Preparing for new normal in changed office space
With a global pandemic sweeping the country, an endless tug-of-war between uncertainty and hope has tasked industry leaders with making tough decisions for us all — namely,
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to get Florida back to its regularly scheduled programming has made the thought of having to venture back into a physical working space welcoming for some, and a terrifying reality for others.
In a time of vast uncertainty and unknowingness, what will our new work life look like — both from a safety standpoint and from employees’ daily experience?
As the country slowly, but surely, begins to open and the economy begins to rebound, employers will have an entirely new set of challenges to face. Businesses will be tasked with changing their everyday practices to meet the evolving needs and expectations of their customers and employees as well as define their “new normal.”
According to the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer Special COVID-19 Study/MidYear Update, 66% of employees want to know what steps are being taken to avoid bringing the virus into the workplace. Organizations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have issued guidance on how employers can make their workplaces physically safer for employees.
The key for most employers will be mastering how to best communicate this information and weave it into their everyday procedures. Figuring out how to share safety protocols and provide information about understanding health risks is the number one priority. An effective communication plan and clearly defining and initiating change will define new ways of working and provide a level of trust and information that employees expect from their employers.
Additionally, the ability to provide a healthy environment, and prioritize the mental health and well-being of employees will be vital in this new landscape.
More than one-third of all Americans (36%) say coronavirus is having a serious impact on their mental health, according to the American Psychological Association. Additionally, only about half of all employees (54%) strongly agree that, considering the effects of COVID-19, they feel well-prepared to do their work, according to Gallup. Now more than ever, it is incredibly important to cultivate a network of support for employees to feel valued and understood.
Business can adopt these four components to ensure a high level of care and underscore your commitment to a positive employee experience:
All employees will need to learn and adopt new behaviors to ensure one another’s safety. Establishing new policies will provide employees with a clear understanding of the revised definition of safety at work.
Companies must also cultivate a culture of compassion and understanding, and demonstrate continued empathy and gratitude through words, actions, policies and processes.
Be prepared to articulate how the company’s products and/or services will be impacted — share how the industry will change, and how these changes will impact your business and its bottom line.
Employers will need to operate in new ways. From revamped health protocols to communications models, companies must be sure to communicate changes as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Central Florida is reopening for services; however, our community is not yet out of the woods. As more and more of us begin to ponder reentering the workspace, the time to prepare for new ways to work is upon us, and employees are looking to businesses leaders to set expectations and provide a safe environment, on all fronts.
Thoughtful, calculated, and balanced efforts to address these concerns will be the key to successfully navigating this economic minefield. This coronavirus has left a permanent mark on the world as we know it. The question is: how do we adapt to continue moving forward?