availability of supplies
Can you order the necessary supplies and equipment you will need to operate safely? For instance, some employees working in high-risk environments may need personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and face shields. Ensuring adequate supplies of hand sanitiser, disinfectant, and soap is also strongly recommended.
access to handwashing
Are there enough fully-stocked handwashing stations in the workplace? Make sure employees know how to properly wash hands and observe the hand wash steps of scrubbing the hands and arms, under the fingernails, and between the fingers. Handwashing should be at least 20 seconds. You should also replace hand towels with paper towels for drying.
maintaining physical distance
Can all your employees maintain the recommended physical distance of at least 1 meter apart at work? Would you need to install plexiglass barriers or other protective equipment to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19? Whenever possible, employees should continue to conduct virtual meetings instead of face-to-face.
frequent workplace cleaning
Ensure frequent cleaning of areas with high human contact, such as counters where customers are served and rooms where visitors are hosted. General public access such as lifts, pantries, toilets, and bins should be sanitised regularly as well.
provide training
Your return to work plan will need to be communicated with employees in detail. It is important to be clear about expectations and protocol changes. Training may have to be conducted on new procedures.
procedures for sick employees
Develop a crystal-clear policy and frameworks for responding to employees who are unwell. For example:
- What is your sick leave policy?
- What will you do if someone shows up to work sick?
- When will an employee who was sick be cleared to return to work?
enforcing new measures
Your return to work plan must be enforceable. You should provide employees with the knowledge and means to protect themselves. If mandatory rules are not followed, it is important to have a fair and consistent protocol to follow.
part four: employee and HR considerations.
important note.
Randstad prepared these resources to share best practices to get back to work safely. The information is intended as a guideline only. Please do additional research and consult with experts before making decisions for your business.
