With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, most of the Filipino workforce is slowly returning to the office. When the country went into lockdown in March 2020 due to the pandemic outbreak, many offices shifted to working remotely to accommodate their operations while prioritizing health and safety. Now that things are starting to return to normal, employers aim to maximize business opportunities and require people to go back to the office.
Companies, particularly those in the business process outsourcing sector, are imposing a return-to-office mandate to pave the way for the recovery of local micro, small, and medium enterprises. According to the World Bank, the Philippine BPO industry was worth $361 billion in 2020. This sector is a massive contributor to the Philippine economy and currently employs around 1.4 million Filipinos.
The country has been seeing a steady decline in the number of cases. About 67.1% of the population is now fully vaccinated. Booster shots are also continually being administered, with second booster doses set to roll out starting in late April. However, workers still have a growing hesitancy to return to the office after a year of staying indoors. If you’re one of the many employees who are returning to the office soon, here are ways to make this work transition manageable.
Return-to-office woes
The push to bring employees back into the office is not an easy negotiation. While some workers have axed employees due to the pandemic, the IT-BPO sector has thrived and expanded amid the shift to remote work over the past two years. Many employees are not keen to return to the 9-5 office day and brave the Metro Manila commute.
Here are a few reasons why returning to the office can be stressful:
- Safety – The pandemic is still ongoing, and the virus is still infecting people. The country’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has kept most of the country in Alert level 1 since the Omicron surge has simmered down. Still, the looser restrictions are seeing a rise in infections. That said, going back to the office puts employees at a higher risk of getting infected than working from home.
- Traffic – Metro Manila traffic is horrible, and with more people able to go out now, car congestion is now at pre-pandemic levels. Commuting is not the best option either; with long lines of commuters in terminals waiting for buses, vans, and jeepneys. Employees do not want to lose more time and energy on the road just to brave the traffic.
- Inflation – In addition to hellish traffic, gas prices are at an all-time high, given supply issues amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Costs of goods are also affected and are increasing gradually, and public transportation fares are expected to be raised. This makes workers worried that their salaries would just be consumed by paying for gas or higher fares.
How to Make Return to Office Safe and Stress-Free
If you are a start-up, a conglomerate, or a small-or-medium enterprise, you must impose a safe return-to-office mandate for your employees’ welfare. Telling your employees to go back to the office means you are asking them for their time, effort, and money. Here are a few ways you can make working in the office safe and convenient:
- Make safety paramount.
The Department of Labor and Employment has set out occupational safety and health standards for companies to follow in the face of the new normal workforce. These include regular temperature checks and screenings, enhanced sanitation measures, and proper hygiene practices. As you transition from a remote work setup to an in-office one, ensure that your office space imposes cleanliness and health standards to give your employees peace of mind. - Socially distanced working stations.
Return-to-office calls for some office layout change. Social distancing measures have proven to be an effective way to maneuver changes into our post-pandemic lives, and the workplace is no exception. You can impose a safer return to the workplace by having proper ventilation, reducing elevator capacity, and distancing workstations. These steps don’t only help prevent the spread of the virus but can help allay the fears of employees that are anxious to go back to the office. - Offer flexible working options.
Among the choices employers can give are staggered start times or a hybrid work setup. This will allow people to transition smoothly between spending a few days in the week in the office and working from their homes. Providing options for your employees makes them feel valued and more productive.
The Hybrid Workforce Model
The best option companies can offer their employees is transitioning into a hybrid work model. The pandemic has taught corporations that employees can perform the majority of their tasks at home. The 2021 PhilCare Wellness Index revealed that 48.7% of Filipinos prefer to work in a hybrid setup compared to 35% willing to work in the office fully and 16% at home.
A hybrid work model provides employees the flexibility to work on-site and remotely part of the week. The hybrid work model could benefit from co-working spaces because of cheaper rates and central locations.
Return to Office with Flexible Office Space Options
Renting shared and serviced office spaces in the Philippines’ central business district is a great way for small business owners to cut down office rental costs and create more opportunities for their businesses to grow. Coworking spaces are great for those teams that are in the process of expansion because these shared offices can cater to your growing team quickly. The overall flexibility of these office rentals can provide huge peace of mind to small business owners compared to the responsibility of a typical lease.
Planning to implement a hybrid workforce for your business? Coworking spaces are your best option. M Spaces offers a safe and conducive office space so you can return to work with your health and safety prioritized.
Co-working offices are now part of the new normal, and M Spaces is perfect for that setup. Located in the heart of Ortigas’ business district, M Spaces offers private offices and meeting rooms suitable for small and medium corporations, entrepreneurs, startups, and even freelancers. It’s your best option for flexible office space in Metro Manila.
M Spaces promises a safe co-working space for you and your growing team. M Spaces follows standard protocols of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), such as requiring proof of vaccination, disinfecting spaces, strict implementation of physical distancing, and mask mandate.
Contact us or email us at info@mspacesph.com for more details about office space rates and other services.
