Before bringing employees back to the office, it’s important for employers to clearly communicate their expectations, support employee well-being and ensure there’s adequate space for workers, says Chris Gory, employee benefits advisor at Orchard Benefits.

“Employers need to communicate their expectations for when employees are working at the office to avoid any confusion. They should also highlight what mental-health resources they have available in case there are any difficulties. Communication is the key [to ensuring a smooth transition].”

A return to full-time in-office work can have an impact on employee mental health because it can be a big adjustment with the stress of commuting and having set hours, he notes. “Over the last couple months, I’ve had several companies [that issued a return-to-office mandate] reach out about their existing mental-health benefits and their employee assistance program, and they were focused on adding extra mental-health coverage.”

Read: Clear communication, leadership presence key to a smooth return to office: expert

Many companies started working on their budget earlier this year knowing that people were going to be coming back to the office, he says, noting some employers have allocated extra money to health-care spending accounts. In some cases, employers have allocated extra funding based on the length of employees’ daily commutes.

From a safety and accessibility perspective, one of the main considerations is appropriate space, says Gory. “I’ve heard this many times from clients, where people are showing up early to get one of the few desk spaces that are available. They have to make sure they have an adequate number of desks available, because I’ve heard about animosity or even anger when people show up and there’s no space for them to work.”

Gory believes employers will continue to push for employees to work in the office more often, but they’ll likely have to consider the cost as commercial real estate prices continue to rise. “These costs [have to be substantiated], but I think it’s [likely] a 10-year play. As the leases get negotiated or go up for renewal, we’re likely going to see more pressure for people to come back to the office.”

Read: 32% of U.S. managers say return to office was to keep track of employees’ work habits: survey