As we have been discussing in our last articles, entering the New Normal is just a matter of time. But what we all must make sure is that when that happens, we must do it in a safe manner.
It is a reality that organizations across the world, no matter the size or their nature, have concerns and are struggling with a hard decision: When and how to return to workplaces?
Unlike other circumstances such as natural disasters or IT outages, a global health pandemic does not have a definitive “end” with defined signs that tell it is safe for businesses to start resuming normal operations as we knew them.
Experts have defined four phases for COVID-19. The USA and Europe are currently in phase two, defined by declines in new infections but still requiring stay-at-home and social distance through at least mid of May. As regions transition to phase three, governments will provide guidelines on when businesses may reopen. But when it happens, when employees return to the workplace, each organization and location will be responsible for balancing employee safety with business needs.
This will be a challenging transition, that will require close monitoring to avoid the possibility of new infections and preserve employee’s well-being.
As an employer or as an employee it is important you are familiar with the two sets of pandemic management protocols you can utilize.
The first one provides guidance on how to bring employees back into a common environment:
“Stagger employee return and continue social distancing, travel restrictions, and remote support work”. Have the next considerations:
1. Consider leaving employees at home.
2. Bring employees back to work in stages.
3. Schedule employees in shifts.
4. Maintain restrictions on non-critical business travel.
5. Incentivize employees to wear personal protective equipment based on the nature of their job.
6. Plan for an upturn in tech support as employees returns to the office.
The second set provides guidance on reconfiguring and managing the physical space as employees return to work in a staggered way:
“Rethink and reconfigure your physical workplaces”. Consider:
1. Increase the physical distance between workplaces.
2. Maintain a rigorous cleaning schedule for facilities and continuous hygiene procedures.
3. Limit the number of people for in-person meetings.
4. Implement temperature checks and travel histories for visitors prior to get into your facility.
5. Consider advanced disinfection procedures already in use by essential employers.
Organizations must plan a staged recovery to reduce the health and financial risks of future scenarios that include a second infection wave, an abrupt economic downturn, and permanent changes to employees, customers, and consumer behaviors.
The measures we have taken so far will not protect us from the virus; they only give us more time. Until we have a vaccine against COVID-19, we will not be able to return to the way things used to be. Just think about the variables over which employers have no control, like public transportation. Some companies are starting to consider alternatives to mass transit, such as company car allowances, private bus services, and leasing smaller office space in suburban locations closer to where many employees live; to avoid putting them through a public commute. Companies are different in size, resources, and management, consequently, they must plan accordingly.
It is not enough to direct people on going back to work, a detailed plan for operational recovery, with a good strategy that considers internal and external variables, and strong execution will enable your organization to return to a safer place to work. It will have to be a gradual return guided by a concrete plan based on solid science. We need to act right now to put those plans in place and make sure that when day comes, it arrives soon and safely as possible. We are all together in this!
