How UK Employers Should React as Scientists Warn the COVID Crisis Could Get Worse this Winter

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on businesses in the UK. With restrictions easing and society beginning to re-open, businesses may now be regaining a sense of normality.

However, as the Guardian reports, scientists have warned that the UK might not have passed the worst of its COVID crisis. Furthermore, COVID infections in the UK have recently surpassed 40,000 a day, as BBC News notes – but the Government has seemingly ruled out any further restrictions.

Therefore, UK employers need to be prepared to mitigate the worst of the effects that could arise if the COVID crisis does take a turn for the worse. Here are some ways employers can prepare.

Flexible working

Since the first lockdown in March 2020, more and more UK employers have introduced flexible working. Advances in technology have made working from home because of COVID a possibility for many office workers.

While many businesses are requiring their employees to return to the office, the possibility of the pandemic getting worse means that flexible working will not be going anywhere soon. In addition to reducing the spread of the virus, flexible working can provide other tangible benefits to a business.

Allowing employees to have a say in how they work can greatly improve morale, and not requiring every employee to be in the office could help reduce maintenance costs. If the COVID crisis worsened, this would undoubtedly have a negative impact on many company’s finances, so flexible working could even potentially help many UK companies to stay financially afloat.

Flexible working may not be possible for every industry; for public-facing industries such as restaurants, it could prove difficult. However, it could help mitigate a COVID-related worst-case scenario and is something many businesses should consider introducing or maintaining.

Ensure your workplace is fully equipped to deal with COVID

If flexible working isn’t an option for your UK-based business then it’s vital that your workplace is equipped to deal with COVID and troubles caused by it. Follow the advice given by the UK Government on keeping the workplace safe from COVID-19 and watch out for any updates to ensure as little disruption as possible.

Protecting the health and safety of employees in the office is the priority for employers – and, with a few reasonable adjustments, most offices will be well-equipped to handle adverse implications of the COVID crisis. These adjustments could include re-arranging desks to allow for social distancing, cleaning the office regularly and improving its ventilation.

Plan ahead

The pandemic can cause corporate disruptions with little to no warning. Very few businesses were fully prepared for the disruptions it caused last year. It is not yet known just how bad the pandemic could be this winter, so it’s important for businesses to be prepared for anything to happen.

Ensuring that employees can continue working safely is crucial, but employers must also be prepared for any restrictions that could impact cash flow. In order to survive, it’s important for businesses to have a plan of action in case the COVID crisis reaches a new nadir.