Live-cast with Sean Bell and Joshua Templeton
There are a lot of truths, falsehoods, and misinformation surrounding temperature screenings and what company leaders should consider when bringing employees back to the workplace.
The latest in our series of the Return-to-Work Livecasts, Joshua Templeton and Sean Bell discussed temperature screenings and the challenges that organizations are trying to solve for in returning to work. They focused on what a proper temperature screening program looks like and how organizations can build a long-term solution for this challenge.
Templeton starts by orienting around how quickly things have changed in just five weeks. We’ve learned that 30-50 percent of people are a-symptomatic, but it is the employer’s responsibility to catch every case they can in order to keep their people safe and healthy while returning to work.
Bell takes us through the mindset needed to bring about any great change in an organization. These necessary screenings and policies are changes that cause a loss of control and autonomy for people which can easily turn into feelings of bitterness and anxiety. The key is breaking through political and social beliefs to help employees focus on the human aspect of these policies and how their buy-in will help each individual.
What are Aduro’s Return-to-Work Considerations and how do we create a successful screening program? The first consideration is remote monitoring. It is necessary to move the mindset from onsite screening to home screenings. This creates more physical and psychological safety for both employees and employers. An important consideration for home screening is that people have to feel comfortable being honest. You have to have a culture that supports people if they can’t come in due to feeling ill, because if people are concerned about providing for their families, they won’t be able to be honest and prioritize keeping others safe.
But home screenings aren’t the full scope of needs, people will have to be screened physically on company property as well. Layout and social distancing considerations are the first step. How many people will be coming in the door at what time?
Bell walks through the 3 D’s of limiting exposure: Density, Duration and Distance.
We are facing the frightening reality that this pandemic will not end anytime soon. How will organizations move this into a longer-term strategy?
Leaders need to focus on how to build the culture of their organization. What is the level of trust and responsibility you are creating? Be firm, consistent and transparent with policies. Help people feel like they are part of the solution rather than a victim of the process.