Restart Check In: Week 1

Now officially heading into week 2 of Phase 2 of B.C.’s Restart Plan, it is a good time for employers to reflect on how week 1 went and integrate any lessons learned into planning for the weeks ahead. It is one thing, as we all know, to have a plan on paper, and another when that plan is put into practice. It has never been more important for employers to start and maintain a regular practice of reflection that is informed by and improves upon best practices.

Some questions to reflect on as you look back on Week 1, Phase 2:  

·         What worked? What didn’t?

·         Were staffing levels adequate?

·         How are staff managing?

·         What was the overall pulse of the workplace – is it calm and comfortable or nervous?

·         How successful overall would you rate that first week in terms of balancing mandatory requirements for safe operations against any anxieties, fears and worries from both staff and clients?

We know provincial protocols around workplace safety and public health protection during the pandemic are not going to change any time soon. If your workplace has already reopened, I trust you and your staff are already well versed in the necessary protocols. Physical distancing, frequent sanitation of work spaces, controlled exits, entrances, and gathering places, and zero tolerance for illness of any kind are here to stay.

But it does not mean that, as employers, you do not have the ability to work within those parameters to adapt and shift your reopening plan as you see fit to better ensure your workplace is both compliant with provincial protocols and also that your workplace is a positive and productive space to be for staff and clients.

As our highly esteemed and widely adored Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, has repeated from the outset, “We are not going to get everything perfect…We do the best we can”. As employers, I urge you to treat your planning with the same level of resolute commitment: always refer back to the knowledge and guidelines available to you and don’t hesitate to make any changes when it is clear they are needed.

For example, if after last week you realize you could use more or fewer onsite staff, then immediately begin to scale up or back accordingly. Perhaps your staff needs breaks more frequently throughout the day to help combat stress levels; maybe you offer a “Stitch a smile on your mask” challenge to inject some fun and make your workplace feel more welcoming to clients.

Comply while still getting creative. Be unwavering in your dedication to public safety while staying nimble in the delivery of your plan. Stay current and informed. And if you need a hand, we’re happy to connect with you to discuss.

For the full WorkSafe BC COVID-19 Safety plan, click here.