With so many unknowns, it’s hard to plan. However, if we’re deliberate in our strategies for rebuilding a post-pandemic world, we can safely bring our employees back and leave enough room for flexibility to accommodate changes in circumstances.
We’ve been required to pivot constantly throughout this pandemic, and it’s almost guaranteed that we’ll still have unexpected events to face. But with proactive planning, we can make it work, effectively and safely. Consider these strategies for making it happen in the workplace.
Social distancing is going to be a part of our world for the immediate future and likely beyond. This, coupled with updated information about the importance of good ventilation in indoor spaces, will need to be reflected in physical workspaces by new measures.
Preparing for a return to work may pose some challenges because, in some cases, extensive renovation might be necessary to keep everyone safe and healthy. If you find you need to do a major overhaul, such as a large cleanout or even demolition to make room for distanced office space, you can make the process more cost-effective by renting a dumpster. Small dumpsters might cost you less than $300 a week, including hands-free delivery and pickup.
To keep everyone safe and limit the potential spread of the virus, your company will need to ensure there is enough personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace to help meet this important goal. Items you’ll need include:
The workplace also will need a more frequent schedule for deeper cleaning and sanitization to ensure that germs aren’t left behind where they can be picked up by someone else.
Also important: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings about numerous unsafe sanitizers that have made their way into the U.S. market. Be sure you don’t accidentally buy sanitizers on the agency’s “do not use” list.
While you and your company have almost certainly had a rough year, never forget that your employees have, too — and the lower down the pay scale, the rougher it’s likely to have been. To help boost morale and make things easier for them, try to offer as many affordable perks as you can, including:
Whatever you can do to aid employees in this difficult transition will almost certainly be appreciated — and likely rewarded with greater loyalty and effort down the road.
For the indefinite future, a high priority will need to be placed on safety and risk mitigation. To ensure compliance, It’ll be crucial to have established policies that everyone is clear on. When writing your policies and protocols, focus on the following:
After you’ve devised your response plan, look for any weaknesses that won’t allow for scalability, and then adjust as needed. Or, alternatively, have a contingency plan ready to implement in the event that your governor moves your state back a phase, or virus spikes or community spread move into your area.
Once you’ve created, tested, and begun implementing your plan, be sure to publicize it to everyone who needs access to the information. For strong protocols to work, communication around them needs to be solid and readily available.
And above all, be sure to keep up on the latest employer obligations, You don’t want to inadvertently break any laws or endanger anyone.
As a decision maker, you’ll have many considerations to address as you plan to safely bring your employees back to the workplace. Getting things back to the “new” normal is going to present some hurdles. However, the more proactively you plan, and the more consistently you place safety and human welfare at the forefront of your plans, the better your chances for a smoother and more successful reopening.
About the Author: My name is Jessica Larson. I’m a married Midwestern mom and a solopreneur. I create online courses for students, and I’ve started and run several other businesses through the years. My goals are to support my family while still actually spending time with them, to act as an entrepreneurial role model for my two daughters, and to share what I’ve learned through The Solopreneur Journal.