COVID-19 has deeply impacted business workplaces in more ways than one and has also created countless new challenges for companies with respect to managing their employees. The most important challenge faced by companies is that of creating workplace wellbeing policies that can make employees feel confident enough to return to work.
As the world is gradually easing lockdown norms, businesses looking to resume operations need to focus on integrating new guidelines and revised practices to create safe, stable, and wellness-focused workplaces. According to leading consultants from the top architecture colleges in India, this would require companies to look way beyond the usual concepts of maintaining workplace cleanliness and hygiene.
Expected Changes In Workplace Wellbeing Policies
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, most business organizations have been providing the option of work from home for their employees to maximize their safety and wellbeing. However, there are several other business functions that cannot be managed remotely and require responsible employees to be physically present at the workplace. This naturally results in the sharing of workspaces by employees, which can be a great risk for their wellbeing in the absence of proper wellness policies. Discussed below are the 5 important steps that organizations are taking in order to enhance their wellness policies in this context.
Making Wellness Policies Less Location Specific
In the wake of COVID-19, most organizations have been promoting the option of work from home among their employees. However, there are several business functions that cannot be managed remotely and require the physical presence of employees at the workplace. So, it has become imperative for companies to make the necessary changes to their workplace wellness policies to include the various sections of the workforce contributing to business growth. Rather than focusing on ensuring the wellbeing of only onsite employees, these policies should consider the health risks faced by remote workers as well as members of the frontline workforce such as marketing professionals and those working in logistics.
Imparting Training About Safety Guidelines
An important change that needs to be integrated into workplace wellness policies is that of educating the employees about the essential safety guidelines. This would include imparting training on maintaining personal cleanliness and hygiene to avoid the risk of contamination and also the need to follow the various precautionary guidelines issued by the relevant authorities. Employees should also be updated about any new developments with respect to COVID-19 occurring at the workplace or even in its vicinity. This might include sharing timely information about any employees, who might have tested positive or might be experiencing any related symptoms.
Implementing Social Distancing Practices
Social distancing is the key to staying safe from getting infected with COVID_19. That is why reviewing their workspace designs to implement social distancing practices more effectively. This might include hiring a bachelor of interior architecture for redesigning the workplaces in such a manner that the employees are able to maintain social distancing norms quite effortlessly. Moreover, organizations should also consider limiting the number of employees permitted within the workplace at any given time. This can be ensured by allowing flexible work timings and implement the concept of working in staggered shifts for the employees.
Paying Greater Attention To Mental Wellness
The pandemic has enhanced the work-related stress of individuals quite significantly and this, in turn, has enhanced the risk of mental illness by considerable margins. A majority of professionals are trying to cope with completely unexpected work environment changes, the stress of making ends meet amidst significant pay cuts, the constant threat to their physical wellbeing. This makes them quite prone to mental ailments such as depression and anxiety. Companies need to work towards minimizing the risk of these ailments among their employees by devising the most appropriate wellness policies.
Providing Emotional Support And Guidance To Employees
The COVID-19 crisis has made many professionals feel emotionally exhausted and professionally distracted. It is important for companies to revise their wellness policies to extend the necessary support and guidance to such employees. This can be ensured by improving the level and frequency of communication with the employees and providing them with the right advice about facing different situations resulting from the crisis. This is especially true in the case of employees who might have tested positive for COVID-19 or might have loved one suffering from this dangerous disease.
