Welcoming back staff who were furloughed during the pandemic

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that started in March 2020, many workplaces had to place their staff on furlough. As sectors have gradually been reopening and the ‘new normal’ simply becomes ‘normal’, staff who were on furlough are now being welcomed back to work.

Here are 5 tips on how you can welcome your staff back to work after furlough:

Clarify how the workplace has changed

Have things changed in the office? Keep your returning employees informed and up to date by going through all the changes and make them as comfortable as possible.

Listen to what your staff want

While some have enjoyed time off as part of furlough, some have been anxious about the change and the impending return to work. Listen to what your employees want and how the changes have affected them to understand any concerns and maintain an open dialogue.

Put yourself in their shoes

Completely changing your routine without notice is very difficult, and not working for a long period of time is a big change in anyone's life. Empathise with your employees and where needed, give time for them to get back into their work routine and back to the new normal.

Be flexible

Lots of businesses have had to adapt to the new normal, some have adapted to this by giving their employees the flexibility to work from home where they can. You can encourage flexibility by offering the option to work from home instead of working from the office.

Have an office rewarming party

While your employees have been on furlough, there may have been some new starters and leavers, so a great idea to introduce your employees would be to have an office rewarming party. This will also give the opportunity for already acquainted colleagues to catch up after a long time of not seeing each other over furlough