How HR Teams Can Create A Safe Workplace Environment

Automated workforce management solutions can help

Before March 2020, the specific functions of a Human Resources department were not a focus for many employees, beyond hiring and time spent onboarding at a new job. In fact, it was more of a process that happened in the background. That all changed, however, as the Covid-19 pandemic spread, upending the workplace and bringing HR to the forefront. HR teams have since been working tirelessly to support their workforces across industries. Whether employees work completely remote or are required to be on the job site as essential workers, organizations have had to quickly pivot to ensure their teams have the tools, resources, and protocols they need to do their jobs effectively and safely. 

In recent weeks, more companies have welcomed employees back to the workspace. This change has forced HR teams to examine current systems and models in place to determine if they meet the standards of a Covid-19 world. If not, HR teams need to work with other company leaders to determine where existing systems can be reconfigured or replaced to ensure employee safety is not sacrificed for operational efficiency—both need to be a priority.

For HR teams that find themselves needing to replace or reconfigure their current systems, they may find that by leveraging an automated workforce management solution, operational inefficiencies are streamlined while ensuring employees follow new safety protocols. To understand how automated workforce management solutions can help, here are some common pain points that these systems alleviate.

Previously, employees interacted regularly with common surfaces such as timeclocks, elevator buttons, and door handles. While these surfaces were once used without a second thought, they now pose a risk for disease spread. An automated workforce solution, such as a mobile application, that allows for contactless check-in and out of work can help HR teams track when each employee arrives and leaves work without anyone having to touch the system or wipe it down between uses. These tools also help decentralize common areas where employees used to gather, helping to promote social distancing measures. By leveraging solutions that limit the number of areas that need to be touched, HR teams create a safer, more efficient workplace and give employees peace of mind.

With more employees returning to the workplace, many companies have implemented temperature-taking protocols as part of enhanced safety measurements. But how do you mitigate the risk for the employee who administers the temperature checks?

An automated workforce solution can instead take an employee’s temperature and track it over time. HR teams are alerted when an employee has an elevated temperature, prompting them to send the employee home so they don’t risk infecting their colleagues. Additionally, when this information is stored in a central location, HR teams can use it for contact tracing if employees may have been exposed to a colleague showing symptoms of Covid-19. 

More employees are calling in sick. Who can cover their shift to keep things running smoothly? HR teams need to keep the wheels in motion and ensure all shifts are covered, especially in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, construction, and education, where teachers across the country, like in Arizona and Texas, have been calling in sick in droves, impacting in-person learning plans. Effectively managing shifts while also adhering to new safety protocols is of the utmost importance.

Using an automated workforce solution allows HR teams and shift leaders to see when each employee is scheduled to work in a centralized view, and which other members of the team may be available to fill in when needed. For HR teams that oversee hourly employees, these tools can also help them ensure the employees do not exceed overtime for those filling in for a sick colleague while maintaining time and attendance compliance.

The role of Human Resources has become more important than ever, with the stakes being higher than ever for keeping employees and their families safe. Covid-19 has brought inefficient operations to the forefront. As such, HR teams and their broader organizations now better understand the flaws in their systems and where improvements can be made. Looking to the future, the safety protocols that employees have come to expect are likely not going anywhere. By leveraging technology such as automated workforce management solutions, organizations can rest assured their employees can complete their jobs promptly without having to compromise on their wellbeing.