After a 100 days in lockdown, things are starting to change slowly but surely. What will this mean to us? Are we ready to go back to normal or whatever it will be?
There has been a lot in the news about anxiety and shielding. Some people are scared to go to work and don’t know what to do. Whose responsibility is it to ensure people are looked after and feeling safe in going back to work?
There are many arguments around this including the government and the employers. What about the people themselves? What do they need in order to get back to work? What are their responsibilities?
As employers are struggling in many ways to keep their businesses going, what expectations do employees have? Should the company allow staff to work from home if this in an option? For how long? How does it affect the bottom line?
There is no easy answer to these questions. It seems like many companies are asking their staff for their thoughts and feelings around all of this. Wherever it’s possible, staff will continue to work from home but then again, there are many people who prefer to go to the office or workplace.
We must bear in mind the different aspects of employees and their needs. Many are younger and live in shared accommodation and don’t have the space to work comfortably from home. Parents find it hard to work because young children are around and the disruption is too much. Others might just need to get away as there are other factors (like violence) at home.
Whatever the reasons are, they are all valid and must be heard and respected. However, if it comes down to staying afloat and not losing the company, we must be supportive. A lot of businesses have not survived this pandemic and many people have lost their jobs and their lives.
Like so many times, communication is the key to work out these situations. It has to start at the top and trickle down to every person. When a message is clear and backed up, change is easier to accept.
Our webinar ‘Back to the ‘new normal’ touches on these matters. It applies to staff as well as managers and provides tips and tools surrounding going back to work. Uncertainty will cause anxiety in many so what do we need in order to function?
If you have any questions, please let us know. Happy to chat!
