old routines. Others, however, have gotten used to the comfort and convenience of working from home and may be hesitant to return to a traditional office environment. Employers should do everything they can to make returning workers feel welcome, safe, and comfortable, starting with implementing the simple tips below.
Improve the Lighting
High-level decision makers who spend most of their time in corner offices with plenty of natural light may not have to worry too much about the effects of spending too much time under fluorescent lighting, but their workers do. Ordinary fluorescent lights can contribute to stress, fatigue, eye strain, anxiety, and even migraine headaches, so it’s important to mitigate those negative impacts with appropriate Light Covers. Covers filter the light so it provides all the illumination needed with none of the unpleasant side effects.
Ensure Proper Hygiene
Many of today’s office workers are still stressing about being in public places because they get nervous about COVID-19 transmission. Business owners can mitigate the risk of viral spread and put their employees at ease by installing better air filtration or purification systems and ensuring that all high-touch surfaces are cleaned frequently. Hire professional cleaning experts that have experience battling the novel coronavirus and other highly transmissible diseases and encourage workers to wash their hands and use sanitizers frequently.
Rethink Break Rooms
With people returning to the office in droves, now is a great time to rethink break rooms for increased comfort and improved worker health. Think about replacing uncomfortable old chairs or couches with new ones and space them appropriately so employees can gather during their breaks but will not all be crowded together as they do so. If the workplace ordinarily provides free coffee and snacks, offer individually wrapped food items, encourage workers to bring their own coffee mugs from home and, of course, wipe down frequently touched surfaces often.
Encourage Employees to Personalize Their Space
Whether workers have full offices, cubicles, or shared workspaces with partitions, it can be a little unnerving giving up all the comforts of a home office for this sterile environment. Encourage returning workers to liven up their spaces by bringing in a few personal items from their home offices, like plants, photographs, and relaxing decor.
Maintain the Best Parts of Work-From-Home Arrangements
One of the most frequently cited benefits of working from home was that it gave office workers more flexibility than they had ever had before. At first, people assumed that would create problems when it came to productivity but, in fact, the opposite is true. Workers that have the flexibility to create their own schedules, choose when to take breaks, and even work remotely for a day or two each week are more productive than those presented with more rigid guidelines.
Get Excited
Some companies allowed workers to return to their offices as soon as the government lifted restrictions, while others are still waiting to give the all-clear. By now, most workers are either excited to get back to their normal habits or nervous after such a long hiatus. Get both of these groups excited to be back in the office by implementing the tips above.
