This is the 3rd post in our series about Environmental Psychology considerations and how they can help inform your workplace design and protocols. Check out the other posts in this series here.
I’ve been working from home for nearly 20 years, so I’m not facing the unknown – at least not immediately – of going back to the office. Most employees who have been working from home for the last 90+ days aren’t in my shoes. They were directed to work from home ‘because working in the office was not safe,’ and many likely in less than an ideal situation – such as finding time to work full-time and homeschooling their children. And as challenging as home might be, the idea of returning to the office for a ‘safe re-entry’ may stir up a good amount of anxiety. So, to help overcome some of that added stress, it’s crucial for an organization to develop a specific change communication plan to help employees understand ‘what to expect’ when they come back to the office.
For simplicity, and to avoid overwhelming employees with information, these communications may be organized into 3 groups. First, include frequent and two-way communications that describe, illustrate, and answer the questions: what the new workplace will look like and why it looks that way. It is equally important that the communications consistently include information and details about the steps – cleaning processes, plan changes, entry protocols, etc. - that have been and will continue to be taken to ensure employee safety. Second, create signage and other graphic markers located throughout the workplace to help reinforce the original messages. This is a good time to insert a bit of appropriate local humor, like the illustrations above, which reinforce the 6’ social distancing. I live in Phoenix, and one idea I’ve heard is to remind people to imagine ‘how far you back off when you see a rattlesnake.’ And third, provide a central and readily accessible tool for employees to provide feedback and ask questions.
Taking these actions will both help alleviate stress and demonstrate an employer’s concern for their employees’ safety. Understanding employees’ perception of non-verbal communications, which will be explored in an upcoming blog, is also important.
