#BackToOffice: Delhi-NCR work places are keeping the josh high!

From Zumba sessions to off-sites, here’s how organisations are motivating employees, as they return to their workplaces.

Most offices in Delhi-NCR have reopened in full strength — post the recent Covid wave — and as the employees return to WFO, organisations are welcoming them back with a bang! From cricket matches to retreats and even dance sessions, here’s what human resource managers and employers are doing to keep the employees’ morale high.

An IT firm in Noida has resumed 30-minute Zumba sessions on Fridays, to revive the energy of staff that’s coming back to work from office.

Zumba Fridays to energise team spirit

Saumya Pandey, CEO of a Noida-based IT firm, says, “Our office opened two weeks back, and we are already operational, yet we keep doing a lot of activities to keep the employees engaged. From a mindfulness marathon to farmhouse parties and even team building games, we are doing it all. We recently visited an old age home to celebrate Valentine’s Day with senior citizens, and also held a small achievers’ award ceremony at a local restro bar. And we have also resumed our pre-pandemic tradition of 30-minute Zumba on Fridays, which gets the team really energised.”

‘Cricketing fever is on’

Sharing the long line-up for an energised work environment, Shiv Mehan, vice president (operations) at a hospitality group, shares how return to office is being planned with a “whole range of leisure pursuits for younger employees, who are coming back after two years of silent interlude”. He adds: “Since the cricket fever is on and precedes the IPL, we’re encouraging our staff to swing into cricket practice and play matches with local clubs. An off-site is also scheduled for the team, with a huddle for brainstorming and planning in the coming months, and some down time for camaraderie. Besides, we’ve arranged office parties to get the team spirit going and a welcome back to the normal daily chores.”

Chit-chatting is crucial to renew old bond

“For our return to office program after the pandemic, we have planned and arranged so many team building activities to make all my colleagues feel the return ease and more attractive. Some of our plans include calling a get-together with all of our staff to share the memories, incidents, happy moments, and losses during the pandemic,” says Sini M Nair, human resource manager at a Delhi-based ayurvedic organisation, adding: “Everyone was very emotional hearing the many losses, but it was motivating to hear so many people talk about their life stories and the fight they put up. For fun, we have decided to arrange chit chat session every day for 15 minutes during the tea break, so that staff gets enough time to interact. Nobody is allowed to talk about work at that time! We are starting with physical activities, too, such as cricket and kabaddi matches that we expect will help build back the old bond within the teams.”

Outings before office resumes

“Motivating people to come out of their homes, is more important than getting them directly to the office. When people start meeting each other for events, activities, or projects, it re-ignites a sense of togetherness. This is what makes people want to return to office,” says Nishigandha Shendge, human resource manager with a fashion platform, adding, “With consistent group activities, we intend to inspire our organisation’s people to find their way back to office. Our workacations are all set to pick up from March; a brilliant first step to get people out of their homes. The annual rewards and recognition event is also set to be a spirited gathering in our Mumbai office while our Delhi team members meet up with our co-founder for lunch in the heart of the city.”

Flexibility for mental well-being, is crucial

Paschim Vihar-based senior analyst Swati Batra, who recently resumed commuting to Gurugram, for work, says her office has planned a whole bunch of activities and well-being sessions, which help boost mental health of the employees. “Ever since we resumed physical office, different activities are taking place to motivate the employees. Sample this: Friday is called as Fun Friday where employee engagement activities are taking place. Every week there is a new activity, varying from Zumba to yoga and dance sessions. There’s also a fun mimicry session planned,” says Batra, who feels that along with the fun activities, “flexibility is what employees will be looking forward, to adjust back into the office environment. My office HR is helping us stay motivated to come back to office by providing flexible working hours and hybrid working.”

Author tweets @siddhijainn

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