Preparing a Back to Work Plan

Adrian Tüscher, Partner at KPMG Switzerland, discusses how organizations should manage the transition from remote work back to the office, ensuring that government mandated safety and hygiene measures are met, employee well-being is assured and continuity of business and operations is maintained?

Questions to consider when preparing a plan for returning to the office:

• Which employees/functions should return first to their workplace and which can maintain work from home? 
• How should split teams work?
• To what risks are employees exposed when they return to the workplace?
• Can employees uphold social distancing in the workplace?
• Can employees be requested to attend internal and/or external meetings?
• How to respond if an employee or his closed one(s) test(s) positive for COVID-19?
• What controls should be put in place for employees, visitors, clients and others accessing the employer’s premises?
• What equipment and means should be put in place in order to meet the mandatory security and hygiene measures?
• Are employees sufficiently well equipped to continue working from home?
• What is the impact of the home office on the employee’s wellbeing (e.g. mental health)?