Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1311385
18 PalletCentral • November-December 2020 palletcentral.com Award-winning journalist Phillip M. Perry has published widely in the fields of business management, workplace psychology and employment law. A 20-year veteran, Perry is syndicated in scores of magazines nationwide. Managers and supervisors, too, should receive special training on the new workplace rules and how to respond if anyone complains about them or refuses to cooperate. The goal is to assure people that management will respond quickly and conscientiously to new information as it is discovered. In the meantime, people should know the business will reduce the risk of harm by taking extraordinary safety measures. As careful as an employer may be in designing a safe and effective back to work program, it's likely that not everyone will be pleased. "Employers should put mechanisms in place to deal with complaints about working conditions, including practices such as social distancing to ensure the safety of the work environment," says Evans. "Some employees may feel the employer has not gone far enough or has not enforced the rules appropriately. Employers need to be ready to make necessary changes and ensure there is no retaliation against people who file complaints. This is important from the standpoint of both employee relations and whistleblower laws." Managers and supervisors, too, should receive special training on the new workplace rules and how to respond if anyone complains about them or refuses to cooperate. A point person can help. "One way to minimize risks is to establish a reopening coordinator who understands all of the moving parts of a back to work program," says Evans. "It's good to have someone who makes sure people understand the rules and their responsibilities." Staying Positive Employers should try to present communication in a forward-looking spirit. The situation might present businesses with opportunities to retool operations, find ways to work more productively and to utilize technology more efficiently, advises Avdoian. "We are always looking for ways to enhance our services. This is another opportunity to do so."