Keeping vital services running whilst keeping employees safe during this time is of course challenging. From operational teams in the field, to those at home adapting to a transformed work environment - we have needed to adapt quickly and make changes to how we work.
Now, more than ever, communication is key; at the heart of this are leaders across the business talking to their teams - whether out on the network delivering key services or via the web with our home-based teams. To keep our people and their families safe, it is a responsibility on all of us to constantly review how we’re managing the challenges COVID-19 creates.
We have, and will continue to, prioritised the sharing of Government guidance and to help keep our employees and those around them safe. Just as importantly, our own mental health and wellbeing is central to keeping Britain moving. We’ve been publishing advice for employees on maintaining positive wellbeing and healthy immune systems.
Amey has enhanced its Employee Assistance Programme to include employees’ immediate family members. This service offers advice on many topics and a 24/7 confidential counselling.
A fit and health workforce means we will be ready to play an integral role in Britain’s recovery. But as we start to think about restrictions being lifted, we need to look for the opportunities which will bring improvements to our ways of working and drive best practices in health and safety. For me there are two areas of focus.
Firstly, for people who we have stood down from frontline duties, we will plan a safe return to work. We will make sure that workplaces are clean and safe, and that people fully understand how to work safely. Taking time to do this in a measured way means we will protect ourselves for the future.
Secondly, for many people the ‘new normal’ may result in the continuation of greater flexibility in location and ways of working. Technology has enabled us to continue most activities with little interruption. My view is that the world of work has changed and that we must make sure that the change is for the good of the workforce and our business.
COVID-19 has forced us to think about work safety and health more acutely than ever before. And the need to rise to the challenge has brought out the very best in our people and showcased our ability to collaborate, innovate and care for one another. It is this spirit that I will remember about this World Day for Safety and Health at Work.