For several weeks now, thousands of employees have been working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now that the curve has flattened, attention is turning to the easing of restrictions and transitioning employees back into their regular workplaces. While a return to the workplace will be good news for some employees, others may be reluctant to leave the comfort and balance they have found in their home offices. Below are some tips and considerations for employers currently facing this transition:
- Develop a COVIDSafe plan to ensure the ongoing safety of employees, a plan for any Covid-19 cases in your workplace, and compliance with any current medical advice. You can view the National COVID-19 safe work principles on the Safe Work Australia website here.
- While you can encourage it, you cannot force employees to download the CovidSafe app, or treat them adversely if they choose not to. Read this article for a more in-depth explanation.
- This article provides an overview of how to approach employees who are reluctant to return to the workplace. In short, an employer can direct an employee to return to the workplace but must first consider any other factors affecting the employee such as disability or carer’s responsibilities.
- Consider what format the return will take. Will all employees return to regular hours at once, or will there be a staged approach? This article provides an overview on two possible frameworks: 4 days on followed by 10 days off, and staggering employee start times.
- For an overview of general considerations and prioritizing employees’ psychological safety, read this article.
Most importantly, remember that this is new territory for everyone and employers and employees alike will need to remain flexible and adaptable.