As companies emerge from lockdown, they’re striving to ensure the safety of their people and the continuity of their operations. And all this needs to be done cost-effectively and with transformation and renewal as the main goals.
For most companies, it will not work to use outdated ideas of success to restart your daily operations and things might take some time to start running smoothly again. Although most companies must tailor their return to their specific culture and context, a five-point approach has proven to be most effective.
1. Leadership, people, and workforce management
As a leader, you need to first be comfortable with the idea and risks of returning to work before your employees can be. Companies have built a new model that employees have embraced. This new model has three primary components:
Protection and hygiene considerations: This includes the availability of personal protective equipment, employee support and information, daily health monitoring, and smart tools.
Social distancing protocols: Including split shifts, staggering start times, and enforcement.
New organisational and operational approaches: Consider employee readiness to return to work, remote work, and new staffing requirements.
2. Supply chain and demand management
In the early days of Coronavirus, companies focused on fortifying their supply chains, which was a necessary but partial piece to the puzzle. Now, it’s important to balance supply, logistics, and uncertain demand.
Demand is likely to return slowly and differently than before, with implications for supply chains and transportation networks. In today’s reality, managing supply and demand encompasses three elements:
Demand and production planning: This is built heavily around scenarios, new potential sales channels, as well as asset and workforce availability.
Supplier and material availability: Consider the liquidity of suppliers, the possibility of supporting them during recovery, and continual monitoring.
Inbound and outbound logistics: Ensure flexibility of storage space, transportation networks, and stock levels.
3. Site and office management
It may seem dramatic - but companies only have one chance of returning to work correctly. If they do it unsafely, then they run the risk of jeopardising employees’ health, the company’s brand and goodwill, and possibly its very existence. Two key initiatives need to be put into place:
Site management: This includes maintenance and office services, as well as a timeline to ensure safe access to office spaces including common areas.
Asset management: Ensure that the right equipment, backup plans, and monitoring systems are in place.
4. Compliance management
The South African government have a pivotal role in monitoring and regulating the economy’s restart to ensure employee health and safety. They have the authority to lift and then restore restrictions in response to flare-ups of COVID-19, even if those are unique to provincial cases.
Trade unions, worker councils, and other social partners also have an interest in the restart. To ensure operations resume smoothly, companies should do the following:
Raise the profile of regulatory affairs: This is done to avoid delays, comply with new and changing rules, and take advantage of public support and subsidies.
Collaboration: Work with unions, councils, and other representative bodies on flexible working models, including modified shift work and remote options.
5. Communications management
The best restart plans need to be communicated clearly with all employees and relevant stakeholders. Communications management is one of the primary tasks of leadership, and it needs to take a multi-pronged approach:
Employee access: Employees need to have access to communications on timelines, safety protocols, and health measures, both at home and at work, and workers should be kept up to date as plans change.
External communication: External stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, governments, and communities, should also receive communications.