Planning for an eventual return to work – the new normal part one – living with COVID-19

By Shaf

By now, living in quarantine during this pandemic is likely starting to wear thin on many. While we remain deeply indebted to all those in the front lines who continue to do the hard work and the heavy lifting on flattening the COVID-19 curve, many of us are starting to wonder how much longer it will take before we can emerge from isolation.

For those jurisdictions focused on letting science and fact guide our emergence like we are here in British Columbia (BC), the path forward is cautious, gradual, and measured. The latest indications are that if we continue to adhere to hand washing, physical distancing and related, (and remain disciplined on this), by Canada Day in BC we may be at zero cases of COVID-19.

This sounds motivating and I’m sure fills us all with hope. As owners, operators, and senior executives though now is the time to start thinking and planning for how your business will function and operate in the new normal.

Moreover, if what we are hearing from the health experts, as well as from history, is that it is possible for the second wave of COVID-19 in the Fall, then the new normal part one, is only a window – possibly from July to sometime in October.

With that in mind, you need to think about your operation in its entirety and consider the following:

·        How will you ensure physical distancing measures can be instituted and followed?

·        How do we ensure team members feel reassured that they can return to work? (anxiety levels will be high among your team members need to be aware of this – does your HR team/person have a plan prepared?)

·        What changes might be needed to HR policies such as sick days, Work From Home (WFH), and related?

·        What steps can you take to make the WFH easier for staff? What can you do to make your IT more robust? (If there’s one thing you can likely count on, is that for many employees, going back into quarantine in the Fall isn’t going to have any novelty nor will it be fun – and you’re going to want to ensure they remain productive as well as engaged)

·        What does the seating plan look like?

·        Should you have staff on an alternating schedule to limit in-person contact, albeit 6 feet apart?

·        Can you secure enough disinfectants, gloves, hand sanitizers, and related?

·        What happens to those business activities that require employees to work together in proximity that’s closer than 6 feet?

·        What aspects of the business can you automate without a huge cost outlay?; What are some of the low hanging fruit in this regard?

·        What additional checks and balances can you institute to ensure the workplace is regularly cleaned and disinfected?

·        What happens if some of your team feel anxious and do not feel comfortable returning to the workplace?

·        How do you respect employee wishes and balance that against the need to operate your business?

·        Do you have the right to take the temperatures of employees? What if an employee refuses?

·        What if you experience a new outbreak of COVID-19 in the new normal? – have you updated the response plan?; Is a playbook in place? Can you immediately isolate the affected individual and calmly evacuate the office?

·        What will you do if another outbreak of the coronavirus is worse or more damaging than COVID-19? (The LA Times had a recent story on this)

·        Beyond employees, which other key stakeholder audiences do you need to re-assure?

·        What does your business plan and forecast look like for the next 18 to 24 months? – (this is especially something to consider if we will be in and out of COVID-19 for up to 2 years)

·        If you did pivot during quarantine, what can you do to continue down this path?; If you didn’t pivot, can you do so now?

·        What can you do to shore up your company’s financial position so that you can weather the COVID storm for up to 2 years?

·        Review all your contracts as well as your company’s insurance with a legal eye – what steps can you take to ensure your insurance coverage is reflective of the new normal we are in?

I could go on adding other questions to this list, but I think this gives you a good place to start. There is a lot to think about and to do, so take advantage of the next two months in quarantine to think and act on these questions.

While I am truly hoping we can remain in the new normal for a long time, and not experience a second wave of COVID-19, the realist in me says we need to grab the first window of time and do as much as we can to shore our operations up.

Isn’t it better to approach it in this manner and for history to eventually be proven wrong?

And if you need help working on the communications strategy and tactics for a return to work in the new normal, call me. I’m more than happy to support you!

As always, stay safe, stay well, and stay as healthy as you can.

Shafiq Jamal, Principal, Jamal Communications Inc., [email protected]; 778-986-5600