The past year and a half has been a pretty tough one for business. No matter what industry or field your business specialises in, chances are, the coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge (and likely negative) impact on your operations. Around the world, governments have implemented social distancing and social isolation measures that have seen many businesses have to close their commercial premises and switch to having their employees work on a remote basis. Of course, this has been absolutely essential for not only staff safety, but for the wider safety of everyone in society, as it has helped to slow the spread of the virus. Now, if your staff members have managed to remain productive from home and handle new software such as video call software to keep in touch, that’s great. But many employers are enthusiastic to get their teams back into the office. Office based work encourages collaboration and also ensures that management can ensure that staff are being productive at all times. With vaccines being rolled out across the world and the virus getting more and more under control, we’re likely to see a possible return to the office before we know it. But you’re also going to have to make some changes to the space to ensure that everyone feels comfortable, can settle back in and get back into their routines. Here are some steps to consider.
Deep Clean
The first step that you need to take is hiring professionals to conduct a full, deep clean pof your office space before your staff head back in. This is likely essential after the space being vacant and unoccupied for so long anyway. But it will also ensure that staff can feel that they are reentering a Covid safe, reducing any anxieties that they may have about returning to a commercial workspace around others.
Implement Covid Safety Measures
Of course, you’re going to have to implement Covid safety measures too. While vaccines may be out, not everyone is being vaccinated and you’re going to still have to work to minimise potential spread of the virus in your professional space. Implementing Covid safe measures can also ensure that staff feel comfortable heading back and will be able to focus on their work rather than worrying. Make sure that there is plenty of hand sanitiser available around the office. Make sure that staff have masks. Use social distancing floor stickers. Implement barriers between desks. This may involve using specialists like an ACM Fabricator to redesign and refit your office space.
Consider a Phased Return
A phased return to work could be a good idea. This is going to be a big change for your staff, and they may settle back into the workplace more easily if they start back one day a week, then two, then three, then four, then five.This eases them in rather than throwing them in the deep end.
Of course, there are other steps you can take too. But these should help get you off to the best start possible when it comes to your employees’ return to the office!