COVID-19 and The Return to Work

As the return to workplaces builds pace, employees will demand clear plans that ensure their safety. David Hobbs examines the challenges ahead for businesses as lockdown eases.

Featuring commentary from:

Trevor Hoyle, SVP Ground Operations Europe, FedEx Express: It’s all about the daily drumbeat of communication: being clear about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.

Barbara Harvey, Managing Director, Accenture Research & UK Mental Health Sponsor, Accenture: There is no book on this. We’re dealing with something completely unprecedented in our lifetimes.

Nick Challoner, President Life Sciences, Croda International: It’s not about rolling back, it’s about anticipating the future. We’re planning for further ahead and asking what new markets we should consider.

Susanna Dinnage, former Global President, Animal Planet: Many people might not want their life to go back to how it was pre-COVID, so think about how your working practices will have to – and maybe should – change.

Aoife Forde, Relationship Manager, Criticaleye: All the focus has naturally been on the immediate issues, but now businesses must spend some time thinking about this second phase.

David Guise, former Group HRD, Marks & Spencer: We’ve often heard companies say that their most important asset is their people. That idea is really being tested in this crisis.