LONE WORKER PROTECTION
building a strong safety culture within the business. Happy workers are more likely to be attentive and productive workers which will be essential for your corporate recovery and future resilience as the economy gets back on its feet post-coronavirus.
Additionally, communication is key. Lone workers on the road are unlikely to have a meaningful conversation with another person throughout their shift – especially as they now lack social interaction with customers
“A study by CV-library found that over 42% of employees surveyed believe that the isolation and loneliness associated with lone working can compromise their mental health.”
at drop off points. Try to make sure staff can contact someone during their shift if they have challenges or concerns throughout the working day.
Ensuring employees feel comfortable reaching out to management demonstrates leadership and reinforces company values. In conjunction with this, recent changes limiting social interaction may have an impact on staff’s visibility of activities within the company. Employers might well benefit from sharing important updates with drivers so as to not isolate them further.
PROLONGED CHANGES INFLUENCING THE ‘NEW
NORMAL’ Policies should be put in place to ensure lone worker wellbeing; however, these are not temporary adjustments in reflection to the current climate but rather good management practicies that should
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be integrated into the business’ driving for work policies permanently.
As lockdown restrictions are lifted, we are unlikely to go back to business exactly how it used to be. However, issues of lone working were present before the pandemic and will continue long after. Many drivers are unlikely to have a fellow employee with them on delivery routes due to resourcing efficiency. Therefore, its important that all businesses are aware of the impact of lone working on mental health and wellbeing, ensuring lone worker policies are integrated into health and wellbeing programmes across all sectors.
REINTEGRATING FURLOUGHED DRIVERS A final suggestion is to be thoughtful when returning
your furloughed drivers to work. Most will be anxious about their, and the company’s, prospects. They may well come back into a working environment quite different to what they knew before. The company may not be operating at full strength, and some may have switched roles, leading to anxieties about job security. Some colleagues may not be there, either because they are still self-isolating, or possibly even because they lost their fight with the virus. Others may have lost friends or loved ones. Any of these could cause significant distraction while at the wheel putting themselves and others at risk.
Consider a sensitive reintroduction, enquiring about how they’ve coped, and whether they have any concerns about going back on the road.
COVID-19 will have lasting effects on many of us, and particularly on lone workers. Your business will benefit greatly from treating them with care during these difficult times.
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