Since the Government announced a roadmap out of lockdown, many of us are looking forward to some sense of normality returning and many employer’s are looking forward to welcoming their employees back into the office.
And, although the proposed roadmap has already been welcomed by many businesses, especially those that have been struggling the most throughout the pandemic, many employees are feeling anxious and nervous about a return to the workplace.
After all, we are all having to adapt to the many challenges that come hand in hand with being reintroduced to the world of work after spending so long working from home, or having been furloughed.
The pandemic has also had a huge impact on all of our lives, emotionally, financially and physically, which is why many people are still very much focused on staying as safe as possible.
However, as we all move cautiously towards getting back to normal, it’s important that employers do their best to ensure that they not only protect the health and wellbeing of their workforce but that they also have a plan in place for employees returning to the office following lockdown.
And as part of this, your HR department can offer lots of support and advice when it comes to helping employees to adapt to this precarious transition.
Here’s how HR can help you ensure you have everything covered:
Create a safe working environment
It’s important that all businesses create a safe working environment for their employees to return to. From implementing social distancing and providing reassurance to employees that are anxious about the transition, there’s lots of HR support available that will allow you to plan and oversee a phased reintegration. But that’s not all, HR can also help you to finely tune shift patterns for those employees working from home and onsite.
Ultimately, your workplace should be aligned to current government regulations and it’s important that you adhere to all safely guidelines.
Minimise anxiety in the workplace
Covid 19 has had a huge impact on all areas of our lives and it’s fair to say that the virus has affected us all in some shape or form. With this in mind, it’s important that businesses fully understand the significance the virus has had on both the mental and physical wellbeing of workforces throughout the UK. This means that many employees may be feeling unsettled about the prospect of returning to work and it’s extremely important that HR offer support when it comes to improving workplace morale and acknowledging any concerns.
Finding the balance between remote and office working
In order to keep staff as safe as possible, the Government has advised businesses to keep employee numbers low onsite during the early stages of initiating a successful return to work. With this in mind, it’s important that your workforce is able to work at home on a long-term basis and that all employees are accustomed to finding the balance between remote and office working. You should think carefully about best practises and home to implement this structure, with minimum disruption.
Review infrastructure
It’s fair to say that the workplace as we once knew will not return to normal for some time yet. With this in mind, you might have to review your working infrastructure in line with your new business needs and the current situation.
HR can also help when it comes to supporting employees in their new roles, whilst helping them to adjust to any changes. But that’s not all, HR teams can also get a much clearer view of where additional support may be required.
Finally, now is a great time to check that your HR policies and procedures are up to date and have been shared with all appropriate people. Get in touch today to see how Oculus HR can help you.
