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Employers must remain vigilant and have empathy as they reopen workplaces, according to the chief executive of a workplace technology company.
Raj Krishnamurthy, CEO of UK-based workplace technology company Freespace, said: “The UK is reopening after an extremely strange period and a healthy dose of empathy is required. However, we must all remain vigilant. The danger is still there. Any organisation that reopens its workplace will be responsible for the health of its employees.
"Much of that responsibility will land on the facilities and cleaning teams, as they work to keep environments safe and hygienic. Technology that helps them communicate their goals and nurtures the necessary change will be vital in aiding reassurance amongst the UK workforce.”
Krishnamurthy added that “when it comes to dispelling back to work anxiety, technology can help on all fronts”.
He suggested “scheduling apps" that help employees return safely and installing digital signage that helps employees to navigate the new work environment. He says this would help “streamline the back-to-work process and aim to address any fears about returning to the office”.
The latest analysis, done by ManpowerGroup, found that the biggest reason people didn't want to go back to the workplace was fears of a second Covid-19 wave.
Some 73 per cent of the workforce in the UK have negative feelings about going back to work while only 54 per cent say the same in Germany.
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