Workplace Wellness - Easing the Return Back to Work

It is fair to say that returning to work following lockdown will present some challenges from an Employer’s perspective. For some team members, lockdown may have been valuable family or self-growth time while for others, it has been very difficult. Some of the team may have been struggling with finances and/or relationships and theirs or loved ones mental health may have been impacted during this time.  

Of course, your Employees may not share their personal situation with you directly but it is important to keep this in mind as we all navigate our ‘New Normal’!

Some tips to help:

  • Be available – Let your Employees know you understand this may have been a tough time for some and they are welcome to come to you confidentially if they are facing challenging times.  Take note if someone doesn’t seem themselves

  • Pop some posters up in communal areas for confidential support resources and budgeting sites such as Sorted.org.nz and Family Violence sites such as 2shine.org.nz

  • Be consultative – What changes in the workplace have you considered as part of Level 2? Any volunteers to help keep us on track with our obligations? You could look at a buddy system along the lines of ‘Check in your Mate’ to ensure people are staying safe 

As a business owner you will be eager to get everyone back into being productive and recouping some losses! Your employees will also be excited to catch up with each other and reconnect upon their return.  Consider a morning tea and safe group catch up to allow that important social connection within a set time period. 

Finish by making a small announcement to welcome them all back, let them know you understand they have lots of catching up to do. Please make sure you take your breaks and use this time for socialising so we hit the ground running and make sure we can meet our targets and push through following this difficult time.

If you need further assistance with getting your team back to work safely, please get in touch 09 299 2525.

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Sian Stewart

HR Partner

Workplace WellnessPeople Passion