There is no regulated amount of time for a transformation to occur. Some transformations take years in the making, requiring strategic planning and well thought out executions. In other scenarios, transformations can take place swiftly, as there is no other option but to work quickly under pressure. The year 2020 has brought all of us many new transformations, both negative and positive, and with the world shifting before us, the time to transform your business is now.
There are not many opportunities such as this, where the entire world is experiencing an adjustment that no one asked for, but when an opportunity presents itself, as HR leaders, we must take advantage and get ahead of the curve. As we now enter a new realm after COVID-19, here are some things you and your team should consider.
Plan Ahead & Implement New Processes for Re-entering the Physical Workplace
The remote work lifestyle has been around for quite some time, but the mass increase of remote workers has left us wondering how to proceed when workplace conditions are safe again.
Many organizations have found that working remotely has benefitted them financially. With employees working remote, there is no need for a physical workplace––saving the expenses of rent, supplies, utilities and more. Still, working remotely lacks human communication and collaboration. So, the workplace is still an essential building block for countless businesses to succeed. If your business is planning to return to the workplace in the coming months, start planning and consider the following:
1. Going Above & Beyond Suggested Sanitation Measures
Ensuring employee safety should be at the top of your list when welcoming staff back into the workplace and can result in serious detriments if overlooked. This means going beyond just offering complimentary hand sanitizers and masks. Instead, make a conscious effort to tailor your business plan to implement new protocols and restrictions. Welcome comments, concerns, and suggestions from staff, reassuring employees that they are being heard.
You may also want to consider educating employees on health and safety, allowing more flexibility with sick days, scheduling routine office cleanings, and adding limits to communal spaces. While there’s undoubtedly a lot of prep work to be done here, your workforce won’t regret taking these extra steps.
A healthy environment for your employees not only keeps them safe but provides a peace of mind to staff and lets them know your business is doing all that it can to prioritize their well-being.
2. Leaning on Technology to Help with the Transition
Consider implementing software that will aid HR processes, but also provide a safer transition back into the workplace.
Workforce management technology can play a great role in assisting you to adapt to the “new normal” that the pandemic has created. In the beginning, you might take new scheduling steps to ensure safety. For instance, having staff on a rotating schedule to limit the number of employees in the workplace to adhere to safety guidelines. Implementing workforce management software can help you automatically ensure appropriate staffing levels when you need them the most to make sure that while you’re securing safety, you’re also not left shorthanded.
Many workforce management solutions also have contact tracing capabilities to aid administrators and department heads with the increasingly important task of monitoring employee interactions. Plus, with a new wave of consciousness towards the use of physical contact, many HR leaders are now relying on the use of contactless timeclock technology to track employee time and attendance, eliminating the risk of contamination that a communal timeclock machine now poses.
There is an abundance of technology out there to help you get the job done, do not overlook it.
Don’t Shy Away from A Remote Workforce if it Has Proven Successful
If your organization falls under the category of benefitting from a remote workforce, it is important to think about where you’ll be in the long run. What business practices will be affected by long-term remote execution? What new business practices will come forth from a remote workforce? You may be thinking, “Am I sacrificing workplace cohesion and communication by removing the physical workplace?” –– in simple terms, no.
Thanks to technology, you have the ability to have meaningful, face-to-face communication with staff and business partners through an array of different virtual conferencing tools.
Workforce technology provides an abundance of ways to contact others effectively so you can ensure your workforce remains connected even while apart. Most importantly, employee engagement does not have to be negatively affected. With workforce management software you can receive immediate feedback, visually analyze efforts towards organizational goals, easily measure engagement, and enhance your performance review process.
The implementation of a remote workplace does not discount the capability to hold in-person events from time to time, which builds a stronger base for your remote workforce to interact and get to know one another.
Bring Forth A Fresh Mindset & Consider New Avenues
The opportunity currently presented to us allows us to constructively plan for the future. The lessons we have received through these unforeseen circumstances has led us to be more proactive and aware. Creating a cushion for unintended situations is now something we all can take advantage of and prevent unpreparedness.
Use this time to explore employee skillsets that will profit your business the most. Now more than ever, there is an abundance of professionals looking for employment. Define the gaps in your current talent pool, so you can bring onboard additional staff members to fill those spaces if necessary.
These experiences we are living through can spark creativity for the future and hone in on the aspects of your specific business that truly matter. Now more than ever, it’s important to have a strong team that can break the mold and bring a variety of ideas to the table. Don’t let the effects of the pandemic hold your business back, use them as the fuel to help propel it forward.
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