Back to the office: 3 strategies for a safe return

The COVID-19 pandemic has materially impacted traditional work environments and will play an important role in shaping how people work and interact with one another moving forward. Top of mind for many Americans is when we’ll be able to safely return to the physical workplace. Recently, 75% of executives shared they anticipate at least half of their office workforce will be onsite by July 2021.

Related: 7 COVID-busting benefits that will help employees return to work

As many employers aim to start bringing employees back into the office, they need to be extremely vigilant in ensuring the health and safety of their workforce, especially as they transition away from physical distancing as the primary strategy to limit the spread of the disease. Companies will need to strategically plan their return-to-work strategy to ensure the health and safety of their workforce while simultaneously resuming normal operations. A one-size-fits-all approach does not exist – each employer will require a strategy tailored specifically to their industry and workforce. Here are my top three considerations for crafting a safe and effective strategy for your employees.

Employee health comes first

Creating an environment with ongoing support for employee health and wellbeing is crucial to show your employees their safety is your number one priority in bringing them back into the workplace. There are three key elements to focus on.

First, employers must ensure their workers are able to maintain good hygiene and support the use of masks to improve safety, as masks are proven to be one of the most feasible and effective ways to reduce disease transmission. Additionally, it’s important to provide resources that promote personal hygiene – such as hand sanitizer or no-touch trash cans – as well as increasing the frequency of cleaning commonly touched areas.

Second, consider implementing workplace controls that help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Changes such as installing high-efficiency air filters, increasing ventilation rates in the work environment, installing physical barriers like clear plastic sneeze guards, installing drive-through windows for customer service, and implementing negative pressure ventilation will all go a long way in keeping employees safe.

Finally, create organization policies and procedures that allow for workplace flexibility, like work-from-home options, to keep people safe and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. It’s also important to encourage employees who don’t feel well to stay home and reach out to their primary care provider for a virtual consultation and ongoing support where needed.

Communication is key

Your team is looking to you to keep them informed about what’s happening in your workplace and how they can stay safe during the pandemic, both in and out of the office. Employers have a key role to play in ensuring employees have timely, relevant, and accurate information related to COVID-19, along with clear recommendations on how to best support their health and safety. To make sure everyone is up to date, expand your communication programs to educate and train employees on the various new and/or enhanced health and safety protocols in place to drive greater awareness and compliance.

Additionally, keep your employees updated on their healthcare options to ensure they’re not delaying care and know the appropriate support is there for them. Digital care options are here to stay and can provide peace of mind for your employees, allowing them to get the care they need from the safety of their own home. Providing increased access for health screenings, preventive care, and timely management of acute symptoms will help them manage their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

To that end, many employees will have questions about the latest news and information regarding COVID-19, particularly around vaccines, and will likely look to you for help. Leverage the resources around you when answering these questions, especially guidance published by your local and state health departments online, shared in daily news conferences, or even posted on social media. Pointing employees in the direction of these sources will be helpful, especially as vaccine rollout continues.

Create and implement onsite protocols

If you’re planning to return to an office or worksite soon, you need an action plan to prioritize employee safety. A crucial first step will be implementing a daily screening and testing process to ensure employees entering the office are healthy. You’ll also need to think through guidance and communication materials for individuals who are denied entry, as well as put together a process for a referral to an appropriate onsite or community provider for additional screening and care if needed. As you think through your plans, consider phasing in employees or modifying work schedules to maximize safety, and ensure enhanced screening applies to any visitors and contractors.

Once employees are safely back onsite, employers will need to enforce safety protocols and policies such as social distancing in the workplace, avoiding gathering in common areas, and revised travel policies. Other updates to consider include streamlining entry points and utilizing signage to direct traffic flow, as well as closing unnecessary entrances and redirecting traffic to open entrances.

Ultimately, every employer will take a slightly different approach to returning employees to the workplace, as every office environment and business is unique. The considerations outlined above are intended to be adapted to suit these differences and should be tailored to best fit your organization. However, all employers should have one thing in common when it comes to return-to-work plans – employee health and safety is always the number one priority. By keeping this top of mind, you’ll create the best strategy for everyone involved.

Jami Doucette, MD, MBA, CSCS, is president of Premise Health.

Read more:

• 4 items that should be part of every return-to-office plan
• Employees’ workplace priorities: Safety, security and personal values top money and titles
• Preparing for new OSHA regulations and guidance