It won’t be easy going back to the way things were after this pandemic. All we can do now is adapt. As we start to get back up to our feet, businesses must come up with a plan for returning to work after COVID while ensuring their employees’ safety.
One of the greatest challenges after COVID-19 is getting your business back up and running. This means bringing in new hires and long-term employees alike back into the game. However, our current situation still poses concerns on the health and safety of employees once they start venturing out again.
So, here’s what you can do to get your employees back to the office, safely and healthily.
1. Create safety checklists for your employees
The first step in making sure your workplace is as safe as possible for everyone is to have a post pandemic checklist. This will determine if your employees are ready to get back to the office without risking everyone’s health and theirs.
This will check their fitness to work, existing medical conditions, possible exposure to the virus, and others. Having them go through the checklist and make sure all boxes are ticked appropriately can avoid risks from the get-go.
2. Implement health guidelines within the office
Your employees’ health is your number priority upon returning to the workplace. It is essential that your business have health guidelines in place to give them a sense of assurance and safety inside the office. These will contain the do’s and don’ts which employees must adhere to keep everyone else safe.
Coordinate with experts to know which practices and processes would be the most effective in keeping it risk-free in the workplace. You can also reiterate protocols implemented by the government to make sure everyone is aware of them. And of course, make these guidelines readily accessible to everyone no matter where they are. These can be done using the right software for faster and more efficient dissemination of new policies.
3. Educate employees on proper health practices
Equipping your employees with sufficient knowledge on good health can make sure that they do their part in keeping the workplace safe. Not only will it keep them healthy, but they can avoid the risk of harming others as well.
You can do this by creating modules that will help them develop their own routines to keep them healthy. Let them know the best practices to take care of themselves and integrate them into your business’ guidelines. You can use a learning management system (LMS) to hasten the process and make these courses more effective.
4. Make remote work and training an option anytime
The latest study from Global Workplace Analytics says that 25-30% of the workforce will be working from home multiple days a week by the end of 2021. This can help implement social distancing by lessening the number of people gathered within the office at the same time.
Look into having all the materials needed to start working again accessible online. This can help your employees stay up to date with the company’s new guidelines even when they’re at home. You can also use systems like JollyDeck that facilitate remote onboarding so that you can train new hires from home right before they get into the office to minimize risks.
5. Keep communications open and clear
Communication is the key to maintain safety inside the workplace. You can identify and resolve issues faster by constantly reaching out and checking up on your employees. Likewise, be transparent in return. Doing so will foster trust between you and your employees, giving them the assurance they need upon returning to the workplace after COVID.
You can do this by connecting to them using Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS). This kind of software can help you manage pertinent employee-related data and reports. Each software has different features that can cater to your business’ needs. You can check out this list of top 15 HRIS systems to know which one will suit you best.
The show must go on
Who knows when this pandemic will ever be over? But the show must go on for your company. Nothing will ever be the same again after this, but we can learn. We can adapt.
Once this is all over, there will be a palpable shift in priorities, processes, and practices within businesses. Health and safety within the workplace will be our number one priority. Both new hires and long-time employees will need guidance to navigate the new normal. It is up to you to give the assurance they need to start working again.
The road to recovery may be long and rough. Your business will inevitably face hurdles along the way. With the right tools and software, they can ease the way for onboarding after COVID-19 and have your business operating in no time.