protecting health safety and well-being
Given the clear health implications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, employers need to find ways for people to return to the workplace with minimum risk to their safety and well-being.
Understandable fears over being exposed to the coronavirus are making some people reluctant to return to their physical workplace. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, some essential staff are simply refusing to come back because they’re worried about the risks.
HR has a key role to play in this scenario. The first and arguably most important step is to start a constructive dialogue with workers who are uneasy about returning to the workplace. Listen to their concerns, ask how you can make them feel more confident about coming back, and outline the safeguards you’re putting in place to protect employees from infection.
Information on the protective measures that are necessary in your industry and will prove most effective for your business can be obtained from various sources, including:
- The government
- Industry bodies
- Trade unions
- Healthcare authorities
The HR services industry, spearheaded by Randstad and other leaders in the sector, has come together to produce a range of guidance on getting safely back to work in the new normal, including health and safety best practices and practical tips on an effective restart.
maintaining workforce capacity
Keeping your people safe and happy should be the HR department’s primary goal, but the new normal created by COVID-19 will also present certain operational challenges for many companies. One of these is ensuring there is sufficient capacity in your labour force for the business to get back to work and start generating revenue again.
Global unemployment has soared in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, with some employers forced to lay off workers when their economies shut down. You might also face the problem of staff being unable to resume work because of health concerns or caring responsibilities. The combination of these issues could result in severe capacity constraints just as you’re trying to ramp up activities and get the business back on track.