Work/family balance, everyone knows it. Until recently, more and more employers were offering options to their employees to balance work and home life. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, advantages such as teleworking for example, have quickly become standard, or even essential for the continuity of business operations. Now that we are beginning deconfinement, what does this return have in store for thousands of employers and employees who must now live with a new uncertainty? Health at work.
Involvement of Employers
The crisis is now prompting businesses to think differently and to quickly encourage other options to ensure their operations are maintained. What if all this was likely to become long-term or even permanent measures? To ensure the survival of its operations and an adequate distance for its employees, the employer must now adapt and learn to manage two types of work structure such as remote teams and teams on site. It is essential to inform all employees of the measures in place and the tools available to them. This can be done either through internal communication releases or through company policies.
The Remote Team
Accommodating remote work is more than allowing it, but also making the necessary technological tools available to employees. In addition, by promoting remote work it is necessary to review its processes to ensure flow in internal communication and thus ensure maximum efficiency of the teams. This said, a readjustment of staff evaluation methods will also be necessary to ensure a fair measurement of employee performance.
The Team on Site
First of all, it is important to keep the measures put in place long after the pandemic such as, for example, the sanitary measures, the personal protective equipment available and the use of plexiglass panels. You must reassure employees by implementing consistent health and safety measures and encourage the employees to follow them. Also, establish a route on the premises that will allow employees to avoid crossing paths and thus ensure adequate social distancing. If work areas are too restricted, wearing masks should be encouraged.
Being Attentive to Offer the Right Tools
At this critical time, it is important for the employer to understand and listen to employees who are all experiencing this crisis in their own way. This is the ideal time to assert yourself as a leader, by reassuring them about the measures of deconfinement taken by the company, but also to be empathetic to their situations by showing flexibility.
For example:
- Offer flexible work schedules to manage family/personal challenges.
- Review our insurance plans to include psychological support services.
- Provide tools and references to encourage employees to participate in physical activity to maintain good health.
Outsourcing: An Interesting Solution Path
When facing a crisis, outsourcing can be an interesting alternative. Accountable and responsible for the success of its partners, the outsourcer is in the field, on the lookout for the latest techniques, to ensure the implementation, carrying out and maintenance of employee health and safety protocols.
For more information regarding outsourcing, click here.
Another Avenue: Training
All these new work processes and methods will certainly lead to considering the training of your staff to ensure the success of your steps. Thanks to programs such as the PACME, you may even benefit from interesting subsidies.
For more information regarding the PACME, click here.
Conclusion
There is a way to continue operating productively while coaching employees about safe sanitation measures. Communication is key to keep teams informed and to reduce anxiety. Instead, inspire a wave of positivism by motivating troops around good news. It is time to use all our expertise to ensure the success of our recovery.
About
Bedard Resources is a human resources firm specializing in recruitment, headhunting, outsourcing, consultation and pre-employment. A one-stop shop for all your human resources needs across Canada. With nearly 25 years of expertise, doing business with us means doing business with a local company that understands market issues and is up to date with Quebec’s provincial and federal laws and regulations.
Want to know more about our other services?
Contact Stéphane Pépin, Director HR Strategies & Consulting Services
spepin@bedardressources.com 514 235-3484
