Since the coronavirus lockdown started, you may have had to furlough some of your employees, or potentially had to ask them to work from home. As the lockdown begins to ease off, you may be considering asking staff to return to work, and maybe even the office. In this trying times, you may be wondering how to ensure your employees feel safe during this process, here’s our advice:
Everyone is Different
It’s important to remember that the pandemic has affected everyone differently, so whilst some staff may be excited to get back to the office after a long time away, others may require much more support upon their return. It is vital to consider those with responsibilities such as childcare or the care of a dependant family member, discuss with them personally what would make this transition easiest for them, and do your best to accommodate them.
Be Open & Honest
The best way to approach bringing your employees back into work is to be open and honest. Lots of workers have been fretting over the security of their job role, so keeping them updated on what’s going on can help to reassure them or give them enough notice that allows them time to prepare just in case they do lose their job.
Make sure to avoid making any false promises. Whilst false hope may temporarily satisfy your employees, they will most likely be even angrier and upset when the disappointing truth finally comes out.
Communicate
Arranging regular calls with your staff whilst they’re still on furlough or working from home is a good way to keep them updated and also allows you to gauge how they’re feeling. This can help you to know how much support they are likely to need when they return.
Also take into account that some employees may have experienced loss, illness or been alone during this time, so ensure that you’re sensitive when discussing their return to work and offer links to any workplace mental health support networks if these are available.
Be Patient
It may take some time for staff to settle back into their previous routine, so the key is to be patient with them. This could mean productivity is at an all time low, or that some staff are less organised than others with the move from working from home.
If you feel certain members of staff are falling behind, or aren’t working to their usual standard, ask them about what it is that is stopping them or getting them down and if there is anything you, as their employer, can do to help.
Offer New Opportunities
A great way to keep employees busy, or boost their morale, is by offering training to develop their skills. The furlough guidelines state that those on furlough are still able to be trained, which is a great option to consider as when furloughed employees return, they are more skilled, making them more flexible and able to perform the jobs of those who may have had to be made redundant.
Show Them You Care
You should also still remember to acknowledge any milestones that are either about to happen or have already have occurred during lockdown e.g. staff engagements, birthdays, pregnancies and births. Even something as simple as a card can show your employees that you still care amidst all the chaos of coronavirus.
For more advice on how to support you employees, get in touch with us today.