With vaccination rates climbing, changing protocols from local and state governments, and updated research and statistics, the end appears to be in sight for the COVID-19 pandemic. While many things will slowly return to normal, it may not be simple to go full force back to the way things were before 2020. This is why it’s essential to put a plan in place to rebuild after the pandemic. Here are a few tips to help your company return to normalcy after COVID-19.
6 Tips for Returning to Normalcy After COVID-19
1. Assess what has changed.
Your company and your employees have experienced a pandemic for the first, and hopefully the last, time. Many aspects of your business and your employees’ lives will have changed as a result, so it’s important to take a step back and analyze what those changes are. Many workplaces were completely upended by COVID-19, while others were largely unchanged. As things begin to return to normal, it’s a good time to take a step back and analyze what changed during the pandemic and figure out what it means for your business’s future.
2. Be intentional.
As in-person interactions become safe again, it can be tempting to try to restore everything at work back to how it was before. But after a year of remote work, not every employee may want to return to their same office job. When your company begins “returning to normal,” do it intentionally, bringing back the things that helped contribute to a great work culture or a thriving business and leaving behind those that may serve little purpose in a new post-pandemic world.
3. Focus on mental health.
The pandemic was a stressful and difficult time for many people. Some workers may have experienced mental health issues, like anxiety or depression, during the pandemic. Other workers could have made changes to adapt to pandemic life that are not easily undone. Instead of forcing a quick return to normal, be sure to check in with employees and give them the support they need to make the transition.
4. Set new expectations.
Use what you’ve learned about how the pandemic has affected your business and your employees to set new expectations. Revisit your policies and procedures to look for possible revisions, and talk to your employees about how you expect operations to resume. Communicate very openly and transparently with employees by sending informational emails, hosting Q&As, and promoting your open-door policy.
5. Revisit your remote work policy.
Many companies will come out of the pandemic with a better understanding of how their teams work remotely. Remote work creates more flexibility for your team and prepares you for future situations where you may not be able to work together in the office. This time is an excellent opportunity to revisit and add to your remote work policy, using what you’ve learned during this time to sharpen procedures and add structure.
6. Keep what you’ve learned.
Throughout this time, companies have found creative ways to keep their businesses strong and their employees connected. When the pandemic ends, it doesn’t mean that all of those inventive ideas have to stop. Some businesses may choose to maintain certain elements of their pandemic operation plan. Consider the good that came from your company’s temporary changes, and keep what worked for you!
Contact us today to learn how LBMC EP can take HR-related tasks off your plate so that you can focus wholly on your employees and your business.
All content and services on this page are offered by LBMC Employment Partners, LLC. LBMC Employment Partners, LLC, is part of the LBMC Family of Companies and is an independent entity with services and products being provided exclusively by LBMC Employment Partners, LLC.
LBMC Employment Partners, LLC, a member of the LBMC Family of Companies, is a world-class professional services firm. LBMC Employment Partners provides a comprehensive suite of human resource-related services to businesses including Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services, HR Outsourcing (HRO), Payroll, Payroll Tax Outsourcing, Human Resource Consulting, Employee Benefits, and ACA Compliance Consulting. For more information visit lbmcep.webservice.team.