The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has taken its toll on businesses globally — and your company is no exception. To date, many businesses have let their employees work remotely during the pandemic. But, as COVID-19 vaccines become readily available, businesses are increasingly restoring their pre-pandemic operations. The result: companies are encouraging their employees to return to work in the midst of the “new normal” created by the pandemic.
3 Tips to Ease Employee Concerns About Returning to Work
Returning to work during the pandemic is anything but business as usual. Fortunately, you can help your employees feel safe with the right approach as they start working in-house once again.
Here are three tips to help you ease employee concerns about returning to work during the pandemic.
1. Be Cautious
Follow CDC guidelines for workplace safety. Require employees to practice social distancing and set up floor markers to encourage workers to stay at least 6 ft. apart from one another. In addition, require workers to wear a face mask and post signs in common areas to remind them to do so.
Stay up to date on CDC guidelines, too. Share these guidelines with your workers and keep them in the loop. And be available to respond to any of your employees’ workplace safety concerns and questions.
2. Get Employee Feedback
Collect employee feedback regarding workplace safety measures. You should strive to do everything you can to provide your employees with a work environment where they feel safe and comfortable. To achieve your goal, you should regularly meet with your workers and ask them to share their workplace safety concerns and questions. Then, you can learn from your employees and update your workplace safety protocols as needed.
It often helps to conduct employee surveys to learn how workers feel about on-the-job safety. Furthermore, you can host one-on-one meetings with your employees to give them opportunities to share their feedback with you. Over time, you can gain valuable feedback that can help you create a work environment where safety reigns supreme.
3. Offer Support
Keep the lines of communication open with employees as they return to work. Host frequent meetings to identify any challenges that workers are facing. If you find that employees are struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, encourage them to seek professional counseling.
Finally, be honest and open with your employees. If employees know they can come to you with any concerns or questions, you can do your part to help them transition back to working in-house.
Ready to Add to Your Team? Techneeds Can Help
The tips mentioned above can help you and your employees safely return to work. Of course, if you want to add top talent as your business rebounds from the pandemic, Techneeds can help.
Techneeds is a professional staffing agency that connects New England businesses with quality job candidates who can fill various roles. To find out more about our staffing services, please contact us today.