Transitioning from being in the office to working from home may not have been easy. It was likely something you had never experienced before. It happened quickly, but was necessary to keep everyone safe and healthy. Providing the tools for your employees to be able to do their work from home was and still is essential. Providing the same tools as people begin to return to work is even more necessary. As more news continues to come out about COVID-19, the future is unclear. Will you be able to come back to work within the next couple of months? By the end of the year? There are many unknowns, but here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding to make that switch.
Be Transparent
No one wants to be in limbo, but that is kind of how life is right now for everyone. Being transparent is the best thing you can do with your company. At this point in time, you probably don’t know when everyone will be back in the office. Be honest and upfront about that. A simple email to the staff saying you don’t have an update yet will be helpful. Even though you may not know, the rest of the office doesn’t know what you’re thinking. This will keep everyone up to date on what is going on, so they know to keep looking out for a future update.
Be Flexible
When the time comes and people begin to work in the office again, not everyone will be ready to return. Providing your employees with the opportunity to decide for themselves when to come back will do a world of wonder not only for the work they provide, but also for their mental health. If an employee works one week in the office and decides they aren’t ready to do it again, allow them to work from home. Maybe they thought it was the right decision, but it turned out not to be. Being flexible and working with them is the best thing you can do right now.
Plan Different Scenarios In Your Head
You can never be too prepared, especially during times like these. There are many different scenarios to imagine before having everyone come back to the office. What will you do if someone seems sick at the workplace? How will everyone take their lunch break while adhering to social distancing laws? Take a look at the way your office functioned before and be realistic about how things will be different now. If you have a plan ahead of time, it will be easier when the situation ultimately arises.
Sanitize, Sanitize, Sanitize
It is likely that computers and printers are frequently used in your office. Make sure at the end of the work day, every computer gets sanitized. Everytime the printer is used, sanitize it. Limiting the amount of markers that are being used and having people write with their pens in their notebooks will prevent further cleaning of whiteboards and markers. Anything that is being touched should be cleaned afterwards. While it may seem like tedious work, keeping track and making sure this sanitization of appliances happens is imperative.
Samantha is a Marketing and PR Assistant at NRPR Group.