Anytime you think it’s safe to hatch plans and put COVID-19 behind you, another variant arises to spoil your efforts.
This time it is the BA.5 variant, a sub-variant of Omicron and the most transmissible version of the virus to date. The strain is re-infecting people who have already dealt with previous variants once or even twice. Although the numbers are significantly lower than the peak Omicron’s winter spree, hospitalizations have nearly doubled since May and more than 400 Americans die every day.
So it’s not surprising that some employers are putting their back to office plans waiting—again. But before you do, keep a few things in mind first.
Consider that many people still think that pandemic restrictions are a good idea.
Most adults — six in 10 according to a March survey by Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), a nonprofit health care policy researcher — believe the worst of the pandemic is over. However, people still disagree on what it’s like to go back to normal and when it should happen. So it should come as no surprise that your employees may have different opinions about what returning to work should look like.
Most adults are also concerned that the lifting of some pandemic restrictions could leave immunocompromised people behind because of their increased risk of getting sick. And about half of those surveyed are concerned that relaxing restrictions could lead to a higher death toll in their community, or that they personally might not be able to get needed medical care because local hospitals could be overwhelmed.
Most cities are unlikely to reinstate mask mandates or other protective measures previously used in the pandemic, so keeping employees safe is up to employers themselves. This means that employers again need to take into account the office or workplace environment, including ventilation, vaccination rates, community transmission, and hospitalizations.
Stay up to date on local transmission levels.
The virus is likely to appear in hotspots with local transmission rates fluctuating over time. Substantial transmission is defined as 50 to 100 cases per 100,000, or a positivity rate between 8 and 10 percent. High transmission is defined as 100 or more cases per 100,000 people or a positivity rate of 10 percent or more. Therefore, it is crucial that you know if your business is located at a critical point.
When it comes to surveying your local area for the most accurate Covid information, look locally first. One of the first things to do is contact your local Chamber of Commerce and city health officials, who may have data on hospitalizations, local transmission levels. Also see what other businesses in the area are doing regarding keeping doors open or instituting mask mandates.
There are also private health organizations like the Mayo Clinic and the Coronavirus Digital Resource Center at Northwell Health that use data from a variety of sources to track the pandemic and make recommendations about vaccinations and other ways to protect people from Covid-19. . In addition, the US Department of Health and Human Services offers community profile reports for individual states, as well as trends in vaccines, hospital capacities, and test results. When it comes to getting an accurate picture of Covid in an area, the more sources the better.
Make sure employees are aware of new office protocols.
If employees are wary of the office, it doesn’t hurt to remind them of established security procedures. Whether you’re cleaning spaces more often or have sanitation stations set up, let employees know. When specifically asked what would make employees feel safe going back to the office, a 2021 survey by the Cleaning Coalition of America, an organization that represents contract cleaning professionals across the country, found that regular sanitizing would be key. The following criteria also ranked among the top: better communication regarding Covid-19 protocols; hand sanitizer stations and adequate signage, informing of the rules.
If streaming levels are high, improving your skin game can be even more integral to the health and well-being of your team. If a large portion of your staff is unvaccinated, or if you have immunocompromised employees in the workplace, it may be a good idea to ask staff to wear protective face coverings when entering the office.