As states across the country begin to ease restrictions and attempt to return people to the workforce, we have found that navigating all of the conflicting information out there can be very challenging!
That's why, in consultation with experts and state and local government officials, we have developed a checklist to help you decide when the time is right to return to work.
To make your eventual return as successful as possible. Here's what you should do...
Consider a Staggered Return.
First, consult your local government officials and comply with their regulations, but if they have eased restrictions for your industry, you might want to consider organizing a rolled-out return in several stages.
Group your staff by how essential being on-site is for them to complete their work and allow the most essential on-site workers to go back first. Before anyone returns, make sure you have plenty of PPE disinfectant and hand sanitizer available for returning workers to use.
Use Your Intranet & Leadership to Communicate New Policies.
Update your office intranet site to include any new work policies, new employee responsibilities, or changes to the employee handbook.
1. Schedule an all-hands meeting to make workers aware of where new policies will be posted.
2. Let workers know that they can contact their managers to have a conversation about any reservations they might have about returning, or to let leadership know if they fall into a "high-risk" category and possibly should not return at this time.
3. Have leadership review how the "work from home" period went. See if there were any new policies created during that time that you'd like to keep and consider extending permanent remote privileges to some workers going forward.
Do A Thorough Audit Before Rushing Back.
There are 3 key areas you'll need to look into before you go "full-steam ahead" back to the office or facility.
1. Make sure all items like devices, furniture, and supplies that were taken home are returned properly.
2. Look into the access that was given to remote workers and remove any permissions that are no longer needed.
3. Test phone numbers, voicemail recordings, and call routing to make sure they are set up correctly. Make necessary adjustments to reflect staff or policy changes.
Want to Get The Entire 11-Action Checklist?
This was a preview of a full checklist we have available for free. The full PDF contains 11 more expert tips you should know and take action on before returning to work.
You can get the complete checklist to use and share with your leadership team here.
