Dr. Vikram Vora, Medical Director, International SOS, India talks about the need for Organisations to give time to Employees to Return to Office and also stresses on mental health and non-communicable diseases which are seeing a rise post-lockdown
Q1. With Work from Office started what are the measures that organisations and employees must take with regards to safety from Covid 19?
Ans. After 2 years of having employees Work from Home, it becomes essential that organizations look at returning to office in a gradual manner. People perform the best when change is spread over a period of time. When we were abruptly thrown into a WFH mode, people were forced to adjust and it took a toll on their mental health. Organizations must not let that happen again.
Hybrid working seems to be the best answer. Organizations must prepare themselves to address not only physical safety but also the mental wellbeing of the returning workforce. They must create policies and procedures that will help employees adjust to the new normal.
At the same time, employees must prepare for this return that includes being fully vaccinated, keeping abreast of evolving health events and issues (from credible, medical sources), continuing to practice Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) and most importantly, accepting that things will need time to come back to normal. Avoiding congregation in offices and choosing to work from home during illnesses will be critical to protecting others.
Q2. What are the measures that companies are taking in terms protection?
Ans. One of the key aspects of Returning to Office is consistent and credible communication with employees. Measures implemented for employee safety and wellbeing need to be validated by experts and should be made known.
- Fully vaccinated to return
- Regular screening at entry
- Frequent Cleaning and Sanitization
- Surveillance Testing of Covid 19
- Improve the air-conditioning systems by using HEPA Filters and Frequent changing of filters
- Those employees who travel must be provided pre-travel advisors, health risk assessments, updated physical meeting protocols.
- Virtual training workshops must continue.
Q3. What is it that employees must opt for – when they go to the office?
Ans. Employees must have a list of checks:
* Go when ready – choose public transport carefully
* Â Vaccinate + boost (when eligible)
* Flexi timings – avoid peak rush hour
Q4. What must now be the strategy of companies – if any employee contracts Covid 19?
Ans. Companies need to now look at having a formal documented Health Incident Management Plan that includes, along with Covid-19, other infectious disease threats to health and wellbeing at the workplace.
If an employee contracts Covid 19 or another acute health episode at work place:
- A trusted medical resource must be available to help immediately
- Workplace clinic for emergency response is recommended to office hubs
Q5. Organizations have shown empathy during these times, how must they look into the well-being of their employees – what must they do – what must be the steps that they must take?
Ans. The pandemic has resulted in a very serious and challenging consequence – that of mental health. Organizations that do not address this challenge early will see a significant loss in individual efficiency and business productivity.
- Building mental health awareness is very important
- De-stigmatization of mental health problems
- Deliver carefully crafted mental and well-being programs
The past 2 years have been those of low physical activity, poor diets and extreme stress. India was already known as the diabetes capital of the world and has been carrying a huge non-communicable disease (NCD) burden. The lockdowns have exacerbated these and NCDs are poised to make a huge ‘comeback’.
Q6. How are organizations to build themselves post-pandemic – in terms of dealing with future waves and also future options – if there is a unit which is affected?
Ans. In the post-pandemic era, there will be no excuse for remaining unprepared.
- Every organization will need to P-L-A-N.
- A forward-looking Pandemic Preparedness Plan will help in responding to future waves.
- Business Continuity Plans of the future will need to take global and local health events into account.
- Commissioning an ability to monitor trends for emerging illnesses that could disrupt business activities will be important.
- Being prepared to address such events will ensure organizations remain agile, resilient and are able to conduct sustainable business operations.
There could come a time when Covid-19 transitions into an endemic. This means that some geographies/regions would see spikes and consequent business adaptations. Virtual access to medical consultations will help employees navigate the spikes and take appropriate actions.
Creating and maintaining a response capability that is adaptable and efficient will see organizations sail through with little or no impact on business.