With the relaxation of pandemic-related health and safety protocols, more employers are now encouraged to resume with their regular operations.
Employees are now being asked to report back to their workplace as the work-from-home (WFH) arrangement is already considered a privilege rather than a necessity.
PhilCare’s Survey of Filipino Workers 2021 revealed that the majority of the respondents (52 percent) strongly agreed that getting exposed to Covid-19 at work and the need to take care of personal and family needs while at work (45.7 percent) could both be considered as causes of work-related stress.
However, the survey findings also suggest that the workers would be less stressed if their employers take measures to ensure that they are safe from being exposed to the virus and that their workplace would be more flexible in terms of allowing their workers to adjust to the new work setup.
“Working at home was something many employees have gotten accustomed to PhilCare’s survey just shows that reporting back to their workplace is not an idea that employees totally reject,” said PhilCare President and CEO Jaeger Tanco.
Period of adjustment
Tanco added that employees just need the time to re-familiarize themselves with the routine of reporting back to their workplace.
Based on the survey findings, here are some initiatives employers can implement in their workplace to reduce factors that may add to the stress of their employees:
Have a clear strategy on how to respond to the economic impact of the pandemic;
Set clear guidelines on how to promote the safety of employees from getting infected by the coronavirus; and
Have a sustainable program that promotes employee health and wellness.
As businesses transition to the new normal, introducing additional benefits that are responsive to the actual needs of employees may create a new culture of productivity and sustainability in the workplace.
Employees recognize when their employers genuinely look out for their welfare. They repay caring employers with loyalty and diligence in their work. With engaged and involved employees, employers might find it easier to motivate their employees to help the business recover from the detrimental effects of the pandemic.