How to Encourage Employees to Return to the Office

Intelliware's forward to face-to-face staff looks time with colleagues thanks to its social initiatives

Intelliware is a software-development company based in Toronto that builds digital solutions and online platforms—apps and websites—for major institutions, including Canada’s banks. Prior to the pandemic, Intelliware had roughly 100 employees, 65 per cent of whom worked in the office every day. The rest worked off-site with clients. The company’s HQ is downtown near the entertainment district in a 120-year-old brick-and-beam building that was previously occupied by a jeweller and diamond cutter. Intelliware leases three floors, including the basement.

To make coming to the office attractive, Intelliware kept a fully stocked snack station with chips, chocolate and fruit, served a hot breakfast once a week, hosted after-work drinks monthly and arranged group activities, like going to the CN Tower, at least once every six weeks.

That all changed when the pandemic hit. Like countless other companies, Intelliware switched to remote work. Employees adapted seamlessly because the company was already doing a lot of its work online, using the Microsoft stack to stay in touch.

“We have a lot of engineers, who mostly do individual contributor work,” says Chris Ford, president of Intelliware. Engineers are not known for being boisterous extroverts—they’re much happier working from home full-time.”