What Do We Need To Think About For The New Normal

As the Government ask us to start opening more businesses and allow workers to return to work, it is vital that those who are in the higher risk category are protected. You will need to use your HR data to to pass this information on to Line Managers to help them make informed decisions about who to bring back to the work place first.

Although you may have run through those who are needed to be back at work from an operational standpoint, have you considered how your business will cope if any of your business critical employees were to fall ill or be unavailable for an extended period of time? I recommend that you consider asking staff to develop emergency handover procedures and access to vital information to help ease the process if required.

It would not be surprising for you to see a dip in morale or productivity across your team, from boredom to anxiety around finances and health, loss of confidence in their abilities if they have not been working or even burn out if they have been working from home, home schooling etc - we all have a lot on our minds at the moment. You may need to significantly increase your internal communications to provide reassurance and guidance through this uncertain period.

If you have noticed morale starting to slip, consider fun ways to bond teams again such as Zoom after-work drinks, or sharing wellbeing tips to ensure the team has the tools and support they need - have you tried the press up challenge. If you have not done it already, take some time to review your employee benefits and wellbeing initiatives - are there any you can provide your employees with additional support to help them feel valued and taken care of.

As more industries start to open up again, getting staff back on the payroll will be critical for businesses to bounce back - but the way people are treated during this transition, will impact how willing staff will be to return from furlough and how productive they will be on their return. You need to plan how returning to the workplace will be communicated, to give employees the reassurance needed that their health and needs are being put first.

From extra cleaning schedules to what PPE may need to be provided and how social distancing will be enforced in the workplace, there will be a number of practical changes that will need to be communicated so employees can be clear on what is expected on their return.