So many people have seen this lockdown as a way to kick back and relax from all the hustle and bustle of the office area. No more Dressing up to beat the traffic and still show up under the resumption time only to still get a sermon on punctuality to work by your Boss. That’s no big surprise why many of us have been grooving with the fact that we are now working from home, typing that business proposal with morsels of food in our mouth or while watching our favourite soap operas on TV.
Well, with the knowledge that no vaccine has been created yet to battle this virus, it will be no surprise that office and work areas will have to be opened which leaves you to the question of “What Do I do now? “Well, say no more, the answer to your question is just one click away from you.
THINGS YOU MUST DO TO GET READY FOR WORK BEFORE RESUMPTION
There are certain things to note and so much to do before going back to work. A lot of work is required without a doubt to be carried out:
1. Work On Your Mindset
Start by giving yourself the Pep talk on self-control. Remember you don’t enjoy most of the comforts you get at home in the office so it is advisable to cut off from some of the unnecessary distractions at home. This way you are one step to being the office expert you are. Not everyone is really thrilled to resume in the office but one thing should be in your mind right now which is the fact that a lot of companies are already experiencing a financial crisis and they will not think twice about leasing off an errant worker.
Remember that a job pays the bills, So except you have a stable means you get money elsewhere, you wouldn’t want to bite the hands that feed you too soon.
2. Stock Up On Supplies
Before resuming it is best that you purchase the needed and required supplies and resources you’ll be needing around the house in such a way that it will last for a reasonable amount of time. That way you would not be caught off guard when you suddenly run out of it. Also, stocking up will help ease you the stress of going to the store or supermarket on your way back from work. After a long hard day at work, shopping is the last thing you would want to involve yourself in.
3. Boost Your Health and Wellbeing
Cut loose from carrying out unnecessary chores around the house and conserve that energy for something better. Have adequate rest as it will not only keep you relaxed but also Sharpen your mind and make your senses alert.
can go on further to eating proper and healthy meals. This is not the time to gorge on comfort meals but rather eat wholesome and fresh food, fruits and vegetables as it will help in your digestion and metabolism. Don’t forget to also carry out some routine exercises to shred off a few of that unnecessary fats and calories. Remember to drink a lot of water and have an adequate amount of required sleep.
4. Check Your Wardrobe
With all the comfort living this past few months, it is no doubt that some of us might have added on a few more sizes to our normal body Physique. So a wardrobe check-up is greatly advised so that you can know what fits and what doesn’t because you wouldn’t want to struggle with your work pants all through the day at the office
If you’ve been socially distancing yourself from trousers that zip up or a shirt with buttons for six weeks or more, its time to get reacquainted. See which pants still fit, which shirts are stain-free, and plan your back-to-work wardrobe.
A popular labour economics paper shows that spending money on clothes and cosmetics returns about 10% of expenditure in terms of higher earnings. too. Ditch that comfy T-shirt, start dressing like a professional again and watch your salary climb.
There’s also evidence that wearing attractive clothes lifts our mood and boosts our confidence. Wearing business attire has been linked to better abstract thinking, which is key to creativity and long-term strategising. These effects are due to enhanced feelings of power, something you rarely get from stretchy pants and stained bogus shirts
Also, start pairing up smart and still comfortable office outfits before resumption. That way you are saving yourself a lot of time and brain work at 5 am in the morning. Research has also shown that dressing in comfortable apparels eases the brain from pressure and tension which could add up to become Stress.
THINGS YOU MUST DO AFTER RESUMPTION OF WORK
1. Keep the Workplace Safe
Upon returning to work after the global pandemic, health and safety should be your biggest focus. The first step is ensuring the physical workplace is safe for employees to work in.
First, hire a cleaning service to deep clean the entire office. Their high-grade cleaning products will kill more germs than typical products, plus they’ll get into every nook and cranny where bacteria and viruses could be hiding. Ensure thorough cleaning is done. Even if no one has been in your workplace for weeks, a deep clean will put employees minds at ease and make the office fresh and sparkling for their return.
Next thing is to increase the standards of daily cleaning for your office. Get your employees involved too. All hands must be on deck to achieve a clean and healthy workspace.
2. Re-Organization
Remember that you are not going back to work the same way you and other of your colleagues are used to working. Due to the recent developments going on, a lot needs to be put into consideration. For example, population control in your office area, precautions need to be taken in every aspect. One has to be able to work efficiently still stay healthy.
3. Finish/Conclude Unfinished Transactions
It is also advisable that you have to finish the transactions, business proposals, deals, deliveries and many more work activities that existed before the lockdown so you don’t go back to it and waste time on it. If there is an opportunity for them to be done from your home then you shouldn’t be taking it for granted because there is a lot of Jobs to make up for these past few months and there is little time for them to be executed. The only thing that can be on hold should be the concluding meetings, board hearings and signatory endorsements that require one’s physical presence.
Though there have been various media or mediums set up for the sole aim of breaching this gap like using the zoom app for conference meetings and so many more.
4. New Rules
As a business owner or manager, consider policy changes such as indefinite remote work for employees who can do it.
