Clarkston Featured with Hershey on ‘Return to Office’ Plans

May 10, 2021 | Durham, NC

Partner at Clarkston Consulting, Steve Rosenstock, featured by CPG Specialist. The article shares information on how Clarkston Consulting partnered with their client on ‘Return to Office’ Plans in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. An excerpt from the article is shared below:

The task of returning is more arduous, for example, for companies whose offices reside in high-rise buildings or whose employees work in tightly packed spaces that have to be significantly rejiggered for safe use in light of the pandemic.

In some cases, employees are still in the midst of being vaccinated, or don’t want to be, with the latter being a complicating factor. Many companies are encouraging employees, but not forcing them, to get vaccinated, in the hopes of obtaining a sizeable majority. Another thorny issue: after a year or more at home, not all employees are keen to return to an office setting.

“Consumer products companies’ short-term strategy around return to work remains one centered around safety and compliance, with a focus on ensuring the well-being of their employees and adhering to federal, state, and local recommendations,” says Steve Rosenstock, a partner and the Consumer Products Industry Lead for Clarkston Consulting.

“However, looking ahead, companies will be rolling out return-to-work strategies that focus on flexibility and communication,” which includes helping employees define whether they want to be in the office full-time, part-time or not at all, he says.

To be sure, some CPG companies, have already returned to the office, in part or in full…

For many CPG companies, it’s still too soon to set a definitive date, though often there’s a goal in mind. Like other industries, there are still many unknowns, but Rosenstock, the consultant, says many CPG companies are targeting Labor Day or thereabouts.

Even then, companies are hedging somewhat because of how in-flux everything is.

Read the full article here.