The COVID-19 pandemic changed how Americans work and how businesses will operate. While some employees will continue to work from home in Coronavirus’s wake, others are eagerly returning to their positions in offices and plants across the nation and our home state of North Carolina.
At Platinum Group, we know how valuable your employees are. Today, we’ll talk about five reasons to update your employee handbook right now.
From social distancing requirements to substance abuse challenges, let’s look at your employee’s needs in the aftermath of Coronavirus, and how they relate to your employee handbook.
Factories that once produced T-shirts had the insight to change their business model throughout the pandemic. Now they make masks. Craft breweries have changed their focus from ale to sanitizer.
If your primary product or services haven’t changed, but your methods have — like the need for social distancing in your plant — it’s probably time to rewrite portions of the employee handbook, too.
Every organization is unique, but employers in every sector must implement social distancing practices. How this is accomplished at your organization may vary. In the employee handbook, you’ll need to:
Remember, the employee handbook is for every member of your team. Some staffers might be reluctant to return to work if they feel their health is at risk. The mild threat of eventual termination for non-compliance will put these people at ease while strengthening the whole team’s commitment. Let your employees know that your organization is serious about compliance!
At the time of writing, October 2020, North Carolina is in Phase Three of reopening. Every state, many counties and certain municipalities across the nation will have slightly different target points and metrics to monitor for reopening. For instance, some states are aiming for low infection statistics. Others are focusing on hospital bed availability and low fatality stats.
Speaking of health insurance, your updated employee handbook should highlight your company’s dedication to employee health and wellness. Employees returning to work are less physically fit than they were a year ago. Some may be struggling with alcoholism, substance abuse and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The Coronavirus pandemic has been incredibly stressful for many Americans. Perhaps your employees had financial concerns. Maybe they’re struggling to home school children, and they may be grieving for the loss of a loved one.
Thirty years ago, the American work ethic was focused on production. Our perception of hard work meant an early morning, constant activity, and diligent work regardless of employee health.
While that was changing before COVID-19 — employers were focusing more on quality work from a better-educated workforce, as opposed to fifty-plus hours of production as a goal — 2020 has changed the way we view employee health! We’ve learned that well-rested employees work better, produce more, make fewer errors, and suffer fewer workplace injuries.
Lastly, let’s discuss the biggest reason you need an employee handbook immediately: you never had one.
Perhaps your organization was birthed during the Coronavirus situation. Maybe you’re an entrepreneur who saw the need in your community for a unique service during those unusual months. Or perhaps your cottage industry for candles and bath bombs saw such a tremendous increase in online business due to stay-at-home orders, so you needed to expand and hire help.
If you haven’t written and implemented an employee handbook for your company, you should do so now. Your employee handbook will clearly define organizational practices, provide an understanding of expectations, encourage and enforce behavior that contributes to your young business’s success.
The Platinum Group Team knows that you need a terrific team to build an empire of sustainable growth. No matter which division of Platinum Group you’re working with — Payroll/HR or Accounting, — our team is built upon on a foundation of support, service, camaraderie and collaboration that we share in-house and with our clients. If you need help updating your employee handbook let’s talk!