As the government announces that from the 1 August the advice for people going to work will change. Instead of the government urging people to work from home, it is going to provide employers more discretion by asking them to make decisions on how their staff can work safely. This could mean, working from home on a continued basis, or it could mean employers making their offices and workplaces safe, by following COVID- secure guidelines.

Employers need to start to plan, what is likely, to be a staged return to the workplace. Whatever employers decide to ensure the protect themselves and their staff, they should ensure they meet three key tests before bringing people back to the workplace.

First off, is it essential?

If employees can work from home, the Government advice is to continue to do so. If they can’t, is their work deemed essential to the business or could employers use the Job Retention Scheme for longer, enabling them time to put appropriate safety measures in place and consult with employees.

Is it safe?

Every business has a duty of care to manage risks and ensure that their place of work is safe. To make a workplace safe could include reconfiguring desk space, blocking off common areas to furthermore allow social distancing and potentially staggering working hours. It goes without saying that increased cleaning and sanitation practices should be in place.

Have you agreed it with the staff?

Some staff may not feel comfortable to return to an office environment. It is vital that you consult staff and get a better understanding of any concerns and take them into account. At this stage, it is essential that you are prepared to be flexible and your staff are prepared to be flexible too in order to create an environment that works for everyone in the ‘new norm’.

Pride in People