3 things to keep in mind with employees returning to the workplace

With the UK’s vaccination program continuing at a good pace many are looking to get back into the workplace if they have not already done so. Naturally, this brings some health and safety considerations for your workplace. 

The main area to consider as an employer is the duty of care you have to your workers. This covers various different aspects of work including how safe they feel and the extent to which they are protected from Covid. Solutions can include using the relevant health and safety signs to indicate the needed Covid procedures. 

Here we take a look at 3 areas to consider when workers are returning to the offices.

1. Have the staff been vaccinated?

There has been a lot of press recently around companies who are requesting staff to get their Covid vaccines. Whilst it is still a bit of a grey area, it is worth considering what percentage of your staff have been vaccinated against the disease. You do not want to create a two-tiered system, and you will still need to ensure you have adequate social distancing measures in place. 

2. How are staff coping with being back in the office mentally?

Whilst many are looking forward to getting back into the office, many will enjoy some of the time and freedoms they have when working from home. Additional commutes and the potential for increased meetings may put an increased strain on staff. 

That being said, being in the office does make it easier to have conversations around stress and psychological health and safety, just make sure you consider it with staff returning to their place of work physically

3. Could staggered working times reduce the strain? 

One of the ways that many companies are looking to ease staff back into the office is through staggered working times, with some staff working from home whilst others work from the office on a rotational basis. This was popular when workers emerged from the first lockdown and it could be worth considering again with staff looking to get back into the office in 2021. 

Make sure your company is compliant with regulations 

Social distancing regulations have been put in place to help keep people safe and save lives. If you are seen to be following guidelines then it will show that you are supporting your staff. This is important when it comes to health, safety, and the general wellbeing of workers.