While many professionals have spent the past few months adjusting to working from home, some are now preparing for their next big shift: returning to the office.
Peter Cosgrove, Future of Work expert, anticipates that 30 to 40% of people will return to the workplace in the near future. He added that discussions about the impact of the workplace on mental health will come to the forefront.
Managers who do not instill trust into their employees suffer the most. Leaders who hone in on presenteeism tend to build an environment that Cosgrove refers to as “low trust culture.”
This can have a direct negative impact on the stress levels of employees, particularly as they prepare to reenter the physical office.
Now, workers are juggling the pressure of standing out to managers, while also worrying about the cleanliness of the workplace and following distancing measures.
In order to create a secure work environment, businesses should consider daily temperature checks and even virus screenings to prevent outbreaks.
There will be varying other factors that could hinder creating a healthy work atmosphere. For instance, throughout the pandemic, some workers may have lost loved ones or simply the connection with their friends and colleagues. Leading with a heavy dose of empathy will be essential moving forward.
“Relationships with managers are more important than ever. It’s important to understand what’s expected of you as your performance objectives might be different from before,” said Cosgrove. “Also, if you or a family member has an underlying health condition and you feel the Covid-19 guidelines aren’t been adhered to, you need to be able to talk to your manager about it.”
