There is no denying that things you didn’t think twice about a few years ago are now things you have to consider because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people have had the security of working from home, being able to stay within a secure bubble. However, as life enters some sort of new normal, it might mean returning to the workplace after COVID-19. Feeling a little insecure and worrying about your safety is natural. To help you feel more confident transitioning back to the office or another job site, here are some things you can do.
Continue social distancing
One of the first things to consider is the physical distancing side of things. If your employer has not already sent you an update on the modifications to the workspace, ask for one.
The goal here is to understand how the desks or other pieces of equipment will position so that you are always a safe space away from both colleagues and customers. In all interactions, ensure you maintain the proper distance.
Your boss will have to abide by specific guidelines as part of the reopening. But, you still want to ensure that you keep a distance to feel better and more secure.
That helps improve your confidence at work and when you return home to your loved ones. The last thing you want to be doing is continually worrying that you’re passing on the coronavirus to others.
Returning to the workplace: Bring certain things
Another thing you can personally do is to have all the necessary things to keep you safe when in crowded areas or being around those who are outside your bubble. For example, wear a face mask at these times.
Always keep a face mask with you so that you are not caught out. You might want to store a few in the car and in a drawer in your desk in case others go misplaced.
Keep hand sanitizer with you too. While the employer will likely provide pumps at the entrance and exit doors, it’s a good idea to regularly disinfect your hands throughout the day to reduce the COVID-19 risks. Wash with soap and water or use a sanitizer.
I carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with me in my purse and keep another one by my computer. Brands like Zylast have done extensive testing and reviews to help give you peace of mind.
Regularly apply hand sanitizer, especially when you have touch things other people regularly touch, such as door handles. That is a good way to keep you safer.
Discuss any concerns when returning to the workplace
If you have any worries, it is worth speaking to a manager or another person in the company who can help you address the issues. There might be concerns about distancing or how you deal with the general public if your job involves doing so.
You might also wonder what options are available to you. For instance, if you have diabetes, you likely worry about the risks associated with returning to the workplace after COVID-19. There could be options to work from home all or some of the time.
You might be able to limit the amount of time you are in the office. But, you won’t know that unless you ask someone.
Look at the positives
Finally, try and look at the positive points. Being around people again will give you the social interaction that you might have been missing for a while now. The conversations can be stimulating and be a way to let out steam.
Even just being out of the house will feel new and different. A change of scenery can feel good.
It might also have given you the chance to continue with flexible working, which could be great for you when it comes to your work-and-home-life balance. It hasn’t been easy, but there will be some positives about returning to the workplace.
I hope these tips help you feel more confident when returning to the workplace after COVID-19. Are you heading back soon?
Thank you for another great article, with helpful advices, Christy! Isnt it horrible. Some years in the past nobody had thought about the possibility getting infected visiting a clinic. We all had thought we are doing the best in cleaning and eradicating every single bacterium and virus. Now, we got our new challenge! Let us make the best of it. Have a nice day! Michael
There’s so much to think about that wasn’t even in our minds before! What a world we’re in. Stay safe, Michael
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Great tips! I may have to be using these in the near future. Hoping my boss will let me continue working from home even after being vaccinated. I’m not an office gal, I’m more productive when I can get outside and take a walk in nature, even if it’s for only 10 minutes at a time.
That’s great that you can continue to work from home until vaccinated. Maybe you will have the option to work half the week from home and half at the office. As you say, you’re more productive outside of the office, so that’s worth having the conversation with your boss.
Great idea. Thank you for the advice
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It should be safer over time as more people get vaccinated. In the meantime, your tips sound like good ones.
That’s so true, Peggy. This is such a new virus and there’s so much still to learn about it.