Assess and be Proactive with your readiness to resume Work from Office

With lockdown restrictions being eased across the globe, if proactive steps are not taken wisely, steering your organisation through this uncertain time & limited resumption of work from office can also prove to be hazardous.

Pretty much HR Experts and other Leaders seem to be scrambling at finding the right way to transition to normalcy. Current work normal is Work from Home, wherein, we have adjusted to virtual meetings, adapted to automation & technical solutions and remote socialising but since government announced relaxation of restrictions in Lockdown, social media platforms are flooded with questions like what next or what can be done? While technical challenges have easy solutions with predictive results, adaptive challenges are mostly unforeseen, as adaptive challenges don’t have predictive and one-size fits all solutions. In this scenario, we will have to radically reconfigure a complex network of people, logistics and tasks.

The need of the hour is to be proactive and not reactive. Honestly, we don’t have the luxury to be reactive, we have to be PROACTIVE with the steps we take.  We have to foremost focus on human needs, vulnerabilities related to our organisation and the people in it. When the status quo is upset, people feel a sense of profound loss and dashed expectations. They may go through a phase of feeling incompetent, disengaged or disloyal. Its’ no wonder they resist the change or try to disregard its visible agent.

To avoid the perils, let a few basic rules govern and determine the actions:

1.    Be Wise and Keep long term implications in mind:

You have to plan keeping next 6 months to a year in perspective. While all, including me, are eager to be in office and meet colleagues and team members in person, wisdom at all times, should surpass the temptation, even if there is a slight risk of lingering infection. Also, there is a possibility that lockdown restrictions may be strictly imposed again or there may be spurt of cases in vicinity of your office area and hence the area may be declared a contaminated zone.

2.    Haste makes Waste:

Avoid rush to be back in office. All arrangements to be in place and of the highest standards of safety, precautionary measures need to be enforced at office before employees are allowed back in office. Safety and health of all is paramount, anyone can be afflicted with Corona Virus, it doesn’t exercise discretion or distinction on the basis of hierarchy. Any slip, will expose each employee present in office to danger of contracting infection across the organisation and can put lives in danger

3.    Adhere to Govt. guidelines:

Relaxations are permitted but are not mandatory. Roster & scheduling of work from office/work from home must factor in safety of all, compliances, customers and feasibility. Any slip may lead to legal action, lawsuits, bad publicity and in extreme cases, a complete shutdown of your operations for months to come.

4.    Business continuity is a key focus in planning:

Deciding who comes to office and who works from home has to be taken keeping in view quorum limit, containment zones areas, work feasibility, coordination skills of individuals, team dynamics, shift timings, utilisation expected of each employee and not to forget the familial circumstances of employees. Particularly of employees with kids, elderly parents or dependents with special needs as well as pet parents as baby sitters, attendants, relatives and pet hostels are either not available or open and it can be risky to leave them unattended.

5.    Effective Communication is vital:

Be up to date with the information circulated by govt. social media handles and newspapers. Don’t succumb, speculate or participate in gossip as it will only lead to confusion and chaos. Management at Top & Middle Level along with Human resources team at your company needs to be regularly in touch with employees who continue to work from home as well as those working from office. Encourage employees to provide ideas & recommendations to make this period of transition smoother. This will enforce a feeling of belongingness & keep the employees engaged.

6.    Address Employee Concerns & Queries:

It is imperative to make the employees feel secure, settled and informed about necessary guidelines & actions taken to ensure ease of performing their tasks and their safety at work. Also, guide them on methods for safeguarding their loved ones & themselves from the Covid-19 infection. This way, it won’t create a health risk for them or others, when they are at home or when they report back to work. Be patient with them and have an empathetic bent of mind towards their situation & challenges related to technical software, hardware, distractions and disruptions.

Remember, till all measures like logistics for transport & meals, provision of body  temperature scans, hand sanitisers and additional face masks, work area sanitisation & permits, communication channels and so on are in place, till you are confident that your office is safe for even 33% of your strength, it’s not worth taking any risk.

A stitch in time saves nine… Stay safe and productive!!