Return to the Office After Covid: What Employees Need
Friday, 18th February 2022
With the removal of the most severe restrictions, many governments around the world are no longer asking people to work from home. But over a third of employees surveyed in the UK are more concerned about going into the physical workplace than they were six months ago. So what do companies and managers need to do to help them feel safe?
According to Infogrid research carried out in early 2022, many office workers welcome the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in person and separate work from their home life again. In addition, almost a quarter say their mental health is better when they work in the office.
38% say they prefer to work in a hybrid environment — partly in the physical workplace, partly from home.
But the pandemic has taken the idea of a healthy workplace from a nice-to-have to an absolute necessity. Staff want to believe that employers are doing everything in their power to prioritise their physical and mental health. In fact, 55% of UK employees say the healthiness of the workplace directly impacts their mental wellbeing.
We take a closer look at what employers need to do to provide a truly healthy workplace.
What are employees worried about?
First, let’s dig into the reasons why employees are worried about returning to the workplace. This should give employers a better idea of how to address these concerns.
Catching Covid
57% of the employees we surveyed said that they were concerned about the number of people they might encounter in the workplace who haven’t had a Covid vaccine. The vast majority of adults in the UK have now had at least two vaccine doses, but this does leave some stragglers.
Plus, while the vaccine does hugely cut transmission and reduce the risk of severe symptoms, keeping employees safe from the virus should remain a top priority for employers.
Cold and flu season
Covid isn’t the only illness that can spread quickly around the workplace. 44% of the employees we surveyed said they take 1-9 days of sick leave a year due to cold and flu.
Working from home has allowed staff to avoid the mixing that usually spreads these seasonal illnesses for a few years. So, as they consider returning to the office, 58% of employees are worried about the potential of getting sick from being at the physical workplace.
Overall wellbeing
Having control over their own work environment for the last few years has helped employees learn what they need to work in a healthy and productive way. Employers will need to match this when asking staff to return to the physical workplace.
According to our research, 64% of employees believe a lack of fresh air coming into their workplace could impact their mental wellbeing. In addition, 59% say a lack of natural insight could reduce wellbeing, while 62% worry about feeling uncomfortable because the temperature isn’t right.
How can employers create a healthy workplace?
Regular cleaning and personal sanitisation
According to our research, 52% of employees say that efficient and regular cleaning services would make them feel more comfortable returning to the physical workplace.
This is mirrored by UK government regulations, which advises employers to:
Clean work areas between uses
Frequently clean objects and surfaces that are used regularly, like door handles, etc.
Clear workspaces and remove waste at the end of the working day or shift
Provide extra waste disposal facilities for staff and visitors wearing PPE
Employers should also encourage employees to take care of their own personal hygiene and provide them with the facilities and products they need to do so.
This should include:
Regular reminders for people to maintain hygiene standards and advice on how
Hand sanitiser in multiple locations
Clear use and cleaning guidance for bathrooms
More waste facilities and rubbish collection
Adequate hand drying facilities
Controlling the number of people in the workplace.
49% of employees would like their employer to control the number of people in the workplace.
The government in the UK has removed limits on contact between households and isn’t requiring companies to actively limit capacity in the workplace. However, they do advise employers to complete a health and safety risk assessment that includes Covid-19.
When it comes to reducing contact between employees returning to the workplace, employers could implement:
Designated seating
Working in fixed teams or partnerships
Use screens to separate people who don’t usually mix (such as employees and customers)
Ventilation and air quality
39% of employees would like better air quality in the workplace and would like their employer to provide them with air quality information, including virus risk. Government guidelines recommend employers provide a good supply of fresh air to dilute the airborne virus.
This can be done by:
Opening windows, doors and air vents for natural ventilation
Ensure ventilation systems maximise fresh air and minimise air recirculation
Use your risk assessment to identify any poorly ventilated spaces that are usually occupied, and improve the air flow to these spaces
Employee wellbeing and the impact of data
Many of these measures are reactive ones, prompted by the ongoing impact of the pandemic. But it’s important to note that employees are now showing more interest in how the health of the workplace impacts their personal wellbeing.
Faith in their employer won’t cut it. Employees want proof of commitment, and this can be proven with data. 58% of survey respondents say they would be more comfortable returning to the workplace if their employer was using data to improve the healthiness of the building.
According to our research, people are interested in cleaning information, air quality, virus risk, and how busy the workplace is.
Companies that create a truly healthy workplace will reduce physical and mental illness in staff. But the benefits go beyond reduced sick days to increased productivity, staff retention, and better options when it comes to hiring.
According to our 2021 report, Creating a Healthy Workplace, 49% of staff believe that the healthiness of their workplace impacts their productivity. 47% said that the healthiness of their workplace impacts their decision to stay at a particular company. Finally, 39% said that the healthiness of their workplace impacts their decision to join a new company.
Companies that prioritise employee wellbeing and can prove this commitment to existing and potential staff will win out over the next few years as we recover from the pandemic.
Create a healthy workplace with Infogrid
Infogrid’s healthy workplace system will help companies monitor the health of their workplace and prove their work to concerned employees.