After long periods of lockdowns and isolation due to COVID-19, many people are celebrating the fact that businesses are able to reopen. For workers, however, returning to an office environment can be a nerve-racking prospect.
Understandably, millions of people remain concerned about contracting coronavirus and other illnesses when they begin working on-site. However, there are ways to reassure staff and get your operations back to normal. To get started, take a look at the following four ways to encourage your employees to safely return to an office environment:
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1. Listen to Their Concerns
Asking employees to disclose any concerns they have about returning to work will give you an insight into their worries. If legitimate practical concerns are an issue, for example, you’ll be able to factor these into your plans and take steps to make your workplace even safer. Furthermore, you’ll be able to learn more about the emotional and psychological impact that the pandemic has had on your team. Following this, you’ll be able to provide the support they need as they adjust to a ‘new normal’.
2. Stop the Spread of Infection
When you make changes to the workplace to stop the spread of infections, you can reassure your staff that you’re doing everything possible to protect them. You can keep your office healthy with sneeze guards from BarrierLab, for example, upgrade your air conditioning filters, or change the office layout to facilitate social distancing. Similarly, many workplaces are asking employees to have their temperature checked upon arrival, so that any potential cases of infection can be identified straight away.
3. Make PPE Equipment Available
It isn’t just healthcare workers that can benefit from using personal protective equipment (PPE). While office workers may not need to use the same level of PPE as healthcare workers, they can protect themselves from infection by wearing face masks and using gloves, where appropriate. Making these available to your staff will encourage people to use PPE and have a practical impact in stopping the spread of infection. In addition to this, it will reassure employees that you’re taking steps to make the office as safe as possible for them.
4. Increase Deep Cleaning
Regular cleaning can help to create a healthy working environment, but changing your schedule to ‘deep clean’ the office more frequently will be even more effective. By using anti-viral and antibacterial cleaning products, for example, any potential contaminants can be eradicated. As a result, people are less likely to become unwell or contract an illness. Deep cleaning is often conducted outside of office hours, so it won’t decrease operational efficiency, but it will protect your workers.
Making Your Workplace Safe
Employers have a duty of care towards their staff and now is the perfect time to carry out new risk assessments and optimize workplace safety. By doing so, you can genuinely reduce the risk to your staff and show employees that you care about their safety and well-being.
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