Bouncing back to “Business as usual”!

26 May Bouncing back to “Business as usual”!

“Business as usual” used to be a common phrase….yes it used to be. The lock-downs are easing and businesses are trying to limp back to normalcy as prospects of reopening offices are looking brighter than ever over the last 50 days.

Does it mean that we are now out of the woods, can wish away the threat that loomed over our head and behave as if everything is back to business or is it time we started to prepare ourselves for a new normal?

With a clouded mind full of doubts and queries, unprepared for a battle with an unknown invisible enemy whose cruel attack fresh in our thoughts, it can be very unnerving to say the least, even to meet and greet people at work the way we used to. The virus has shaken some of our deepest cultural and ethical beliefs. In a situation like this we’ll need all the help we can get to move forward in our professional lives and that could mean widening our scope of understanding of the environment around us and the people that we interact with every day.

Opening up after a pandemic is almost as if traversing the battlefield assuming the enemy has quit.

Take time to understand the science behind the spread of the virus, keep reiterating the need to follow social distancing norms and follow highest standards for personal hygiene. While taking a break and catching up over a tea or coffee is still ok, sharing that cup or taking a drag out of someone else’s smoke is a very bad idea.

Same is with swapping water bottles, lunch boxes and personal items like a pain balm, moisturiser; or even a hand sanitiser which on a normal day may seem nothing out of the ordinary for colleagues working together in a team.

We must also learn to appreciate the inhibitions others might have while interacting with us, remember there is a ton of rumour looming out there and people in their own individual capacity are all trying to find answers themselves. Do not get offended or feel mistreated when you think someone is acting in a manner which is generally considered rude. Give them the benefit of doubt; it’s ok to ask them why they did so in an appropriate manner at a suitable time without losing your cool.

Our house keeping workers and support staff at the cafeteria may have been given strict guidelines to follow certain rules by their managers, support them and make sure you show appreciation for their service more than ever before.

Majority of us stayed down for the last several weeks spending all our time at home, for anyone running the house whether our partner or parents it was not easy to suddenly make so many changes and adjust to a new routine. We cannot forget the tremendous support we received from our immediate family. Remember we may be back to work but that cook in our house or the domestic help may not turn up for several weeks. Take adequate care to still spend that extra bit of time with your family members and show them you care.

Lastly it helps to stay positive learn from our circumstances and give our best as always at work so we can all prosper together. Good luck to all of us.