Modify the office
Your office setup probably still reflects the days before coronavirus. Now, you’ll have to make sure that your employees work stations are at least six feet apart. Some offices are even installing plexiglass dividers between desks.
Make sure that your office is fully stocked with hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, hand soap, and face masks. Mandate that employees wear masks at all times they’re in the office.
Take a staggered approach
If your office doesn’t have enough square footage to safely accommodate your whole staff anymore, bring back employees in waves on a daily or weekly basis. Schedule the engineering team to come to the office Monday, marketing on Tuesday, finance on Wednesday, and so on. Try to avoid having employees share desks.
If it’s feasible for your organization, poll your staff on their comfort levels. Some teams might volunteer to stay home for a longer term.
If certain teams are well-suited to working from home, let them continue doing that. For example, it might make no difference to your security team where they work from. Keeping up remote work is a good way to reduce headcount at the office, making physical distancing easier.
Which teams should you bring back first? If you have teams that require access to in-office equipment then bring them back. Or, do an analysis of how successful each team’s transition to working from home has been. Bring back the teams that have struggled the most first.
Many companies are debating whether it’s reasonable to expect a full return to “normal” operations, even in the distant future. Some teams might be suited to permanent remote work. You can use this pandemic as a clean slate to decide what working arrangements are really most effective for your organization.
Encourage personal hygiene
Hand washing is one of the strongest tools we have against COVID-19. So, require employees to wash their hands constantly.
When they arrive at the office.
Before and after eating.
After using the restroom.
After touching highly-trafficked surfaces like doorknobs.
Encourage use of hand sanitizer as well. Remember though, sanitizer is no substitute for proper handwashing. Handwashing gets rid of dirt and grime, and kills more germs.
While your employees will no doubt be happy to see each other, advise them not to tearfully hug. An elbow bump is safer, as is a simple wave or finger pistol.
Manage the transition
COVID-19 has done a number on many people’s mental health. It’s been a big upheaval getting everyone to work from home. Now that people finally feel adjusted to the WFH lifestyle, they’re being asked to go right back to the office, back to their commute, and back to wearing pants without drawstrings. So, be sensitive to what your employees are going through.
Employees with health conditions or weakened immune systems might feel more anxious about returning to the office. Employees with kids will have to make new childcare plans, which could be complicated and costly. There will be added stress with everyone having to change their daily lives, with no guarantee things will work out.
Remind your employees about their health and wellness benefits, if applicable. Virtual care can help support your staff by letting them stay home while still getting the care they need. This also helps keep up physical distancing efforts, even after society begins reopening.
A change management strategy will help you anticipate what challenges your employees might have. Have an open two-way communication channel for your employees to disclose any challenges they’re facing, or ask any questions. This will help turn this transition period into something that strengthens the company culture, rather than undermines it.
Disinfect from top to bottom
Every night after your employees go home, have a cleaning service come in and thoroughly disinfect your office. Some busy offices are even implementing hourly cleaning of high-traffic areas.
If you want to disinfect the office yourself, grab some latex gloves and a face mask, some bleach or disinfectant solution, and some disposable paper towels. Open the windows so the smell of cleaning product doesn’t become overbearing. Wipe down non-porous surfaces, especially ones that see a lot of traffic like doorknobs, elevator buttons, fridge doors, and banisters. Make sure you don’t spray your disinfectant, as that can further spread virus particles. Mop the floor with bleach and soapy water to finish the cleaning job.
Going back to the office is likely an exciting prospect for you and your employees. We’re all missing our work friendships, our familiar spaces, and the variety of working somewhere other than our living rooms. It’s important to keep safety top of mind when managing the transition though. Err on the safe side: have teams work from home if they’re able, and invest in safety measures. Your company and your employees will both be protected, and we’ll be one step closer to truly getting back to normal.
