Welcoming back your staff, the hows and whys
Very soon furloughed staff will be returning to their job. Your team leaders and HR will need to be prepared to successfully reboard their staff.
How it will feel
A furloughed staff member returning to the workplace may be apprehensive about what will be expected. They may also feel excited to be getting back to ‘normal’ as well as meeting their colleagues again. What can you do to help with the changes. Most importantly you should plan and be organised for their return. Be ready to explain any changes that are in place and explain what will be expected of them.
Working full time again is going to feel different and will depend on whether they are working from home, on-site, or a combination of both. If they are going to be on-site, it is important that HR and line managers have worked to implement safe working practices. Safe working practice can be explained to the employee before they start back.
Location Location Location
If the employee is returning in a homeworking capacity, it is important that they have the correct tools required. It is likely that there have been new video-calling tools adopted by your company, ensure they are able to access them when they log back in.
Maybe your company has been conducting regular online social events, so make sure to send out invites to enable them to meet their team members and any new colleagues. This will help them become integrated back into the working environment comfortably.
New Start New Style of Working
Just as you would when a new employee starts ensuring someone is available to greet your returning staff on their first day back is important. How you do this will depend on whether you are welcoming back one or several members of staff. Showing them around the ‘new look’ environment and explain any new safety protocols will enable that they can settle in quickly and feel comfortable.
Staff who would usually travel using public transport may feel anxious about doing so during peak times. It would be considered good practice to enable returners to stagger starting and finishing times, this is something to discuss with staff what might be a reasonable option for both the company and them.
Best Practice
The HR team should draw up best practices for returning to the workplace these should include the following: –
- Any New Health and safety policies especially relating especially to COVID-19
- Any operationally changes and is there are any changes to how staff will be expected to perform their job.
- Explaining new systems and protocols, also making sure logins work – this will save any frustrations and delays in starting.
- Any staff updates especially if people have left, and new people have joined.
- An update about how the company has been performing during the time they were furloughed and the vision for the future.
For more information or assistance with your HR requirements contact us on [email protected]