Many organizations are now at a critical juncture as they navigate a phased shift from remote work to restart operations and support their people to return to the workplace, all within the requirements of the new physical distancing economy
In response to the most serious global health emergency in living memory, and to counter its effect on economies around the world, the HR services industry formed a unique Alliance in April 2020.
What started as a global initiative, spearheaded by the three largest global HR service companies – Randstad NV, the Adecco Group and ManpowerGroup – has developed into a movement that includes support from Recruit, ASA and WEC and others.
As the world’s largest private sector employer and labor market expert, the industry is working to facilitate the smooth re-start of businesses around the world by sharing members’ expertise in HR services and by offering input on workplace solutions, underpinned by an unrivalled depth of knowledge in workforce planning across many sectors.
Through its latest research, the Alliance has developed a fact base and source of best practices which it seeks to share freely as a public good. The goal is for organizations of all types and sizes to use this research to identify and apply the practices that will get them up and running in a safe, healthy and productive way.
Employers, trade unions, and NGOs are being invited to collaborate in this effort and at the same time, the Alliance reaches out to governments to support, stimulate and endorse these efforts.
Fast and widespread adoption of these solutions will primarily benefit businesses and the people who work for them. But we are also hopeful that this guidance will contribute to the wider recovery of economies and, as employment returns, may play a part in supporting the resilience of society as a whole.
Key research findings on the return to work
In its first initiative, the Alliance conducted research in 13 countries and across five sectors into specific health, safety and wellbeing initiatives that support a re-commencement of business and commerce. The high-level findings include:
- Health and hygiene protocols will need to be developed or updated to reflect the new reality of the physical distancing economy
- Develop and clearly communicate key health and wellbeing protocols to enable colleagues to confidently and safely return to the physical workplace,
- Most of the workplace health and hygiene measures identified by the research can be applied across all industries and all countries
- Specifically, the review identified more than 400 workplace measures, 300 of which are duplicated across countries and sectors. Of the remaining 100, 88 are relevant to all industries, and 66 relevant to all countries
- More than 90 measures were mandated by governments to aid physical distancing, and disease detection and control
- A mix of physical, administrative and organizational measures will be needed to safely operate in most enterprises
- Preconditions for success: unparalleled collaboration among diverse stakeholder groups to get businesses ready for the ‘temporary normal’ and to prepare, approve and apply protocols; a risk-based approach and an agile and responsive plan to accommodate changing government regulations, and rapid and broad sharing of the best practices identified
To download the complete guide, click here.