5 Questions Companies Need to Ask About the New Normal
In the United States, the vaccine has been widely distributed, reducing the risk of the coronavirus spreading more rampantly. Many states have eased social distancing requirements and some offices are starting to welcome back employees. People are slowly getting used to hugging others, shaking hands, and living without masks.
But does this mean we’re back to normal? Is life simply going to return to the way it was before COVID-19 changed the way we live and work together?
At Grin Events, we believe the answer is both yes and no. For our corporate clients, this potential return requires intentional conversations and policies about how and when employees come back together.
If you are a business owner, you might be asking whether now is the right time to bring employees back. What about new remote employees hired during the pandemic? How do you help them feel just as much a part of the team when others return to in-person interactions?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Here are five questions worth asking about the new normal:
1. Can we simply return to the way things were?
This is the most important question — and also has the broadest potential answers. You need to continue monitoring best practices and guidelines from health officials during this transition period. COVID-19 is still affecting people negatively, so any company policies should account for this risk.
Simply going back to the way things were might seem appealing. However, it doesn’t account for the many workplace nuances now present that help value and protect your employees.
2. How do we decide if and when to return to the office?
As we all know, the coronavirus didn’t suddenly disappear once businesses reopened. Consider polling your employees about their comfort levels with returning to the office. Different families have made various decisions about vaccines and the safety of returning to groups and crowds. Understand that your employees won’t all have the same answer.
Talk to managers about how they can best support their teams while maintaining productivity. Some might stay remote long-term, while others want to return to daily office life. Taking a pulse of your workforce will ensure you’re making an informed decision.
3. What safety measures can be put in place to create a sense of comfort?
If employees need to return to the office, consider putting protocols in place that give people confidence you are prioritizing their health. Offer flex time for unvaccinated employees to get tested regularly. Or create a policy asking unvaccinated team members to continue wearing masks. Upgrade your air filtration system or make a company-wide mandate requiring anyone with symptoms to stay home.
Every company will need to determine what measures make their employees feel valued and protected.
4. How can we support ongoing mental and emotional health?
Beyond physical health, the pandemic affected us all emotionally. From losing family or friends to facing economic hardships, companies should recognize the lasting mental health implications of a year-long-plus lockdown. Consider implementing wellness programs that offer individual and group support. Or hold workshops that allow employees to openly talk about how the pandemic affected them. The goal is to create psychological safety for employees to bring their whole selves to work.
5. How do we move forward in a hybrid work environment?
Many businesses will face the challenge of managing both in-person and remote workers. This can create a sense of distance and isolation for employees who miss out on water cooler conversations and in-person meetings. Once travel restrictions ease, consider bringing your whole team together for a strategy and vision offsite.
Invest in technology that allows video conferencing in all your meeting spaces. Send care packages to remote employees who can’t attend in-person gatherings. Or look into hybrid event solutions that allow for both in-person and virtual attendance.
These are just five topics to consider as the world opens back up. The key is being thoughtful and intentional about the new season we find ourselves in.
If you are looking for ways to connect your team – in-person or virtually – Grin Events is here to help. Our professionally hosted team building (we call it Team Connecting) events are designed to make it easy for employers to bring some fun into the workplace.
Give us a call or email us today to get a quote.
