growth and making a difference for your people, every time.

      View all products
      Find the product that best fits your needs.
      Get started Get started
      get started
    • Customer Experience
      The UKG Promise

      With over 70 years of expertise with BOTH people systems and systems of work, no one knows people and how they work better than UKG.

      Our Promise
      Customer Experience

      We think you’re pretty special when you’re a UKG Customer. That’s why we build products designed to inspire your people — and your organization — to grow and thrive.

      Partner for Life
      Implementation
      Support Experience
      UKG Community
      Working Smarter Café
      Customer Stories
      Belle Tire

      UKG Pro streamlines and automates administrative and HR tasks, so that field teams and managers can spend more time with customers, and coach, train, and listen to their people.

      Eventide Senior Living Communities

      Eventide Senior Living Communities uses UKG to drive employee engagement and streamline workforce management and HCM, including cutting PBJ reporting time by 99%.

      See all customer stories
      Collaborate, learn, and get support for your UKG solution!
      Visit UKG Community Visit UKG Community
    • Resources
      • Research & Insights
        Research & Insights
        • By Business Need
        • By Type
        See all
        Growth icon
        Human Capital Management
        People icon
        Human Resources
        People connected icon
        HR Service Delivery
        Payroll icon
        Payroll
        Talent icon
        Talent
        Chart tree people icon
        Workforce Management
        Clock with Person
        Time & Attendance
        Calendar day icon
        Scheduling
        Document check shield icon
        Compliance
        Chart bar statistics icon
        Reporting and Analytics
        Lightbulb icon
        Product Info
        Video player icon
        Product Tour
        Article featured icon
        Analyst Report
        Document icon
        White Paper
        Book icon
        eBook
        Organization icon
        Industry Brief
        Chart bar icon
        Infographic
        News people icon
        Article
        Video player icon
        Webinar Replay
        Interactive
      Research & Insights
      • By Business Need
      • By Type
      See all
      Growth icon
      Human Capital Management
      People icon
      Human Resources
      People connected icon
      HR Service Delivery
      Payroll icon
      Payroll
      Talent icon
      Talent
      Chart tree people icon
      Workforce Management
      Clock with Person
      Time & Attendance
      Calendar day icon
      Scheduling
      Document check shield icon
      Compliance
      Chart bar statistics icon
      Reporting and Analytics
      Lightbulb icon
      Product Info
      Video player icon
      Product Tour
      Article featured icon
      Analyst Report
      Document icon
      White Paper
      Book icon
      eBook
      Organization icon
      Industry Brief
      Chart bar icon
      Infographic
      News people icon
      Article
      Video player icon
      Webinar Replay
      Interactive
      Events
      Tradeshows
      Conferences
      Webinars
      See all events
      Blogs
      The People Purpose Blog

      Your source for the latest life-work trends and ideas from UKG experts and leaders. Stay informed and put people first in all you do.

      Workforce Institute

      Think tank that helps organizations drive performance by addressing HCM and workforce management issues.

      Workplace Resources
      Great Place To Work
      Pay Equity Resources
      Human Insights
      UKG Developer Hub
      UKG Pro Ranks Highest in 2022 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Cloud HCM Suites for the North American Midmarket Use Case
      Get The Report
      Get The Report
      Reference Image
      UKG Ranks Highest in 2022 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Cloud HCM Suites

      Read the Gartner® Critical Capabilities analysis for UKG Pro®.

    • About Us
      About UKG

      Learn more about UKG and how our HR solutions inspire workforces and businesses around the world to drive people-focused results.

      About Us
      Why UKG
      UKG Leadership
      Newsroom
      Awards & Recognition
      UKG Ambassadors
      Culture
      Our ESG Program
      Partners
      UKG Marketplace
      Analyst Reports
      Careers

      Look to your future. If you're interested in working for a company that truly invests in their people to create a culture of belonging and innovation, we want you on our team.

      Careers at UKG
      Early Career & Internships
      Benefits
      Life at UKG
      Featured Locations
      FAQs
      Experience awesome at work.
      Search jobs at UKG Search jobs at UKG
    Contact Sales Support Careers
    United States (English)
    Americas
    • United States (English)
    • Canada (English)
    • Canada (Français)
    • Mexico (Español)
    Europe, Middle East & Africa
    • United Kingdom (English)
    • France (Français)
    • Deutschland (Deutsch)
    • Nederland (Nederlands)
    • Other EMEA Locations
    Asia/Pacific
    • India (English)
    • Australia (English)
    Find the product that best fits your needs.
    Get started Get started
    get started
    Search Get started Get started
    Life-Work Trends

    3 Simple Tips to Transform Your Return to Office Plans into a Celebration of Togetherness

    August 4, 2021
    3 Simple Tips to Transform Your Return to Office Plans into a Celebration of Togetherness
    • Share
    See all blog stories See all blog stories
    Stay up to date with The People Purpose Blog
    Subscribe via email Subscribe via email
    Subscribe via RSS

    Written By

    Laura Kriska
    Laura Kriska
    Cross-Cultural Consultant

    Laura Kriska is a cross-cultural consultant specializing in WE-building — a process that narrows US versus THEM gaps in the workplace to lower costs & complaints and to increase innovation, collaboration & revenue. Learn more in her new book, The Business of WE.

