The Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 has hit all businesses hard. You may have forecasted record growth, had plans for expansion, and you might have been keen on reaching a global market this year. Your priorities have now shifted and you are trying to get used to the new normal that has been thrust upon you. Remote working has meant that your staff has stayed at home and worked from the comfort of their studies or dining room tables. While nerve-wracking at first, this has been an excellent way to maximize productivity when times have been hard. On the flip side, you may now see a future where office-based working is less commonplace, meaning that you can save money on overheads. However, this is a few years into the future. For now, you need to get your team back in the office to help drive your business forward in these unprecedented times.
Office
Your staff needs to feel confident that you have the policy to ensure safe and hygienic practice when back in the office. Anxieties have risen during these surreal days, and those employees that have to care for vulnerable relatives or who are immunocompromised themselves need to feel assured that they are safe at work. Keep your policy of flexible working and set in place a rota that will have only half of your staff in the workplace at any one time. This means that you can ensure that social distancing remains at two meters and people don’t feel claustrophobic at work. Complement this with a one-way system in the office so people are crossing one another’s paths. While being in the office may be a little strange for the foreseeable future, your staff will enjoy the camaraderie that they have missed.
Cleaning
It’s crucial that you embark on more stringent and regular cleaning measures when your employees return to work. A company like Majik Cleaning Services endeavors to deep clean and sanitize your carpet, surfaces, and hardware to ensure your environment stays as sterile as possible in between office hours. The policy of hot desking that you may have had prior to coronavirus needs to stop as cross-contamination of germs is more likely to occur. Instead, every desk belongs to one individual or possibly two people, in between your deep cleans. Encourage your staff to take responsibility for their own areas too, by supplying them with alcohol wipes for their laptops and chairs.
Confidence
Inspiring confidence in uncertain times is tricky. However, by being rigid in your response to Covid-19, you can help people feel safer. Ensure that face coverings are mandatory and have hand sanitizer stations across the office. Socializing may not occur, but people can still chat yet remain socially distant. Meetings may still have to be virtual or perhaps you can take advantage of the outdoors if your office has the luxury of some external green space.
Follow this simple guide and you can ensure that your staff feels safe on their return to work in 2021.