Return To The Office: How Tech Can Help HR Increase Efficiency And Build Trust

Vaccine mandates and symptom tracking challenges demand new tools

As HR leaders deal with new curveballs associated with the pandemic like the Delta variant and plan for what comes next, the issue of trust looms large. The massive experiment in remote working brought trust issues to the center stage, with many leaders wondering if they could trust employees to work as hard from home as they did in an office setting and employees questioning if their employer had their back in uncertain times.  
 

HR held everything together with unparalleled creativity, helping company leaders devise and implement new procedures to maintain business continuity, creating programs to keep company cultures going strong and coaching managers on remote leadership. Now the prospect of a return to the office on a full-time or hybrid basis brings a new set of challenges.  
 
Trust will be essential in overcoming those challenges and building this trust will require consistent processes that create a sense of fairness and safety. Technology can help HR teams handle the access and documentation issues associated with the coronavirus and vaccines safely while improving operational efficiency and laying a foundation for trust at the same time.   

Vaccine Mandates and Symptom Tracking Challenges Demand New Tools 

At the same time the highly contagious Delta variant complicated return to work plans, FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine spurred more companies to mandate vaccinations and/or frequent screening and testing before employees could join colleagues at work. Amtrak, Citigroup, Delta Airlines, Ford, McDonald’s and Walmart are among the major companies that have put mandates in place. 
 
At many businesses and healthcare organizations, HR teams are struggling with how to document compliance with vaccine mandates. They’re also unsure of how to screen customers, visitors and exempt employees to ensure that people who are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms can’t enter a facility and cause an outbreak.  
 
If they’re documenting vaccinations or asking questions about symptoms recommended by the CDC, most HR teams are handling the data manually in-house and/or hiring temporary employees to screen people at points of entry. That’s not a sustainable approach in the long run. As the Delta surge demonstrated, the pandemic isn’t over, and companies need to prepare for the long haul.  
 
Those that do nothing or continue using manual, labor-intensive processes that aren’t scalable are at risk on several fronts. One major risk is an outbreak that worsens staffing issues that are already at a crisis point for many businesses. The expenses associated with inefficient screening and documentation processes can also be a problem, as can process inconsistencies that undermine employee trust.   

How Technology Can Streamline Access Control and Documentation

Just as the Transportation Security Administration’s initial post-9/11 screenings evolved into a more permanent regimen, companies need to create long-term solutions for vaccine documentation and symptom screening. HR teams can adopt technology to smooth the way, such as a mobile app that eliminates manual tracking by allowing employees and visitors to do a self-assessment for Covid-19 symptoms. Employees can also use a secure app to upload proof of vaccination.  
 
Remote temperature screening devices can eliminate the need to hire people to screen for elevated temperatures before granting access to facilities, track employees and/or guests and enable access via electronic security ID cards or facial recognition software. Integration with systems that control access points can automate processes that companies are currently controlling with hired help.

HR leaders, who are looking for technology that can streamline screening and documentation related to the pandemic, will want to make sure data is encrypted and stored in a HIPAA-compliant repository. A secure dashboard that can allow HR to monitor health levels daily, identify hotspots via GPS and use location data for tracking and tracing can cut costs and streamline manual processes.  

Intangibles: Better Consistency and Higher Trust Levels 

When properly leveraged by company leaders and HR, technology came to the rescue in the initial phases of the pandemic to allow organizations to keep serving customers. Now it can help businesses start to resume normal operations more efficiently. With the right technology tools, your company won’t have to take on the huge expense of posting screeners at entry points. 
 
You can also use technology to make sure the HR team isn’t burdened with having to manually track screening data and employee vaccination status. There are secure solutions available on the market now, such as Talon’s self-reporting mobile app, that you can roll out in 10 days or less, which will allow you to focus on handling the change management and employee compliance aspects of a safe return to the office.  
 
But while efficiency and cost savings are important, less tangible benefits like higher employee trust shouldn’t be overlooked. Technology can enable companies to roll out vaccine documentation and health screening processes that are consistent across all locations. No matter how employees feel about the requirements, everyone will be treated the same and companies will see a boost in employee trust.  

Charlie Caperton is Vice President of Business Development at Talon. Visit https://talon.io/  Connect Charlie Caperton