The COVID-19 pandemic shutting offices all across the country. Able and disabled employees are increasingly concerned about workplace safety, which may make returning to work seem like a fairytale. Several companies have already started letting their workers work from home until 2021.
Some other companies, however, are still hoping to open up as soon as they can. If you are one of them, it’s important to analyze the best return to work programs for you. This article will go through 3 career tips on how to make working safe and enjoyable for able and disabled workers.
1. Implement What You’ve Learned During Work-From-Home
There’s no doubt that this season has been a period of intense change. Your business had to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and quickly. That is an incredible feat on its own, and it’s one that you should learn from.
What were the difficulties when you first transitioned into working from home? What were the benefits of working from home for your employees?
For instance, workplace productivity or mental clarity may have improved for your employees. This may arise because working from home means lower commutes, more comfortable settings, and a safer environment.
If you want to maintain morale when they transition into the workplace, make sure that you identify these factors and try to implement them in the office.
2. Be Understanding of Employee Concerns
The pandemic is a serious issue. The best way to ensure employee welfare is to understand that their concerns are well-founded. A lot of research has found that a significant amount of workers fear returning to work.
You will have to transform your business operations to incorporate safe return to work programs. You can start by implementing socially-distanced offices, increasing training for safe practices or providing light-duty tasks for your employees.
3. Plan for the Future
If you want to survive this season, you’ll need a plan for the future. Yes, it’s a season where nothing seems certain, but predicting how you will manage the unexpected is key in maintaining your business.
Where do you want to go after this? Now that you have resolved to return to work, how will the pandemic shift the way you manage your operations and human resources in the long-term?
Understanding how you will manage business operations in the new normal is key in knowing what you will expect from your workers. If you have an ambitious plan in mind, take the time to let your employees transition from lighter tasks before taking on the same workload as before.
Safe Return to Work Programs are Crucial
Overall, safety is the biggest issue at this time. If your workers don’t feel safe, they will not be productive and their concerns may open you up to complaints or even lawsuits.
Therefore, when implementing return to work programs, make sure to keep your workers’ needs at the forefront of any decisions.
Did you find this article helpful? Read more from our Business section.
