The Best Ways to Support your Employees Post-Pandemic

The pandemic is thankfully coming to an end but one thing is for sure, even if it is not ending as we expected but “life” is returning. Once empty malls and plazas are open once again welcoming people wholeheartedly. 

Nothing is the same anymore our lives have been turned topsy turvy. From our daily routine to our social events everything has changed. In order for us to survive the best thing we can do is to manage our lives accordingly, we cannot go back and keep doing what we were doing. Since the pandemic, our lives have changed and we are changing with it. 

So after the pandemic, there are things that we need to do to stay ahead of the curve. Also, we need to understand the fact that the responsibility falls on the shoulder of the offices and organization to make their employees feel welcomed at their workplaces. There are a few steps that an organization can take to help their employees settle in nicely

 

Take the foot off the gas

Employees coming back to work from their remote offices need to be treated with care, you cannot make them dive directly into work. They are coming back from a very different time and it will take time for them to settle into an office, get used to the routine and people. It is a tedious process but after a week or two, they will all feel comfortable. Take the foot off the gas for your employees and give them time to understand the scenario. 

 

Maintain social distancing 

Letting everyone back to the office with no S.O.P’s is an issue that will create havoc as they will not be used to crowds. The thing about social distancing is that it will not only clear any doubts regarding the dangers of infection but inculcate a social responsibility into the masses. It is important to keep the SOP’s intact for future references. 

 

Organize team activities

Coming back after such a  long time the teams forget if they have gelled together. The perfectly working cog ceases to exist. For your business’ sake, it is important that they keep on working together and keep their channels of communication open otherwise you will be into a long comeback. As there will be communication issues and for you to resolve those issues it is important that you organize a group activity that breaks the ice and smooths out rough edges. 

 

Employees need to be heard

After they have returned back to work in a post COVID environment there is ample need to understand the fact employees’ concerns need to be addressed. You will not get back the perfect employee you hired but the one you will get will need a pat on their back and would require confidence. You must be willing to lend a shoulder to the needs of the employees. So listen to your employee and address their concerns otherwise you can keep on working remotely. 

 

Accept the employee’s sluggishness

Remote work or work from home will indeed make employees lazy. They will not be dynamic as they once were, it will take time for them to get back to their old self. You need to accept them for what they have become as an old saying goes “the only way is through”. You need to push them to become better but at the same time, you have to accept the fact that it is a time taking process so be patient with what you got.  

 

Awareness and education is the way forward

Remember since most of the staff would have been in intense lockdown. The need for regular awareness is never lost. You must keep communicating with your team members and your office members about the need to keep following the protocol advised by the government. Sometimes you need to understand that people will be looking to rush towards the “normal” it is your duty to make the people understand that it is not over yet. So make sure that you educate the masses for not leaving the said protocols. 

 

Be prepared for a few shocks

Coming back from a mass lockdown to openness you can expect a few hiccups irrelevant of the size. Do not scold your team members over it, remember they are also coming back form a major change and shifting back towards the office. So it is only natural that you give them a bit of levy in their approach, ignore the minor mistakes, and try to be patient. At the back of your mind, you need to be ready for a few shocks. There might be a few hiccups that might need dealing with. 

 

Conclusion

Remember the pandemic has changed the world and also changed everyone. Life as we know it is over. This has been a paradigm shift and it was never going to be easy, the important part is that you keep everyone together “rhetorically”. Also, remember this is only the beginning the real impact of COVID is yet to be seen. So be ready and remember you and your team both will face repercussions. However, these above-mentioned steps can ease a lot of pressure on employees and can help your business get back to usual.