3 Ways to Navigate the New Work Normal

Photo by airfocus on Unsplash

Let’s face it, when it comes to going back to work in the middle of a pandemic, one question still remains: should we even go back to business as usual? The short answer? We couldn’t even if we tried because what was once viewed as “business as usual” before the pandemic now poses a severe health threat. For example, open-floor plans, working near one another, buffet-style lunches, and meetings without masks are just a few of the business norms being reimagined given the current climate. While there is no going back to “business as usual,” there is a way to move forward. It starts with three ways to ensure your employees not only feel “physically safe,” but also “psychologically safe” as they transition back to work.

• Add more social distancing measures-surprise, surprise, right? With coronavirus cases back on the rise, social distancing isn’t going anywhere, and the truth is, your employees most likely won’t either unless you have a plan that allows them to safely distance. Depending on your company, it may be as simple as repurposing common areas so employees can spread out or turning that open-floor plan into a closed one with (wait for it) cubicles.
• Bring back employees in shifts-if social distancing isn’t an option at your company at the moment, having fewer people in one space is a great alternative to help your employees feel safer as they…