As the school year begins, hybrid workers may experience a shift in their routines. This is a great opportunity for employers to support their teams by sharing advice to make the transition successful. Here are some tips from the GCO FlexWork team to help your employees get back on track:
Encourage employees to reorganize their day
- Summer work schedules have wrapped up; now is the time for employees to adjust and resume office-appropriate hours.
- With kids heading back to school or summer travel ending, employees may have fewer distractions at home, making it easier to focus.
Support employees’ peace of mind about their child’s safety
- Share resources that promote active commuting like biking or walking their children to and from school.
Promote reclaiming their workspace
- During the summer, employees may have become a little bit unorganized; now is the perfect time to make the work area a clutter-free work zone.
- Let them know that resetting their workspace can help with better focus.
Set expectations with managers and teams
- Encourage employees to communicate any temporary changes in availability during the school transition period.
- Support employees by keeping an eye on potential scheduling conflicts and offer flexible meeting times
Revisit work and family schedules
- Encourage employees to sync their work calendar with their child’s school calendar (early dismissals, holidays, sports, etc.).
- Suggest shared digital calendars with family members to avoid overlaps or surprises.
Use the “new school year energy”
- Encourage employees to set personal and professional goals as if it were their own “new semester.”
- Suggest that they start a new habit (like calendar clean-up on Fridays or a 10-minute daily walk).
Plan lunches and breaks like a school day
- Encourage employees to prepare lunches and snacks the night before to reduce midday stress.
- Schedule breaks during school transitions (e.g., after-school arrival or lunch) to stay connected.
Create a kid-friendly emergency plan
- For younger children coming home from school during afternoon work hours, suggest having a “who to call” list, snacks, quiet activities, and ground rules in place if parents are in a meeting.
Involve kids in the routine
- Encourage parents to let their kids see their plans and prioritize during the workday if they’re at home. It teaches them good habits and creates mutual understanding.
- Try “work together” time where kids do homework while parents wrap up tasks at the end of their day.
Need Help Navigating Your FlexWork Strategy?
GCO’s FlexWork consultant team has decades of experience in helping companies customize their work programs to best suit their business needs. Learn more about how GCO can help you set up a FlexWork program at your company for free by visiting our Telework & FlexWork Consulting page or emailing them at telework@gacommuteoptions.com to get started.