Next, change your policies about holding meetings. stuffing too many people into a conference room doesn’t comply with social distancing and may make some employees uneasy.
Ask employees to only fill meeting rooms up to half capacity and to hold larger meetings over video conference. If possible, consider also changing the layout of the office to give each employee more space. Rearranging work stations to separate them can help reduce the spread of germs. Workplaces that are short on space could convert meeting rooms into offices for one or two employees.
There should be new rules and regulations that align to the health and safety precautions and requirements of the National Healthcare association so as to avoid any form of prying where necessary. Employers should try as much as possible to provide equipment like temperature scanners, nose masks and sanitizers for their employees and workers when they are within their work environments or offices.
Also, employers should try as much as possible to ensure that there should be proper distancing among workers and that the recent greeting techniques be adopted. Also, the population in the office and other fields of work should be reduced from the normal population it is used to having on a normal day. Workers can work on shifts while some can have some days off from the office.
In compliance to this, an employee work chat can be made in accordance to the office activities for each worker to be notified on when they are to report for duty and where they are to do so, stating resumption time and time to close. By doing this, the office is not only organized but has also ensured a smooth running process of office operations.
5. Communication and Information
Companies are to also use any form of media to spread health tips and information to their workers, giving them full information on everything that is to be known to protect them and also control the widespread.
Before and during the return to work, communication should be considered very vital. Carry everyone along. Remember, the mistake of one person leaves others at risk. Don’t worry about over-communicating. Its important employees understand what is being done to make things safe.
While my mum was at home, her company mandated them to take an online course which was organised for every aviation worker, worldwide. The course exposed them to things they should know about the virus in relation to how to handle passengers to avoid being a risk.
After the course, an online exam was written. At the end of the whole exercise, a certificate was awarded to every participant. Now, for every individual who did not get the information, the company is open to some form of risk because such employees are likely to do the exact opposite of what was taught in the training. You wouldn’t blame them. This is why there must be an effective means of communication, before and after the resumption.
6. Medical Availability
Health stations should be set up at various points in your workplace. Also, workers should be briefed on things to do if there is a supposed person who is believed to have health issues and complications.
7. Plan Ahead
This goes to both employers and employees in firms, organizations, companies and even entrepreneurs. Remember that this is but only a phase, so you should, therefore, continue to make plans for the future. Keep the communication channel with your existing and protective clients open and don’t forget to continue in Investments because they are still a form of fixed assets.
8. Show Some Sympathy
As an employer or one who has administrative control and power, don’t forget that it has been a hard time for everybody including those under your administration. Self-isolation and quarantine during the pandemic may have affected your employees’ mental health. HR teams should be aware of the potential effects and have resources ready to help.
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, people placed in quarantine or self-isolation may experience a wide range of feelings, including fear, anger, sadness, irritability, guilt or confusion. They may find it hard to sleep. The pandemic may also increase feelings of stress, anxiety or depression.
Inform managers of these mental health effects and ask them to monitor their employees. Leftover effects from isolation plus trying to get back to a regular work routine can be tough, so it’s important to know how to spot employees who are struggling.
Gather mental health resources, e.g. mental health hotlines, and share them via a company email. You could also set up a mental health support group for employees to share their feelings and stories.
Incorporate mental health leave into your paid time off policies. Either designate a specific number of days employees can take off for mental wellness, or include them in allotted sick days. You wouldn’t want an employee to come to work with a physical illness, so let them stay home when they’re feeling mentally unwell, too.
So, be extra patient and understanding with those lagging behind from the scheduled speed of operations and also chastise for mistakes only when necessary and this should be done in a proper manner so as not upset the mental wellbeing of your workers.
It is also advisable to take time to go around operation grounds or offices to check up on your employees to supervise their workflow and commend them for a job well done.
9. Set Your Alarm
The lockdown really made many people lazy. Many of us are sleeping more. Some people spend the whole of 24 hours sleeping. Well, you wouldn’t blame anyone. Some people had little or no time to sleep while actively working and this became a very good opportunity. I was guilty of this too.
There were times I slept throughout a whole day. The only time I woke up was to eat and after that, I went back to sleep. Funny enough, when the lockdown was relaxed and I had to resume my daily activities, I lost track of time.
I overslept and couldn’t go for my training. Even till now, I’m still battling to readjust. If you’re in my shoes, it’s time to get back on a schedule. Work has resumed. No time for long hours of sleep. In order to avoid missing appointments and meetings, do yourself some good by setting an alarm. It goes a long way to help you adjust.
Returning to work after a very long time is not so easy. It is even worse when the compulsory holiday is as a result of a deadly epidemic. Going back to office knowing that no form of vaccine or cure has been found to curb the virus even makes resumption preparations more complicated and rigorous.
Despite the fact the virus is yet to get a cure with the number of patients increasing drastically, resumption is inevitable and you must go back to work if you must earn to make ends meet. It is however important that you prepare well. Do away with laziness, the long hours’ sleep has come to an abrupt end. Revisit your wardrobe and get your work clothes ready.
Companies should set new policies and rules. The work environment can never remain the same. As the saying goes, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. There is no time to slack. You need to put everything in place before going back to the office.
