After years of remote or hybrid work, many employees are physically returning to offices, but mentally, many are still adjusting. For some, it’s their first time in the workplace since 2020. For others, it's their first time ever setting foot in the building.
That’s why re-onboarding is essential.
Why Re-Onboarding Matters
Employees need clarity on:
- What’s changed in workplace expectations
- New policies
- Team dynamics, reporting lines, or even physical space
And more importantly, they need to feel welcomed again, not just plugged in.
What Re-Onboarding Should Include
At MYCA, we recommend a phased approach:
- Welcome Messages – From leadership, peers, or ERGs—build excitement, not anxiety.
- Orientation to New Norms – What does “in-person professionalism” mean now? What’s flexible?
- Inclusion + Belonging Refreshers – A return is a perfect time to revisit your values—and reflect them in how you onboard.
- Role Clarity & Team Reconnection – Use team meetings to realign responsibilities, goals, and communication rhythms.
Casual Ways to Re-Onboard and Reconnect
Not everything needs to be formal. In fact, small, informal gestures often have the biggest impact when it comes to rebuilding connection and morale. Here are some approachable, low-lift ways to re-engage returning employees:
“Welcome Back” Coffee or Breakfast
- Host a drop-in style breakfast in the break room or conference room
- Offer simple icebreaker cards to spark conversations between colleagues
- Consider doing this weekly for rotating departments or teams
Office Scavenger Hunt
- Create a fun scavenger hunt that introduces employees to updated office layouts, new protocols, or even new teammates
- Include small prizes or “coffee on us” gift cards for completion
Desk Chats or Walking Meetups
- Encourage managers to take 15-minute walking 1:1s with team members
- Not about status updates—just checking in on how they’re doing
Reintroduce the Bulletin Board (But Make It Fun)
- Highlight birthdays, wins, shout-outs, and pet photos
- Use it to spotlight new hires or employees returning from long-term remote work
Create a “New Office Norms” Video
- Film a lighthearted 2-minute clip with team members talking about fun new habits or updates: “Yes, you can still wear sneakers.” “We have snacks in the third-floor kitchen now!” “Hybrid = Flexibility, not invisibility.”
Why This Matters
Returning employees are navigating not just a space, but a shift in rhythm, norms, and emotional expectations. By mixing structure with warmth, you create an environment where people feel welcomed, included, and excited to engage again.
How MYCA Can Help
We build custom onboarding and re-onboarding programs that:
- Combine compliance with culture
- Reinforce inclusive values
- Prepare managers to lead during transition
Returning to work is more than a hallway tour. It’s a cultural reset. Let’s help you get it right.
Ready to re-onboard with purpose—not just paperwork?
re-onboarding plan, training your managers, or reinforcing inclusive values, we’re here to support you.
