Jennifer Barna, Senior Counsel in the Employment, Labor & Workforce Management and Litigation practices, in the firm’s Newark office, was quoted in SHRM, in “Clear Communication Is Key to Effective Return to Worksite,” by Allen Smith.

Following is an excerpt:

Whether now or once the COVID-19 delta variant has receded, clear communication is essential to a successful return to in-person work.

Some employees have already returned to the worksite; others never left. But for those still planning their return, transparency, safety protocols and detailed expectations are important. …

How to Know When to Reopen …

An employer may decide it has differing business needs within one worksite, noted Jennifer Barna, an attorney with Epstein Becker Green in Newark, N.J. "It may have a strong business need for one group of employees to be in person, while other departments or units may have more flexibility for a hybrid schedule," she said. …

"Employers can remind their employees about the silver linings of in-person work that may have been forgotten," Barna said. "Some employers have planned events to make the return to work feel celebratory—while still ensuring safety measures are taken—such as hosting food trucks, or they have planned onsite or offsite charitable or team-building events to remind everyone of the positive energy that comes with working in person with others toward a goal."

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