Today, restaurants and other businesses will resume operations with special health and safety guidelines in place. Now that Governor Gretchen Whitmer has lifted the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, other businesses and organizations are likely also looking ahead to when they may reopen their own offices safely.

There’s a growing list of resources about working remotely and reopening offices on CMF’s COVID-19 Resource Central site. Tammie TenBroeke, human relations and grants manager at CMF, has been researching this topic and engaging in conversations with members to discuss their planning, particularly with CMF’s Talent and HR Affinity Group.

This week we are sharing best practices sourced from members around the state when it comes to plans and approaches to re-entering office spaces. The timeline for reopening may differ from organization to organization but there are commonalities when it comes to considerations that may be top of mind.

• Communicate openly and frequently. Make sure leadership is in regular contact with staff to provide updates on the development of procedures surrounding the reopening of the office.

• Establish a written return-to-work plan. While plans may be in-progress as more news and information becomes available, having a framework in place can prepare leadership and staff for what may come and ensure key protocols are well documented.

• Ensure equity is at the center of plans: Plans should include flexibility for staff at an individual level, recognizing the disproportionate impact of racial disparities during this pandemic and beyond, that some staff may have personal health conditions, experiencing a lack of child care or need to care for a family member who is ill.

• Form a committee. Internal committees comprised of leadership and staff regarding the reopening of offices can ensure staff needs and desires are met during the planning process.

• Consider a phased re-entry approach. Returning to workplaces suddenly could have negative consequences for staff. A phased approach allows staff to return gradually while implementing safety measures that can be changed easily if needed.

• Listen to experts. Continue to heed the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the state of Michigan, and others.

• Employee health and safety. Require daily temperature checks, provide personal protection equipment (PPE) and institute social distancing practices.

• Employee privacy. Provide additional training on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to inform employees when and how to disclose possible health issues that may be affected by returning to an office.

• Employee mental health. Engage in regular check-ins with staff, ensuring they feel supported and acknowledging the importance of their mental health and well-being.

The Skillman Foundation, a CMF member, formed a committee of staff and leadership to address reopening their office in Detroit. So far, the committee has drafted a phased return-to-work plan which includes procedures for a gradual increase in the number of staff allowed in the office, protocols related to employees who disclose health concerns and state and local conditions that must be met for the office to progress through the reopening process.

“Our planning is centered around the health and safety of our team members and their families,” said Maria Woodruff-Wright, vice president of operations and CFO at The Skillman Foundation. “This is a gradual process, but we will be prepared when the time comes to reopen our office.”

Want more?

CMF has been working on our own organization’s plan to support our staff in a safe return to our offices. If you’re interested in learning more or seeing a draft please connect with Tammie TenBroeke, human relations and grant manager at CMF.

On Friday, June 19, CMF,  Michigan Nonprofit Association, Michigan Community Resources and Co.act Detroit will launch a new, interactive partner series to provide guidance to Michigan’s nonprofits as they consider re-entry into the workplace. The new series begins with a conversation led by the CEOs of each hosting organization. These nonprofit leaders will delve into opportunities for transition in our sector, from how we once worked to how we can redefine the nonprofit workplace. Together they will discuss planning for the reengagement of paid staff and volunteers, highlighting key considerations in people-first decision making grounded in equity. This session will also feature legal guidance to consider in developing a re-entry plan. We are honored to welcome to this conversation Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who will help us kick off the series and discuss her administration’s efforts around re-entry. Learn more and register.

Check out resources in our COVID-19 Resource Central.