How to train your staff on anti-COVID procedures – and set a good example yourself

COVID-19, or the coronavirus, has dramatically impacted the workplace. All businesses, no matter their size, have been affected. Remote working, staggered rotas, and office modifications are now commonplace. These changes, along with the ongoing health threat of COVID-19, can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of your employees. As a company owner or manager, it is your job to support your staff and manage health and safety as best you can. Here’s what you can do. Risk assessment Whilst remote working is still encouraged by the UK Government where possible, it may be time for your organisation to return to the office or workplace. Before restarting work, it is crucial that you ensure the safety of the workplace by carrying out a risk assessment, following HSE guidance. Being open with your staff is key here. To accurately risk assets, you should be consulting your workers and hearing their advice or concerns. You should also be sharing the results of the risk assessment with them, perhaps over email and by publishing the report on your website. Signs, posters, booklets It’s important that your workplace has visual clues which remind staff of the anti-COVID procedures. Many offices, factories and shops are laying floor tape to help people keep to a 2m distance. This tape will also be useful for creating a one-way system in your workplace. Posters should be displayed clearly, particularly in communal areas and toilets, to reinforce your company’s policy on cleaning, handwashing, and hygiene procedures. You may also want to consider issuing a booklet on your anti-COVID procedures to each of your employees. You can even make this in-house using simple yet impactful booklet makers – small, hand-fed desktop machines that produce high-quality booklets for your workplace. Regular communication During a global pandemic, feelings of stress, anxiety, and fear are common. You can help to alleviate these feelings through regular communication with your team. Team catch-ups should continue, even if your work setup makes these catch-ups trickier than normal. If you’re limited on meeting space, why not take your team to an outside space, like a park, where you can maintain social distancing, get some fresh air, and talk through your anti-COVID procedures? Virtual meetings still have a place when you return to work, however, as some of your employees may still be remote working. Don’t forget to communicate with everyone, even if they aren’t physically in front of you. Web training Some members of your team may be more anxious than others, or some may require specialist COVID training due to the nature of their role. There are many resources available online – training courses, webinars, PDF guidance – so don’t feel you have to bear the burden completely alone. Help your staff by signposting relevant resources. Relate to them Above all, share your own feelings with your team. Acknowledge the difficulties you’re having with the new arrangements, which in turn will help staff feel more comfortable speaking to you about theirs.