Back to work | People Director details new ‘Welcome Back Pack’ Initiative
In Europe especially in UK People and Culture Director revealed that his organization has issued ‘welcome backpacks’ to employees who are returning to the office.
On LinkedIn, Andy Preacher, People, and Culture Director UK at Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Europe, explained that the firm had recently opened its doors to a reduced number of colleagues who had chosen to return to the office on a voluntary basis.
Preacher wrote in his post:
“With all the right safety measures in place (and more!), being able to create the opportunities for safe personal choice is so important at the moment”.
This post garnered a wealth of positive responses from other HR professionals praising both him and the organization for the great gesture for staff.
HR professionals weigh-in:
“What a great gesture and demonstrating your great people culture,” wrote Jennie Allison, Group Director of Talent at Lowell Group/ Group HR Director Finance.
In addition, Abi Mitchell, UK HR Manager at Praxair Surface Technologies responded to the LinkedIn thread writing: “Nice to see an organization putting effort into yet another period of change for employees”.
Others asked what was enclosed in the ‘welcome backpacks’ because they were looking for inspiration themselves to provide something of a similar nature for their teams.
What do the ‘welcome backpacks’ include?
Speaking exclusively to HR Grapevine, Preacher said that, as a token of appreciation and to ensure that colleagues felt safe, the ‘welcome backpacks’ included some PPE such as reusable masks, a personal hand sanitizer, and some chocolate, among other things. These were rolled out as a UK initiative across three of the firm’s offices in London, Newcastle, and Epsom.
Should HR consider changing work schedules?
“We also included a personal message from our CEO thanking everyone for the flexibility and commitment they have given to the organization, each other and our customers, and also details all of our support channels for ongoing or new mental and physical health concerns,” he added.
For those employees that wanted to come back but relied on public transport to get into work, colleagues were given the option of having a mask posted directly to them “in an effort to help make their journey that little bit easier”.
Where did this idea come from?
The coronavirus pandemic is an uncertain time for both employers and employees, yet Preacher said that amid the confusion they have seen evolution – whether this is in terms of new conversations, opportunities, or positive signs of cultural and organizational growth.
“Steering a path through such a landscape is not easy, but thanks to the support and feedback of our colleagues we’ve been able to do just that – aiming to give them some certainty about how we intended to move past the crisis and quickly through the ‘recovery’ phase of our journey together,” Preacher explained.
In response to an internal colleague survey, 98% of UK employees at the firm shared the various anxieties and pressures they were facing at home, particularly regarding personal health and the wellbeing of family members.
“We also knew that a good percentage really wanted to come back to the office given the difficulties they faced at home. This is where the idea was born, with a desire to do more than just ‘sanitize’ the work environment but to let colleagues know they remain at the center of what we do with just a small gesture of support and thanks,” he added.
How will these ‘welcome backpacks’ benefit staff?
With a plethora of research showing that UK employees are scared by the prospect of going back to work, gestures like these may help staff feel safer and more supported when returning to work.
“Our people strategy has been built with our colleagues and their voices at the center of its design and although lockdown certainly changed our focus, it didn’t change our direction.
“We knew that coming back to the office was going to feel very strange for a lot of people, so not only did we want to make sure they felt safe and heard, we also wanted to put a smile on their faces as quickly as possible.
“We hoped that by providing colleagues with the appropriate items for their safety, we could help alleviate at least some of the worries they might be feeling,” Preacher added.
Aside from providing PPE, Preacher said that they have reminded staff of the various support channels available to them such as mindfulness sessions, an internal Mental Health First Aid Team, and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
While Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Europe’s UK People and Culture Director admitted that the ‘welcome backpacks’ are just a small gesture, he said that they act as part of a wider support program ‘that really helps to cement the culture we’re aspiring to build’.
With many HR leaders currently drawing up return-to-work plans, gestures like these can go a long way in promoting a positive company culture but also ensuring that staff feels supported during such an anxiety-inducing time.
Author: Shophie Parrot
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