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Supporting those on the frontlines during a global pandemic

Our CEO & Founder Erik Fjellborg shares his key tips for how businesses can take care of their shift and blue-collar workers during this difficult time.

The impact of Covid-19 has been significant over the last few weeks. Disruption has rippled across the globe, not only impacting communities and businesses but sending shockwaves across financial systems and economies. With many nations taking measures to prevent further devastation, workers are now required to work remotely where possible.

Despite these measures, there is still work to be done to protect those who are unable to stay indoors during this global pandemic. Due to the nature of their work, healthcare workers, supermarket assistants, builders, delivery drivers and many others are unable to work remotely – meaning they’re subject to greater risk.

Now more than ever, companies need to focus their time and resources on ensuring their staff have the support they deserve. The positive news, amid the chaos, is that there are a few simple practices that can help companies ensure their employees feel they have a viable support network to help them through.

Supercharge company communication

During this period, it is imperative that employees aren’t “left in the dark” regarding company plans and updates. With a workforce that is stretched from hospitals, elderly care to HQs and shop floors to warehouses and construction sites, it can be difficult to communicate in a way that suits everyone. 

By using mobile-first solutions for all communication, connectivity and workforce management, managers can streamline how they speak with, and receive information from their workers. Workforce management apps, for instance, will mean managers no longer have to rely upon dated email and intranet systems for sending important company notices, ensuring their staff remain in the know at all times. 

Consider mental strain as well as physical ailments

With the UK encouraging social distancing policies, schools shutting, and businesses declaring work from home measures, we are experiencing a new working world. For a lot of people, the stress of this alone will begin to take a toll, while individuals and families try to balance their new routines. One way businesses can ensure they look after their staff is by tracking their emotional well-being, in a positive and constructive way. Things like anonymous surveys, data analytics and wearable tech can give employers a real-time view of how their workers are really feeling. 

This information can then be analysed and used to take steps to help target discontentment within the workforce. The important thing is to make time to truly understand the sentiment of your staff and act accordingly, where possible. 

Flexibility isn’t synonymous with WFH

As worries around Covid-19 continue to accelerate, it has become clear that shift workers, cleaners, supermarket workers and delivery staff are critical to keep the UK running. And while they cannot work from home, that doesn’t mean businesses can’t provide them with greater flexibility.

Offering more flexibility when it comes to scheduling shifts can make a huge difference for workers in manual and elementary service roles. By offering earlier or later starts to ensure staff don’t have to travel during peak times, companies can make a change that will go a long way in safeguarding the physical and mental health of employees.

Flexible working is often equated with increased admin and costs. However, with the right tools and technology in place, flexible working can be an easy route to improving employee well-being during uncertain periods. In fact, to support businesses with this endeavour in these unusual times,  we are providing open access to our mobile app for any company in need of implementing new technologies for the good of their workforce.

Supporting those on the frontlines

This period is undoubtedly going to be difficult for the UK but as we have seen, there are several techniques that organisations should employ to ensure their staff can operate safely and efficiently during this period.

Small initiatives to improve flexibility or increase communication are worthwhile for any workplace, and new tools and technologies make these easy to implement. With a click of a button, companies can support their staff across all spectrums – from monitoring stress levels and providing clear employee engagement to improving flexibility with staff schedules.

As shift and blue-collar workers support us on the frontlines, it is vital that we take a few easy steps to return the favour and take care of them during these complicated times.

For those who are keen to embrace these ways of working, Quinyx is making its communication module and mobile app free for the next 6 months for any organisation. See here for more details.

 

This blog post was originally posted in The Global Recruiter on the 25 March 2020. Find it here

 

Author: Erik Fjellborg

Erik Fjellborg 2019web-200px

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