The day that we’ve been waiting for came sooner than we thought it would. On June 22, Gov. Whitmer lifted all pandemic restrictions, and soon after, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration aligned its guidance for employers. No more masks. No social distancing. No more capacity limits. Just like that.
Like many organizations, the Flint & Genesee Group has been working remotely over the past 15 months. I’m proud to say that our agile team has stayed focused on what’s most important, and that was and is, being a valued resource to local businesses and improving economic vitality and quality of life in our community.
Although the pandemic is not over, it feels like the right time to start planning our return to the workplace and resuming our full presence in the community. To that end, we are finalizing our plan to transition our staff back to the office in early September.
Returning in early fall provides some time to monitor for any changes or issues, such as a sudden increase in cases. It provides time for more Flint and Genesee County residents who are partially vaccinated become fully vaccinated and for unvaccinated people to roll up their sleeve and get the shot, making it safer for everyone.
When we do return to the office, we are taking on a model that is different for us. It’s a Hybrid Work Model, which blends in-office and remote work. My leadership team and I believe this is a win-win model for us. One that puts our people first.
In fact, the plan is built on: input from our employees; operational protocols that will ensure a safe and healthy work environment; inclusive policies and practices; a culture that will allow employees to be their most productive and collaborative; and flexibility in how and where people work.
This does not mean that hybrid work is without challenges. We know one of the key challenges is to maintain a positive culture, because employees working in different locations adds a layer of complexity. So we will have an intentional focus on this.
During one of my recent meetings with our employees, we asked them what they missed most about working in the office and they overwhelmingly said, “people”. Seeing their co-workers in person. Collaborating with them. Impromptu problem-solving and participating in in-person ideation sessions. They also said emphatically that they missed the personal interactions and working in person with our members and customers. So yes, it’s time to make our way forward.
In the meantime, we have started to schedule in-person meetings and events – both large and small. And with travel and tourism on the rise, we’re excited for people to come see Flint & Genesee once again. For more information, visit FlintandGenesee.org,
Enjoy the summer. I hope to see you around town, soon!
Tim