How to Make Your Employees Feel at Ease When Returning to Work

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. As states begin to move through the stages of reopening, it’s starting to look like businesses will be able to start opening their offices sooner rather than later. Regularly check the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website as it updates state-specific and sector-specific resources. Also tune into the CDC’s and AIHA’s websites for guidelines on office reopening. 

After months of working from home, it’s expected that your employees may be a little apprehensive about returning to work, especially when the future is so uncertain. Changes in the office environment will certainly play in a role in your employees’ uneasiness. Consider these steps (all of which you can start taking right now), that will help your employees feel more comfortable as we take the first step on the long road towards normalcy.  

Let them know that you will prioritize their health and safety 

Public health and government officials are guiding these decisions. We will only get the “OK” to return to work when it is safe to do so. Still, it makes sense why your employees, especially those with compromised immune systems, may be nervous to be around others in proximity. As their employer, you can be taking steps right now to ease their concerns.  

1. Clean properly.
   

   Even though it may have been several months since anyone has been working there, letting your employees know that the whole office has been sanitized may make them feel more comfortable about returning. Emphasize that cleaning will be done more frequently and will be performed with EPA-registered disinfectants, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

2. Plan to be socially distant.

   In small businesses this can be hard because the space is often, well, small. Think of ways you can reorganize your office now, so that you are ready for when your employees return. Risk is heightened by longer durations of potential exposure, so minimize the amount of time spent near co-workers (when possible) and wear a mask. Keep in mind that social distancing does not take place of wearing a mask. Consider an A/B schedule where half the staff works from the office Monday Wednesday, the other half work Tuesday Thursday and an offer is made to anyone that would like to come in Friday to do so on a sign-up basis.

3. Conduct routine Employee Screening Questionnaires.
   

   Daily health checks and weekly screenings will be in place to protect them. Reassure your team that sick employees or employees in contact with a sick individual will not be in the office. Also, if an incident arises, it will be dealt with as per the CDC guidelines.

4. Be concrete when sharing your plans.
   

   Your employees will feel more at ease if you tell them exactly how things will look and function when they return. Take time to solidify plans and be transparent with your employees. Let them know where hand sanitizer stations will be located and when masks need to be worn once entering the office. Have extra PPE on hand and enforce your guidelines.

5. Ask for feedback.

   No one knows more about your employees’ expectations than your employees themselves. Share your plans with them and then ask for feedback. Are they comfortable with these requirements? What else can be changed to make them feel more at ease when it comes time to return to work? Send regular updates about your plans and don’t blindside your employees.

Be flexible and remind them that it’s okay if the transition back is a slow process  

With this pandemic, came a lot of uncertainty regarding job security, health, and what the future would look like. And, while it may seem like working at home is easier, some people have more on their plates at home. As we look forward to heading back the office, keep in mind that the transition back may be as slow as the successful transition from the office to home was. It will also become important to be flexible as we head back to work. Do any of your employees have children and childcare plans? Consider letting your employees make flexible schedules to accommodate their new home life. If their position and workload allow them to do so, continue offering the work-from-home option for employees who don’t feel comfortable coming back to the office yet. 

Continue to prioritize mental health  

In a previous article, we talked about how to promote good mental health practices within your company during this time. Some of the tips we talked about include creating a culture where communication of all kinds is welcomed and valued, encouraging employees to take a break from work if they need to, and referring your employees to mental health resources offered by the government. Just because the infection rate has slowed in some states, does not mean your employees’ stress levels will diminish the same. Ask your employees how they are feeling – are they excited to be back? Overwhelmed? Ask them what you can do to make them the most comfortable.  

The shift back into the office won’t be easy, but using these tips will hopefully make your experience a bit easier. Here at MarketReach, we wish you luck in the coming weeks and months as you, and we, try to navigate our new normal.