Free question set #2: Consult your employees about returning to work during Covid-19

Free question set #2: Consult your employees about returning to work during Covid-19

Now that the first announcements on lockdown easing have been communicated by the government, and guidelines on working safely during Covid-19 issued, we have a clearer picture of how to prepare for returning to work during Covid-19.

Download our free question set to understand how to listen to your employees effectively post-Covid

Government guidance shows how vital it is to consult your people in preparation for returning to work during Covid-19

“Employers have a duty to consult their people on health and safety. You can do this by listening and talking to them about the work and how you will manage risks from Covid-19. The people who do the work are often the best people to understand the risks in the workplace and will have a view on how to work safely.

At its most effective, full involvement of your workers creates a culture where relationships between employers and workers are based on collaboration, trust and joint problem solving.”

Learn more about Working Safely During Coronavirus

Our team of organisational psychologists have designed a short free question set designed to help you consult your employees on their feelings about returning to work during Covid-19, so you can involve them in the implementation of the next phase.  This is a starting point; there are of course many different situations for employers, with people returning to work in offices, factories, in homes, vehicles, labs and other premises.

Download question set

The question set includes the following themes around returning to work during Covid-19:

1. Practicalities – barriers to returning to work.
2. Timing – when might be appropriate.
3. Preferences – for working from home or on site.
4. Communication – how well-informed people feel.
5. Involvement – do people feel listened to.
6. Confidence – in the organisation’s leaders and plans.
7. Learning – from the lockdown experience.

The final questions nod to the future, seeking to capture something of people’s views around the longer term that can be explored at greater length as the ‘new normal’ is being formed.

It may well be appropriate to incorporate some of the questions from the previous People Insight COVID-19 pulse too, so that you can measure progress.

Using the question-set

1. In an ad-hoc survey

Copy and paste the question set into your existing platform to create a pulse survey and get a measure of how employees are feeling. Customise the questions and response scales to suit the needs of your organisation.

2. As part of your People Insight survey

Consider adding these questions as an index or section in your current or next People Insight survey. Ask your Client Service Manager or speak to our team for help updating your question set.

3. Consider using the questions to structure guided discussions or focus groups

Online discussions or focus groups are a great way to engage your people and assess sentiment.

Returning to work during Covid-19: 18 questions to ask your employees

Looking for an employee survey at this time?

To find out how People Insight can help you listen to your people during these unprecedented times, contact us here.