There’s no doubt about it; the past year has been one of the most difficult for many people. In an instant, everything changed. Everything from how we interact to how we work was suddenly turned on its head. Fortunately, with the rollout of vaccines and cases dropping worldwide, companies are beginning to welcome back their staff. This, however, may cause some employees to feel uneasy. Thus the following includes a few ways you can begin to help employees feel more comfortable returning to the office.
Begin with a Deep Cleaning
Even if people have not worked out of the office in months, things such as dirt, bacteria, and other hazardous materials may have accumulated. That is why it is still important to bring in an office cleaning service to perform a deep clean of the space. In addition, employees will feel that much confident that their office is both safe and clean. Continued cleaning afterward is also important, as it prevents the spread of germs and helps make employees confident that they are working in a safe and sanitary space.
Open a Line of Communication & Be Transparent
The most important thing you can do to ensure a safe and smooth transition back into the office is to be transparent with your employees. Your staff wants to know the actions you are taking to keep the office as safe as possible. In addition, you may also allow an open line of communication via email or message board that allows your staff to ask questions or include their own suggestions on what must be done. This may be the most difficult part of the process as debates will occur, but it is absolutely needed for the transition to go as smoothly as possible.
Be Flexible with Scheduling
Because so many have become used to working from home, much of their routine has changed dramatically. That is why there will be some challenges early on in regards to scheduling. Some staff members may need a few weeks until they can transition back into their old routine. This often does not involve selfish reasons but rather responsibilities such as taking care of children or a limitation of how many people can be within the various public transportation options across your city. The best way to approach this issue is to be flexible with your scheduling. For example, you may create a temporary schedule that includes days in which some employees come in and some don’t.
The previous year has made the lives of many very difficult in many aspects. That is why as an employer, one of your most important responsibilities at the moment is to ensure that having your employees back in the office does not add to that difficulty. Do what you can to help employees feel safe and make sure that their needs and concerns are addressed.
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