    Topics

    Onboarding Onboarding

    The adjustment to working from home was abrupt, involuntary, and mixed with concerns about health and safety for many of us. It is normal for employees to feel some uncertainty about returning to the workplace after more than a year of working from home. But the return to the workplace does not need to be difficult and can be handled in a positive and upbeat way. With a bit of planning, leaders can limit concerns and leverage this rare opportunity toward greater unity. By utilizing these three simple (and low-cost) strategies, leaders can ease the transition as employees readjust to in-office routines.

    Greet Your Employees at the Door

    At this unprecedented time, leaders can make unprecedented gestures like greeting employees as they return to work on those first days back. Sure, it’s an unusual gesture but this is an unusual event — perhaps an event that will never again happen in our lifetimes. Rather than treat these firsts as non-events, show your support by being at the door. You can still keep safety protocols in place by wearing a mask and keeping distance. Even though your smile may be hidden by a mask, a friendly wave and warm welcome will convey an important (and free) message of support and unity.

    Greeting folks by name is an excellent way to turn up the warmth. This is an especially useful tool for new employees who started new jobs while working from home and who may never have visited the physical office.

    Make it Memorable with Music

    Using music to liven up the mood and communicate excitement is an effective tool for almost any occasion. Anyone with a smartphone and access to music accounts like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora Radio, or YouTube music can play songs with a specific upbeat tune as folks return to work.

    Another option is to ask for musical suggestions ahead of the first days back and put those songs on a playlist. Since my work is helping professionals avoid US versus THEM dynamics in the workplace, using songs with the word “we” is a favorite strategy. Here are some of my favorites: We are the champions (Queen), We built this city (Starship) and We are family (Sister Sledge).

    Really Celebrate This Extraordinary Event

    Treat the return to the office with the care you would treat a family member returning home after a year abroad. You wouldn’t think of their return as just another day. Make these first days back special with a welcome sign, balloons, special food or even gifts to mark this extraordinary event.

    These markers do not have to be expensive. Offering donuts for breakfast or pizza for lunch will be a nice surprise for everyone. An unexpected yet simple gift like a pen or mask with the company logo can boost spirits and foster connection. If you have concerns about maintaining distance protocols, simply package items individually for distribution. The goal is to create a shared experience and maintain safety. Don’t hide behind safety concerns as an excuse to do nothing. If it is safe enough to return to the workplace it is safe enough to foster connection.

    Offering mini-onboarding to all employees is another way to mark the return and foster unity. This can be a simple one-hour ice breaking event or a facilitated teambuilding activity. The point is to re-engage employees with purpose.

    Given the current employment climate, it’s more important than ever to retain valuable employees. Making a special effort as folks return to the workplace will send a loud and clear message that employees are valued and that all are welcome.

    • The People Purpose Blog
    • 3 Simple Tips to Transform Your Return to Office Plans into a Celebration of Togetherness

    Related Stories

    Purpose at work
    The People Purpose Blog

    How to Connect to Your Purpose at Work

    Purpose isn’t something you find—it’s something you value and nurture. Here are five ways to make your work more purposeful. 

    People Are Key to An Effective AI Strategy
    The People Purpose Blog

    Why Your People Are Key to An Effective AI Strategy

    Human-centered, people-focused AI is the key to building an effective and purposeful AI strategy. 

    Using AI Storytelling in Business
    The People Purpose Blog

    Using AI Storytelling in Business

    Learn the difference between predictive and generative AI, plus 10 advantages for incorporating AI storytelling into your business strategy.

    UKG logo

    Footer menu

    • Human Capital Management
      • Human Resources
      • Payroll
      • Talent
      • Reporting and Analytics
    • Workforce Management
      • Time & Attendance
      • Scheduling
      • Compliance
    • Product Suites
      • UKG Pro
      • UKG Dimensions
      • UKG Ready
    • Customer Experience
      • Implementation
      • Support Experience
      • UKG Community
      • Customer Stories
    • About Us
      • Why UKG
      • Culture
      • Our ESG Program
      • Leadership
      • Newsroom
      • Careers
      • Privacy and Security

    Sub Footer

    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Accessibility
    • Cookie Choices
    • Cookie Notice
    • Terms of Use
    • Trademarks
    • CCPA Notice
    • Licenses
    • Privacy Notice
    © 2023 UKG Inc. All rights reserved.

    Kronos SaaShr, Inc., a UKG Company (NMLS ID#1698726) provides money transmission services on behalf of UKG Inc. customers and in connection with certain UKG products.