We are now a few months into what has been one of the strangest and most challenging periods of our lifetime.
As we approach the end of May, our summer plans look a little different than usual. States are beginning their initial steps to slowly reopen as momentum builds throughout the country to return to “business as usual.” However, uncertainty still hangs in the air.
While recent news regarding the pandemic is trending upwards, organizations still face considerable pressure to keep their workspaces safe and monitor employee health as they return to the office.
Below, we'll share some tips on how to keep your workspace safe for everyone during the pandemic and preparing for the new normal that awaits afterward.
Reducing risk of transmission
While states are rolling back lockdown restrictions, organizations must prepare themselves for a very new normal and reduce the current and future likelihood of illness transmission throughout their workforce.
As your office welcomes back its employees, be sure to:
Continue to maintain social distancing guidelines.
The rule of thumb during the lockdown shouldn't be left behind. Assess your office layout and reorganize seating arrangements to allow for at least six feet of separation between employees. This extends to all common areas (break rooms, lunch area, shared offices, etc.) as well. If space is an issue, consider staggering days where you require employees to come into the office. Limit on-site meetings as much as possible (everyone should be a Zoom expert by now anyway) and discourage all handshaking and other physical greetings.
Strongly encourage sick employees to stay/work from home.
While we know this was always best practice, it cannot be stressed enough during the current pandemic. Make sure it is entirely clear that you expect every employee to monitor their health and stay home if they begin to feel sick or immediately notify managers if they begin to feel sick at work. Refresh all employees on the common signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and devote extra HR resources to address any questions or concerns.
Diligently clean the office.
Schedule regular deep cleaning of all high traffic areas in your office: door handles, front desk, counters, light switches, elevator buttons, bathrooms, lunch areas, conference rooms, shared offices, and more. Supply employees with ample cleaning supplies (hand soap, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes) to keep themselves and workspaces sanitized. Double-check to ensure the disinfectants you're using are EPA-approved for SARS-C0V-2.
Adapt security measures.
The past few months have posed a litany of challenges for organizations to overcome regardless of industry. Though the current pandemic stands to change much of what we considered normal in the office, by establishing good habits early, you can situate your organization as a whole to navigate change quickly, safely, and efficiently.
Bear Staffing
Struggling to find the talent your business needs to navigate through uncertain times? Bear Staffing is here to help.
Our team of industry experts has substantial experience connecting organizations with top-tier talent across multiple industries. Call us today to learn more.