The coronavirus pandemic hit businesses hard. With no time for preparation, organizations were left in a state of anxiety. However, employers must not forget that businesses will eventually reopen and employees will return to work. Like a good employer, organizations must prepare for the time that will come once the pandemic is over.
Employers must prepare for employees to return to work. How can employers prepare themselves best?
Make employee’s health a priority
The pandemic isn’t completely over yet, there’s still a risk for people to get infected by the virus. Employers must prepare themselves to keep employees safe as long as they’re in the workplace. For this plan to be effective, employers must begin now.
- Ensure physical space for employees to work in.
2. Hire a high-grade deep cleaning service to disinfect every nook and cranny of the office and air ducts.
3. Increase daily standard of cleaning and work stations are disinfected nightly and common areas are cleaned multiple times throughout the day.
4. Work from home should be allowed wherever possible.Employers are better off with sick workers at home. What’s important, is the collective health of workers. Employers need to constantly monitor the health of employees and ensure that teams aren’t understaffed.
Additionally, employers need to ensure personal hygiene of employee once they come to work.
1. Put wall hangings that remind employees to follow best practices including cough/sneezing etiquettes and handwashing practices.
2. Use disinfectant wipes to clean desk
3. Use paper towels, tissues, and face masks for personal care.
Provide mental health support
Each person has experienced pandemic differently. According to one study, 50 percent of employees felt lonelier and experienced anxiety during the pandemic work from home period. The other 50% of workers, switching to work from home were more relaxed and they experienced better work-life balance and more flexibility.
Many people are at risk of developing depression and other serious mental depression, according to a CDC warning. Employers can take a proactive approach by –
1. Educating and training managers to spot mental health issues.
2. Sharing mental health resources (therapists, treatment centers) with employees via email.
3. Setting up mental health support group
4. Offering support to workers who seek help
5. Including mental health benefits as part of health benefits.
Prepare for possible economic outcomes
We’re hopeful economic activity will sooner or later return to normal. However, employers must consider all possible economic outcomes. The current circumstances can lead us to three possible futures and employers should ensure that they have a plan for each scenario —
Scenario 1: Quick return to the previous state of the market
See if your teams are well-prepared to work without being burning out. Employers should consider resource allocation and hiring to address this scenario and ensure teams are not under staffed.
Scenario 2: Slow return to the previous state of the market
People might continue to fall sick for a long period even after economic activity resumes. As an HR leader you would need to show you appreciate employees’ willingness and ability to adapt over an extended period.
Scenario 3: Return to a volatile market
In this scenario, employers will be forced to ask workers to stay back at home and resume their previous work from home regime. Employers will need to show gratitude toward the employees’ willingness to adapt.
Gear up for post pandemic life
Uncertainty lies ahead of us.If human resource leaders can show employees that they are determined to help employees navigatethrough tough times, it will boost their morale and add more positivity to work. Employers need to be strategic and more empathetic in their approach.
COVID-19 has changed life significantly. Life at and outside work has changed. Employers now have an added responsibility to protect their employees and customers along with their business. In the absence of a thought-out plan, everything may crumble.
