As countries around the world went into lockdown one by one due to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, it felt difficult and sudden for many of us. Emerging from it however, safely and getting businesses up to speed for a return to the physical workplace, is going to take longer and be far more complex and challenging. Especially for those businesses working across borders, where there is an additional challenge of lockdowns easing at different times.
The return to physical workplaces cannot simply be viewed in isolation, it also needs to be seen as an opportunity to innovate and reimagine the future of work, providing certainty and stability for both the business and its people in the longer term. Ultimately, helping businesses to be more prepared should they find themselves in a similar situation in the future.
Being transparent and consulting with employees will be key to any success story. A comprehensive communications strategy will be crucial in enabling safety and building trust between employers and employees. This could include a pre-return staff consultation, as well as day one and emergency protocol communications as needed.
Employers will also need to make sure they have a safe return-to-work programme in place including principles and governance. Policies, protocols and training will need to be reviewed and aligned with the respective restrictions. Employers will have to plan for reduced occupancy due to social distancing guidelines and workplace site safety. This might include segmenting teams, flexing schedules and alternating shifts. Cleaning will be crucial to help with infection mitigation, regular risk assessments should dictate the depth and frequency of cleaning specific surfaces and high-touch items.
This period of time will be remembered for a variety of reasons, employees will remember how their organisation treated them and how they felt during the transition back to the workplace, and its subsequent transformation. Businesses that create a new work experience based on safety and trust will find they reap the rewards long after the pandemic has receded.
Tricia Nelson is a workforce advisory leader at EY UK and Ireland.