Life has changed for everyone over the past months, but few people have had to adjust quite as much as business owners. Aside from kissing goodbye to profits, such individuals have had to scrabble to keep operations afloat, and even consider surviving with skeleton staff for untold time.
To say that it’s been a rollercoaster would be an understatement. Hence why you’re probably not keen to add anything to your plate right now. Sadly, as the pandemic continues, it’s becoming clear that now is the ideal time to become a better manager by considering employee rights.
While this might seem like the last thing you can think about right now, believe us when we say that the pandemic provides the perfect sounding board for drastically improved employee rights. And, here’s why.
Proof that flexible work isn’t an ‘unreachable goal’
While some employers have embraced flexible working for a while, others have remained firm that it’s simply not within reach. If you’re in the latter group, you likely convinced yourself remote operations just weren’t possible. Yet, here you are, making remote working work for you. And, you know what, it’s not so bad.
So, while you don’t need to remain on the remote side like many companies are choosing to do, it is worth taking note of your successes right now. That way, you might feel a little more receptive next time an employee asks for flexible working options.
Space is not a luxury
Ever since the invention of cubicles, offices have seen employees crammed like sardines. A fact that, ironically, is sure to lead to faster spreading of diseases like COVID-19. In fact, you’ve likely realised that, since working from home, your team have decreased their number of sick days.
The fact is that space, and the benefits it brings should never be a luxury. Instead, your team deserves a large working area that allows them to spread out, avoid germs, and generally work in comfort. Achieving this could mean a simple reshuffle or an entire office refurbishment. It doesn’t matter; the point is that you realise just how damaging the sardine effect is for morale, health, and output.
Healthcare is always a valuable benefit
Now is also the ideal time to realise that healthcare always deserves a place in your employee benefits package. This should be a no-brainer anyway, but it’s a benefit that almost three-quarters of UK workers don’t receive. Yet, access to fast or even in-office health advisors and doctors can help lead to fast diagnoses that are vital for reducing the spread of infection, and getting employees back on their feet. And, boy, have we had a lesson in how crucial that could be recently?
We understand that employee rights might not be at the forefront of your mind right now, what with not even having your team in the office. But, trust us when we say that thinking about this sooner rather than later is guaranteed to see your team happy again in no time.
