7 Things You Need to Know About Returning to the Office this coming April

To my fellow Work From Home happy pals, I’m afraid that these glorious days may soon come to an end.

As all good things inevitably do, but even so it does still come across as an absolute shocker.

So lest you’re unaware, it was announced earlier that Singapore will be switching to a more “flexible and hybrid” mode of working.

More employees, I regret to say, will be allowed to return to their workplace.

The move will take effect from 5 April.

And though the arrangement will no doubt appease the most sadistic of bosses, it has come as an utter shock to those who’ve gotten used to earning money from the safety of their own homes.

But hey, there are still ways to fend yourself against this impending move.

7, to be exact.

As they say, knowledge is power, and it will certainly come into good use once April kicks in.

7 Things You Need to Know About Returning to the Office this coming April

1. Flexibility

For starters, staggered start times should be implemented to ensure the spreading out of staff members. This is to reduce possible congestion.

Additionally, flexible working hours should be allowed for those who wish to separate their working hours between home and the office.

Essentially, what this means is that the work from home culture will not be entirely scrapped and that you’ll still be able to work from home for designated periods of time.

2. Working From Home Is Still Encouraged

Despite the revelation, the consensus is that working from home is still the ideal solution.

As such, employers must make sure that no more than 75 per cent of employees – who can work from home – are in the office at any juncture.

Employers should also support employees in the WFH scheme wherever they can, in order to cut down crowding issues.

Virtual meetings should be held wherever possible as well.

3. “Maintain Work-Life Harmony”

Meanwhile, work from home measures should seek to help employees achieve and maintain work-life harmony, all while fulfilling business needs.

Mental health should also be prioritised during these tumultuous times.

4. Paying Attention To Vulnerable Employees

Vulnerable employees, such as those above the age of 60 and those who are “immunocompromised or have concurrent medical conditions”, should receive special attention.

Employers are urged to adopt appropriate measures to decrease their vulnerability to infection risk.

5. Pax Limit

A 50-person limit should be imposed on all work-related events, with at least 1m safe distancing mandatory between all individuals.

Meals should also not be catered as the main feature of an event. In fact, food or drinks should be catered only if “incidental” to the event (for e.g., if a meeting stretches beyond the conventional lunchtime).

Pandemic-related safety measures should also be observed at all times.

6. Limited To 8

With the exception of work-related events, all activities deemed as “social and recreational gatherings” are limited to eight people.

7. Sufficient Face Masks And Disinfectants

Last but not least, your employer needs to ensure sufficient stock of masks, cleaning agents and disinfectants for employees.

“Where possible, employers should consider improving the working environment for employees to enable them to sustain wearing the masks,” said MOM.

Back To The Office

With that said, it appears that the WFH scheme is still the choice of preference amidst these tumultuous times.

The move to shift employees back to the office, it can be assumed, is probably to restore normalcy, and gauge the situation in the near future.

Only time will tell whether it proves to be a wise move at this point in time.

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