The Working from home used to be a perk, however, after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, just about half of all Americans now have home offices. And while some companies might choose to keep it that way for health safety reasons, many others are having employees return to the office as various parts of the country slowly reopen.
If your company is choosing to reopen and have its employees return to the workplace, then there are some internal HR precautions that you may want to take to do so safely. After all, keeping your employees healthy and happy is of the utmost importance in keeping your business running smoothly.
Remember to be vigilant in keeping your workplace clean
While it is easy to forget why we all had to work from home in the first place, keep in mind that the COVID-19 virus still exists. It is recommended that health checks for all employees be put in place, including a temporal temperature check. However, it can also be helpful to review the CDC Interim Guidance for Business and Employers to become more familiar with the recommendations that can be used to protect your employees.
Additionally, the wide use of hand sanitizer and frequent surface cleaning can be effective in preventing the spread of the virus. And as always, maintaining social distancing guidelines can be helpful as well, however, close-contact conversations can be tough to avoid.
Office ventilation is important as well
In addition to the keeping surfaces sanitized and hands clean, it’s important to ensure that your office space is well ventilated. Increase the circulation of air by opening doors or windows and using fans and check for any hazards that may have occurred during the time the building was shut down over the past few months. Hazards like mold, rodents, or issues with stagnant water systems could have possibly occurred.
Setting guidelines and company protocols for returning to work is crucial
In addition to having the workplace ready to be inhabited by your employees, it is also important to make sure that everyone is one the same page when it comes to health safety. This could mean maintaining a safe distance when speaking to each other casually and even during meetings while avoiding physical contact with one another. Viruses can spread very quickly, so the less contact, the better.
Now it may seem like a drastic measure but having a staggered work week between employees or even certain departments can be helpful as well. For example, having certain departments or employees only work in the office on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday while working from home the other two days during the week can actually be helpful in preventing any virus transmission.
If you are planning to reopen your office, LTD Global is here to help
If your company is scheduling to reopen the office and need assistance in getting certain work materials, such as employee handbooks, up to date in accordance with new workplace guidelines and rules, LTD Global can assist you and your company. LTD Global has been assisting with employee handbooks and other materials for many years and would be happy to assist your company in getting up to speed with new protocols. Feel free to contact LTD Global for more information.