HR Planning COVID | There has been a steady rise in the confirmed COVID-19 cases within Australia and across the world. This unprecedented circumstance has left many employers at a crossroads. Employers are now left to grapple with the unforeseen impact that this disease will have on their businesses and their employees. So, what can employers do during these trying times? Here are some HR planning tips that you can apply to improve the resilience of your business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Implement A Vibrant Remote Work Policy.
A strong remote work safety policy should outline when employees are permitted to work remotely. The policy should clearly stipulate the conditions when remote work is permitted as well as all eligible employees. The steps that need to be followed to qualify for remote work should be clear. Remember, employees should be made aware of this policy. You should adopt a strong remote work policy if there isn’t one already in place.
What makes a great work safety policy
Let All Sick People Stay At Home.
You don’t want to raise alarms in the workplace. For this reason, emphasize the need for sick employees to stay at home. They do not need to report to work. If an employee is feeling unwell, he or she should seek medical help first. After being cleared by a doctor, the employee is free to report back to work. Still, encourage employees to take advantage of remote work resources if they believe that they may have come into contact with the COVID-19 virus. This should be enforced even if such individuals don’t exhibit any coronavirus symptoms.
Embrace The Best Practices For Remote Work.
You can make working from home a productive and fruitful experience for your employees. This can be achieved by embracing best practices for minimal disruption as employees work from home. These practices include practicing good meeting etiquette, prioritizing documentation, being available, embracing cloud-based tools, and ensuring you balance between your work and life. These best practices make working remotely easier and seamless.
It’s Crucial To Provide Employees With Benefits.
Employees still require the benefits they enjoy in the workplace when they are working remotely. Employers should endeavor to ensure these benefits are provided through remote work resources. For employees with desk jobs, company laptops can be provided to those who don’t have personal computers. You can also offer your employees an internet allowance to help with the transition to working remotely.
Maintain A Clean Office.
Common necessities such as sanitizers, soap, tissues, paper towels, and disinfectants should be readily available. These items should be spread all around the workplace and preferably at all entry locations. Still, they should be placed in locations where they can be easily spotted and used, such as entrances to walkways, corridors, offices, and washrooms.
Best practices to combat COVID-19 such as social distancing, sneezing into the arms, properly disposing of used tissues, and covering of mouths when sneezing or coughing should be encouraged. Moreover, this is the time to thoroughly clean the workplace. Cleaners should take time to regularly disinfect the workplace with alcohol based sanitisers. You should consider scheduling extra shifts for cleaners to clean all offices exhaustively.
A guide to COVID-19 in the workplace
Transitioning employees back to work after COVID-19
Regular Communication.
You need to inform your employees about all company resources that are at their disposal. This should be done now rather than later. You don’t want issues to escalate just because you didn’t communicate early enough. Send that email today.
You can inform your employees about the company’s policies that cover remote work, illness, and pandemics. Information can also be spread about the approach your company may take if the coronavirus impacts your local community. Finally, don’t forget to keep your employees informed about all issues relating to COVID-19. Ensure you only relay information from credible sources such as State Health Authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Such information can help your employees to make informed decisions.
Employers and Human Resource departments should protect their employees and clients at all costs during these harsh times. You can keep your employees safe by following these best practices. The thorough implementation of HR Planning steps will eventually result in a healthy and happy workforce. In turn, you minimize the effects of COVID-19 on your business.
If you’d like some advice on improving your business or HR plans in the wake of COVID-19, feel free to contact us on 1300 087 888 or email us.
Read more work safety information for your business from Safetysure or learn about what is professional safety consulting.
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