It’s roughly 2years now since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world right from Wuhan China where it all began. The epidemic has impacted all industries, although certain firms and sectors have been hit more than others. The risk of infection from various activities, the capacity of firms to function remotely, and virus containment strategies have all played a role. All of this has had an impact on current business and future aspirations.

With most countries easing lockdowns business owners that employ people need to inspire their team to return to work. People have been working from home for more than a year while office buildings have sat empty, causing building managers to go into overdrive preparing for when employees can return to work. They aren’t even certain when that will be.

While a true return to the workplace may look different in different parts of the world, building managers and employers face the difficulty of not only ensuring that the office building is ready for a safe return, but also that the occupants are encouraged to do so.

Here are some ways through which employers can help employees return to their offices, shops, and workplaces across the country.

• Investing in your people

 Investing in your people will make them more likely to return. There are a couple of ways this can be done say by sending them home office allowance. Many staff will be returning soon when offices across the country reopen. However, in offices with new capacity limits and the inability to provide desk space to all employees, some employees will continue to work part-time from home.

You might support by paying for furniture or equipment that will enable workers to set up a permanent home office. Workers can use the funds to purchase an ergonomic chair, a standing desk, or computer and webcam technologies. Already, major corporations like Google and Shopify, are providing allowances for employees to purchase work-from-home equipment.

• Offer free Mental and emotional support

Based on a study conducted by Qualtrics, Two out of respondents (41.6%) claimed their mental health has deteriorated since the COVID-19 outbreak.

The coronavirus outbreak has taken a toll on workers’ mental health, particularly for health workers, those in the agricultural sector, transport, energy, and education sectors. Employees of all types, however, can display signs of worry, whether they are worried about getting the virus, experiencing prolonged social isolation, or having sick family or friends. You may want to explore giving free mental health and wellness services to assist combat this.

Employers can help employees who are suffering from stress and anxiety by financing telehealth sessions with mental health doctors or web-based meditation classes.

• Work out how to ease employees into the workplace

Workers can return with guided steps, especially for larger businesses, and it can significantly reduce employee anxiety. Based on the flexibility of your workplace, there are several options to stagger a return to in-house work:

Over several weeks, bring back one department at a time.

Design a plan say with three days spent remotely and two days spent in the office.

To reduce workplace congestion, stagger shifts or use first and second shift divides

Basic return-to-work practices, such as arranging the first shifts back in-house on Thursday or Friday, can greatly reduce employee anxiety. It’s also a good idea to schedule a brief reorientation phase so that staff can adjust without the added stress of a full workload.

• Open communication channels

It’s best to believe that your employees have questions and indeed they expect answers. It’s not enough to create new policies or make it easier to return to in-house labor; businesses must also communicate with one another. Make it clear that your staff have a voice by sending out a company-wide letter or call for a meeting to clear up all those thoughts. 

Here’s a hint of how to go about it:

Plan a Q&A session where employees can ask questions

Design an online form for your employees to answer questions

To keep employees informed, send weekly emails or memos.

Hold one-on-one meetings with employees to get a sense of how they feel.

• Work on sanitation and social distancing infrastructure

Following best pandemic practices and social distance is one of the most significant strategies to help staff during the reopening process. Employers should consider how to use spaces differently than they have in the past, with at least six feet of space between employees and, if necessary, physical barriers to assist prevent the spread of airborne infections. 

Putting this measure in place will convince workers to return because it shows you care about their health and safety. And, since safety is paramount consider outsourcing to a facilities management services company because they’ll handle all your sanitation and facilities maintenance issues including security.

More cleanliness measures include

Having each evening’s workplaces well cleaned.

Workers are being given complimentary masks to wear in communal areas.

Employees will receive free disinfecting wipes.

• Provide child care assistance

A lot of schools and child care centers have been closed leaving parents who are returning to work may face difficult decisions about how to ensure that their children are watched. This is an opportunity for employers to come in by providing in-home or virtual child care.

In most cases, most people may be uncomfortable having an outsider in their house when it comes to in-home care. However, virtual care, in which babysitters spend time with children via video chat to create a distraction-free atmosphere for parents, may appeal more especially to parents who work part-time at home.

Last words

We’re all unique and everyone will react to the return to work in their way. The Best way to inspire your people or employee to return to work is to understand everyone as they are or on a case-by-case basis, as you address COVID-19 and returning to work. Returning to work can be a pleasant return to routine for some, but it can also be highly stressful for others. Act responsibly and make concessions when necessary.