Preparing Your Workplace for a Return to “Normal”

While it’s pretty much a sure thing the coronavirus pandemic will eventually come to an end, the bigger question is how businesses can begin to work past the current situation. This is true not just for how your business operates within the supply chain, but how you deal with employees who may have been working remotely and are now expected to return to the workplace.

During the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) weekly virtual town hall discussion this past week, a panel representing the produce (including greenhouse vegetables) and floral supply chains sought to address some of these concerns. As has been the case with previous PMA town halls, no one in the discussion can be directly quoted. With that being said, here’s an overview of some of the discussion points, and lessons you might be able to apply to your own business.

• The biggest challenge for those companies bringing back their workers is likely going to be how to ensure the safety of your workforce while maintaining productivity. While social distancing is the expected answer, taking that approach might mean a culture change within your company. Why? Because, according to some of the panelists, social distancing might be counterculture to how their teams normally act in the office or in the greenhouse. In other words, it will be up to team leaders to determine how their staff can work together, while not being near each other.
• Consider the anxiety level of your workers and how to manage it. As one panelist noted, this should be a long-term plan: “We are coaching our employees through mental anxiety, and how they can comfortably step away from work and turn the computer off.” The biggest threat can be for those who still must remain inside, whether it’s in an office, a greenhouse, or a packinghouse. Do whatever you can to provide personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Consider creating a new position of COVID-19 action manager (or something similar). This person would be trained in crisis management and would be responsible for developing all possible next steps within the business, including providing PPE and other protective practices.
• Under this position, you can also set up a task force of analytic minds who could develop future plans for any possible scenario.
• One simple step: Encourage a literal “open-door” policy to minimize the touching of surfaces.
• Look at the layout of not just your greenhouse, but your offices as well, including conference rooms and eating spaces. Consider redesigning them with social distancing in mind before anyone comes back to the office.
• Above all else, let your team know you’re in this together with them, and that the business creates value for everyone involved in it, including your staff.