Transitioning Back To Work

Following the Government announcement regarding a staged return to normal life, retaining employee confidence in their employers ability to protect their physical and psychological health is a key consideration for responsible employers so employers should be preparing or have already prepared for a return to work.

A poll of 1,000 working adults recently conducted, found that 44% reported feeling anxious about the prospect of going back to work because of the health risks posed by Covid-19 to them and those close to them. The survey also revealed that 31% of workers were anxious about commuting to work. This figure jumped to 52 per cent in London, where commutes are longer.

There is widespread unease about the relaxation of lockdown, particularly with people who have underlying mental health conditions such as OCD and anxiety. It is therefore recommended that all employers prepare employees for a healthy return to work, providing confidence and assurance that it is safe to return.

It is going to be challenging for people to re-adjust as lockdown measures began to relax, employees in the industries that are first to go back may feel like guinea pigs. Perhaps businesses can solicit anonymous feedback from employees on how the transition back to work could best be handled, and to accommodate any reasonable requests made by employees. As an example, businesses can introduce a phased return by gradually reducing the number of days per week that employees worked from home, or encourage employees concerned about public transport to take up a cycle to work loan scheme. Perhaps you could introduce a short term shift pattern.

Returning to work could also provide an opportunity to continue ways of working that had proved beneficial during the crisis. If there is anything that had an unexpected benefit in terms of morale or productivity in your business, could this be retained to help with transitioning forward for everyone?

Just Global HR Services can help provide advice and support, just email Jayne Morgan at jayne.morgan@justglobalhr.com or Justine Brown at justine.brown@justglobalhr.com or call us on 01628 361810 or even email hello@justglobalhr.com