Clarissa Windham-Bradstock is CEO/Chief People Officer of Any Lab Test Now, a leading national retail healthcare and lab testing franchise.
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When offices around the country began to transition to remote work or work from home (WFH) policies earlier in the year, no one quite knew what the future would hold. Businesses everywhere found new ways to adapt to changing circumstances.
Some companies quickly pivoted to remote work, while others took measures to improve health and safety in the workplace. While these precautions took on many forms across the country, one thing everyone can agree on is that the process goes much smoother when you have a plan in place first.
Maybe you’re considering re-opening your own office in the near future. You may already be open. Regardless of your timeline, you can be sure that things will be easier with proper planning.
As the CEO and chief people officer of Any Lab Test Now, the safety and well-being of my employees are paramount. As such, I’ve spent a lot of time on how to best protect staff while also maintaining productivity in the workplace.
Here are a few things you should consider as you map out your own plan to safely return to work and ensure employees can be comfortable, confident and productive now and in the future.
Rearranging Your Workspace For The New Normal
One of the most cost-effective, and easiest, precautions offices can take to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 is encouraging social distancing between staff. There are all kinds of ways companies can arrange offices to be more conducive to social distancing, and many of these solutions don’t cost much — if they cost anything at all.
For those of us who have already converted to open office plans, there may be some musical chairs involved. Rearranging desk setups is a fast and easy way to encourage social distancing. Take the time to carefully review your office layout and set your employees up for socially distanced success.
Empower Employees To Better Protect Themselves
Just as important as creating an environment where social distancing is simplified is enabling your employees to take the necessary steps to protect their own health. The CDC recommends wearing masks in offices, but that isn’t always realistic. People will inevitably forget their masks at home, lose them, spill on them and more.
Instead of punishing employees by not letting them enter the building without a mask, you could provide masks on site. This lets you take proactive steps to curb coronavirus while also providing employees with the vital PPE they need to feel safe.
The same goes for including considerations such as hand sanitizer stations and disinfectant wipes around the office. By empowering your employees to protect themselves, you also better protect your company.
Does Your Office Need Extra Health Personnel?
Another change we see in some companies is the hiring of additional staff. The goal is to mitigate the effect of the virus and further assuage the worries of staff about a return to the office. One area where we see this hiring surge is in the C-suite. I’m talking about chief medical officers (CMOs).
A qualified CMO can help provide businesses with the guidance they need to navigate uncertain waters as we all prepare ourselves for the new normal. That includes making informed decisions regarding back-to-work plans and ensuring your office space is optimally set up to provide a safe and secure environment. This benefits both staff and customers.
Furthermore, new health regulations and guidelines can quickly become an overwhelming minefield regarding compliance. The right CMO should have the knowledge and experience necessary when it comes to staying up-to-date on the latest phases, what it means for your company and how you operate.
Consider Extending Work From Home Policies
Another option to consider is staying the current course regarding remote work. If your employees continue to remain productive and engaged, then you should ask yourself about the net benefit of having them return to the office. Google already decided its employees will work from home until the summer of 2021, and other tech giants, like Twitter, have enacted similar policies.
What’s most important when deciding to continue your work-from-home policy, if feasible, is that your policy applies to everyone equally. The last thing you want is to create resentment among staff for what may feel like unfair treatment. Take the age and susceptibility of your employees to infection into account, and create a policy that is mindful of the circumstances of all your staff.
Apply Adjustments For Everyone For A Safe And Fair Return To Work
As companies adapt to the changes of the pandemic, it is crucial that HR professionals remain mindful of creating a fair and equitable environment for all employees.
You can’t always make everyone happy, but you can ensure they all have the same access to a safe and comfortable work environment. The goal is to create a space where workers can continue to be productive, and that’s what really matters, isn’t it?
When you create a thoughtful and informed plan to help all your employees get back to work safely, you can improve morale and productivity for all your staff, regardless of where they may be working.
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