Print.IT Reseller - issue 74

01732 759725 40 INTERVIEW ...continued we’re reminding them that things have changed.” Brother has also invited staff to compose brief four-line-long COVID- secure poems. “We’re printing these out and placing them strategically around the building, it’s just another way to engage with people and remind them that things have changed, whilst moving around internally,” he added. COVID-secure Other initiatives include installing Perspex screens on desks, and installing fogging units which emit a fine antiseptic mist that covers around 60m 2 around the office. “These units which were relatively inexpensive, create an internal ‘cloud’ and help to keep surfaces disinfected,” Jones explained. “We also ensured antiseptic wipes are in the bathrooms and put signage on the flushers to say ‘wipe me after use’. All of the tiny details are really important, because as an employer we have to consider EVERY touch point and make it safe.” The 25 staff who have returned to the office are in effect testing the new system. “If they think we’re missing something or identify an area that needs a sign, then we have asked them to tell us and we will get a label printed and up immediately – another advantage of having the label printers on hand!” he added. Brother is also providing high quality Brother-branded PPE to all employees. This includes high quality washable, reusable facemasks with filters, and a next-generation handi-bac spray which works on hands and technology. “We want our people to be protected both in the office and on the move, so remote or field-based workers will be able to sanitise their hands and technology wherever they are. There’s also the danger that wearing masks will make some people feel self-conscious, that will not be such an issue if we are all wearing the same, while also creating a community sense of ‘we’re all in this together’. We’re also providing additional alcohol gels and wipes throughout our building, helping our employees to easily follow any guidance signposted to them,” Jones added. Phased return The building is now COVID-secure and Brother is hoping to re-introduce its people in phases, establishing a rota-based return model. “We will set a building maximum, we need to test the building flow, consider traffic in corridors and the number of people moving around making visits to bathrooms for example. “There is so much to consider, including how we can feed everyone! The staff restaurant has one door for people coming in and out – we need to figure out a workaround. With a small number of people on site we’re currently doing pre-ordered packed lunches, but that won’t work when we are at higher capacity. “We’ve even in our daily internal comms, highlighted other changes to expect such as no access to kitchen facilities, which means if you like builders’ tea you’re going to be disappointed with the vending machine equivalent! What’s key here is that the office is not going to be the same. We need to sweat the small stuff and address potential niggles, deflect them with humour, so that they don’t become amplified and create problems,” he concluded. www.brother.co.uk ‘mentoring’ benefits that being present in the office can bring, so it’s good that we can now begin to gradually bring them back in.” Label up But before the company could re-open the doors, there was a lot of planning involved in ensuring that the workplace was COVID-secure. The steps Brother UK has taken and the measures it has implemented are extensive and Jones said that the insight gleaned from the entire process has been incredible. “The first thing we did was to walk through the entire space and look at every single surface that someone could touch. That included doors into and out of the building, the bathrooms, taps, desks, stair rails, printers, scanners etc. The list went on and on and it was clear that we needed to put messaging up in lots and lots of areas,” he explained. “One thing that has been hugely beneficial has been the ability to create our own labels. Our overriding goal was to make our people feel safe and so, armed with label printers, we let a team of people loose in the building to label up everything professionally.” Jones pointed out that he didn’t want to make the office intimidating, nor achieve a clinical feel. “The questions we asked ourselves included: How do we do this so it fits within our company culture? How do we do it professionally, in minutes? And how do we cover all of the touch points? “We made sure that our personality came through, whilst still remaining compliant to the legal requirement to be COVID-secure. We added a touch of humour to the messaging, using positive reinforcement and indirect suggestions to influence behaviour and decision- making. For example, we’ve put labels on the mirrors in the bathrooms, saying fun, feel-good things like ‘You look beautiful today. Now wash your hands’. The overall aim is to keep people engaged when All of the tiny details are really important, because as an employer we have to consider EVERY touch point and make it safe Common Ground Brother provided its expertise (and label printers) to Common Ground, an artisan coffee shop in Altrincham, Cheshire and one of Phil Jones’ regular haunts. “We shared our experiences in transforming our office, to help this independent business re-open safely and securely whilst simultaneously letting their personality shine through,” Jones said. “The principles were the same, the challenges they needed to address slightly different, but it was good to give something back and on a personal note, they really do make great coffee!”