8 Must-Knows When You Return Back To Work
As community cases of COVID-19 remain low in Singapore, the local authorities have eased restrictions at workplaces by allowing more people to go back to the workplace. This new regulation has taken effect starting 28 September 2020, Monday. Before you head back to work, here are some things you should know.
Can your boss require you to return to the office?
Even if your job can be performed from home, your boss is not in the wrong to get you to return to the office. However, he or she should ensure that you are working from home for at least half your working time.
For instance, if your working hour is 5 days per week, you are required to work in the office for 2.5 days. Your employer also needs to make sure that employees in the office should not be more than half of the total employee count.
You are more productive in the office, can you go back full time?
As long as your job can be done from home, you should continue working from home at least half of the week. Your employer needs to demonstrate business / operational reasons why you are not capable to work from home.
Will social distancing be practiced in the workplace?
As COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through close person-to-person contact, social distancing is one of the best measures to limit its spread. Whenever possible, your employer should ensure that employees maintain a 1m distance or more from one another.
This could mean physically moving furniture or desk to separate workstations or sit in a manner where there are 1 to 2 empty chairs in between each employee. Ideally, the number of workers back in the office should be halved and operate at a staggered shift to decrease the number of people in the workplace at one time.
Will there be other precaution in place?
In addition to spreading through respiratory droplets, COVID-19 can be transmitted through contaminated surfaces as well. As such, it is imperative that your company hire a cleaning company to disinfect the whole office before employees return back to work.
Regular disinfection of communal areas and high traffic surfaces like door handles, light switches, and faucets, etc, should also be carried out. Ensure that your employers have appointed various office managers to wipe down the office in the morning, mid-afternoon, and again before employees leave.
Will protective equipment be provided?
Protective equipment is crucial for businesses where employees interact with people at close range. While personal protective equipment (PPE) is not required for those working in offices, employees are still required to wear masks at all times.
Your company needs to be providing thermal thermometer, hand sanitizers, and antiseptic wipes for employees who are getting in frequent contact with communal surfaces or those heading out to meet clients as well. Should they not be provided, state your concerns, and bring your own protective supplies.
Can you interact with your colleagues as usual?
You have to wear a mask at all times and you should be at least 1 metre apart from your colleagues in the office. This includes workstations and during physical meetings. Groups more than 5pax are not permitted. This includes gathering in the pantry, smoke breaks, or during meals.
If your co-worker shows COVID-19 symptoms?
The first thing an employee should do when stepping into office is to take their temperature. Should any symptoms like fever or cough are present, they must be sent home. However, there are cases where those without any symptoms are infected. As such, social distancing is critical in the workplace.
If any workers fall ill during the day, they should be sent to the doctor and asked to stay home for the next two weeks. Workers who have been in contact with the infected should remain home and practice social distancing for two weeks as well.
Can work-related events resume? Do you need to attend them?
Work-related events such as conferences, seminars, annual general meetings, corporate retreats, and training are allowed to resume. Do note that only 50 people are allowed to attend these events, and safe management measures must be adhered to. You are not required to attend business-oriented events unless specified by your employer.
Larger scale social gatherings like team bonding activities and gala dinners are still not permitted at the moment, whether they are within or outside the workplace.
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