Page 54 - OHS, June 2020

Employee Gifts & Incentives
Best Practices for Today and Tomorrow
Maximize employee safety and wellness initiatives through a behavior-based safety process as part of an employee recognition program.
BY BRANT DOLAN
50 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2020
www.ohsonline.com
At the time of this writing, we are well into the COVID-19 global pandemic, the likes of which none of us has expe- rienced. Daily routines have been altered substantially, and if projections hold, the changes we are facing at work and home may be with us for some time. With great hope we look forward to a time beyond social distancing and furloughed workers and hope that by the time you read this, the situation will be much improved.
Life-altering circumstances bring about re- newed emphasis on policy, procedure and prac- tice—and cause us to focus on methods and sys- tems, especially when the safety and well-being of our team is at stake. As more knowledge is gained about COVID-19, more resources become avail- able which provide guidance for critical infrastruc- ture organizations, essential businesses and their personnel. Working though practical solutions and adhering to such guidance will increase the pros- pects for a resolution to this pandemic, and the les- sons learned will benefit everyone in the future.
Two Become One
As many safety practitioners are aware, safe and
healthy behaviors away from the job are just as important as those in the workplace. We advise and encourage all clients to include Key Perfor- mance Indicators, or KPIs, for such behaviors and stress their importance. This need is front and center during present times of economic and social crisis.
COVID-19 has not only forced changes in the way we think about safety and wellness; it has also caused companies and organizations to assess the methods and practices necessary to drive engage- ment and meaningful participation. This is espe- cially critical today, when as many employees as possible are working remotely. Telecommuting is nothing new—but the number of associates work- ing remotely is unprecedented.
The potential negative impact of this is two- fold. First, those who are now forced to work re- motely are having to adjust to a daily routine away from the workplace. Productivity will decrease until they become accustomed to working a dif- ferent way. Systems may need to be enhanced or developed in order to accommodate the new way of working. Second, those who are unable to work remotely are asked to do more because the number
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