Returning to the workplace FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about returning to the workplace
The CIPD warns employers not to get complacent as some fail to meet three 'return to work tests'
A CIPD survey of more than 1,000 working adults in the UK suggests that a number of employers are failing to meet three important criteria before asking people to return to their normal workplace following periods of closure or homeworking due to the coronavirus: is it essential, is it safe and is it mutually agreed?
From 1 August, the Government has suggested that the onus will be on employers to decide if it’s appropriate for people who’ve been working from home during the pandemic to return to their normal place of work. But the survey found a worrying lack of consultation with workers to date, meaning that many returns to work have not been mutually agreed and workers’ concerns about health and safety have not been addressed. The CIPD is therefore urging employers to consult with employees and make the return to work gradual.
Of those who are already going to their normal place of work, one in four (26%) say their employer is putting pressure on them to do so.
People are more likely to say they’ve received adequate information about the return to work than they are to say they’ve been adequately consulted (55% compared with 44%), suggesting that some employers are relying too much on one-way communication methods.
Over a third of workers (35%) feel anxious about commuting to work and 60% of people working in London are anxious about commuting.
‘Employers must ensure they’ve taken all necessary steps to protect their staff against the virus and must not get complacent here. The rise in workplace transmissions over the last few weeks shows how vigilant employers need to be and the level of responsibility on their shoulders.
‘Our research also raises serious concerns about the impact of the pandemic on people’s mental wellbeing. While some employees may be looking forward to returning to their normal place of work, perhaps because isolation and lack of social connections are taking a toll on their mental health, others are anxious about how safe it is to do so. Some employees’ personal circumstances – whether that’s is an existing health condition or juggling childcare and work – may also create extra anxiety about returning to work. Employers shouldn’t make assumptions about what’s right for their people.
‘Greater consultation with staff will help employers to understand people’s concerns, what they can do to put them at greater ease and how they can make the return to work safer and less stressful. People are much more likely to agree to a return to work if they’ve had the opportunity to voice their concerns and work through solutions with their employer.’
Answers to frequently asked questions about returning to the workplace
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