Like it or not, living through the pandemic has seismically shifted the way we work. Employees, after being furloughed or laid off, have set their standards higher when looking for employment, so businesses must respond accordingly. Here are a few ways your business can retain a full, effective workforce.

Give Them Options

Many employees got used to working from home over the pandemic, and have little desire, if any, to return to the office. Of course, not all businesses can run remotely, but evaluate yours and consider your options. If there is any way for employees to work from home, even partially, let them. Not only will this improve the work-life balance for your crew, but it could also save you money. Office space is expensive, so if you can cut down on rent by allowing some employees to work from home, it could be very beneficial for your bottom line.

Revisit Your Policy on Sick Days

The pandemic brought to light something that had long been suspected. When employees don’t have enough sick time or are worried about their job, they will come to work when they’re sick. To prevent a virus from sweeping through your entire workforce, give your employees ample time off. For instance, the quarantine period for a COVID-19 patient is two weeks, which doesn’t even include recovery time depending on how severe the reaction was. This can easily burn through an employee’s entire bank of sick days. By letting your employees know that their job is safe until they’re well enough to return, you’re less likely to put the rest of your staff in danger. When employees are penalized for missing work, however, they’re more likely to come in before they’ve recovered, putting your entire team at risk.

Pandemic-Proof Your Business

These days, potential employees are asking interviewers about how their company responded to the pandemic, and what they did for employees during that time. Even if your answers to this question wouldn’t be ideal, consider what you can do moving forward. Offer more opportunities for remote work, increase sick time and make working conditions cleaner and safer for employees. Having lived through the pandemic, we have no excuse but to prepared for when another one enters our lives.

Keeping your employees happy should be a priority no matter what, but it’s become even more important since the pandemic. By making their lives easier, you can retain a robust workforce that may keep your business moving forward with ease, no matter what the future holds.