In unique times like these, employees need increased support and guidance from their employers. By offering timely resources, helpful information and preventative services, employers can create stability for their employees and ensure they are prepared to re-enter the office. A three-phase approach will help employers develop a strategy that is personalized for their organization and instill confidence in their ability to return to work safely.
Phase 1: Respond & prevent
There is so much we don’t know about COVID-19 and how it will continue to impact people’s daily lives. Before employers even begin to think about returning to physical workspaces, they first need to analyze reopening guidelines and timelines established by the state and community officials in which they operate and develop a plan to prevent future COVID-19 cases to help keep employees healthy and safe.
Phase 2: Prepare & support change
Work-life will look quite different for a while, so it’s essential that companies support this “new normal” by implementing additional safety measures that make employees feel comfortable and safe going back to work. Offices will have to implement new policies that include increased space between desks, mask requirements, sanitizing stations, regular office cleanings and more. These measures should be put in place and communicated to workers before anyone returns to the office.
Phase 3: Return to the office
When the time does come to officially welcome employees back, employers need to make them feel protected and comfortable. There should be clear instructions for how and when employees should enter the office to make sure that re-entry runs smoothly. Some offices may have to work at half or limited capacity to maintain social distance measures; in these situations, weekly or monthly schedules may need to be implemented.
A second wave of COVID-19 infections is already rippling across some states, so employers should consider offering more flexible work from home options for those who may feel unsafe coming into the office if cases start to increase again. Everyone will need to be prepared for additional social distancing measures, but with more time to prepare, employer can put a concrete strategy in place and make a transition back from remote work more seamless.