So, we are almost back to ‘normal’. 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 into work and don’t know what to do. Whose responsibility is it to ensure people are looked after and feel safe to go back into their workplace?
There are many arguments around this including those from the government and employers. What about the people themselves? What do they need in order to get feel able to return to the workplace? What are their responsibilities?
As many employers are struggling to keep their businesses going, what expectations do employees have? Should the company allow staff to work from home if this is 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 who prefer to go to the office or workplace. Many miss contact with their colleagues and meeting up after work.
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 working 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 workplace - let’s talk about it’ touches on these matters. It applies to staff as well as managers and provides tips and tools surrounding going back to work.
If you have any questions, please let us know. Happy to chat!
