The recent year unfolded unexpectedly than business leaders imagined when almost all workplaces shut down or shifted to remote work during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the global corporate environment is intrinsically dynamic, no one anticipated the multi-faceted challenges presented by the current global crisis or how rapidly it transformed different segments of the economy.
Today, as more people get vaccinated, public measures gradually ease, and workers return to their offices, business leaders are facing emergent and enduring security challenges that call for a new and different approach.
In normal circumstances, the security threats within the corporate landscape often involve cyberthreats and burglary.
Search the Internet, and you’ll find informative pages that sell security equipment or offer suggestions on strengthening the safety and security of a physical establishment.
Now more than ever, the pandemic has left individuals and organizations prone to a range of security threats.
We cannot deny that the pandemic has taken a huge toll on employees’ wellbeing, families, and professional lives, which makes the idea of returning to the ‘old normal’ isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Employees returning to the physical office require the efforts, expertise, and collaboration of their organizational leaders.
The workforce has to be more careful about not letting the reopening enthusiasm distract them from potential security issues.
Let’s face it — there will be employees who will warmly welcome the move while others harbor anger against their executives for making employees return to the office against their will.
For these reasons, business leaders should anticipate the potential security challenges that will affect the post-pandemic workplace.
With this in mind, here are scenarios that will affect the physical security of office environments.
Health protocols
Navigating the network of health protocols presented by global health organizations and other policymakers should be the top priority for companies with employees returning to the physical workplace.
Guidelines will vary depending on the company, state, county, and city.
Companies that don’t have clear guidance about the return to work will drive employees to raise issues about whether safety protocols will be enforced.
With the politicization of COVID-19, lockdowns, and vaccinations, this means people will have different viewpoints, regardless of the company’s standpoint.
Now, after more than a year of people suppressing their personal opinions, security issues are likely to emerge.
We’ve seen footage of angry customers who violate face-mask policies, destroy store equipment, and are rude to employees.
Although some states are now returning to normal, employers should remain vigilant concerning these hostilities.
They should stay alert for inappropriate actions and comments and respond to them in a good-natured way to avoid further violence.
Mental health issues
Believe it or not, mental health is a form of security threat, particularly for people who bear the brunt of the pandemic, such as social isolation, loss of loved ones, and financial challenges.
People respond to the pandemic in unique ways, but many would agree that mental health-related issues spike during the lockdown.
Cases of anxiety and depression dramatically increased during the first few months of the pandemic compared to other previous years.
Workplace mental health should be an immediate concern for business leaders, but the pandemic has further emphasized the severity of this issue.
A study revealed that mental health issues in the workplace are warning signs for security.
Mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression involve abnormal social behaviors, such as violence and excessive aggression.
To ensure a safe reopening, leaders should prioritize the employees’ mental health.
Business trips
It’s easy for leaders to establish a safe work environment, but traveling workers need to consider the potential threats beyond the physical workplace.
Physical security factors aren’t only applicable to the internal workforce, but they should be applied everywhere and to everyone.
Leaders should keep in mind that the primary purpose of physical security is to protect the welfare of their employees.
In this case, travel security protocols should be included in office reopening programs.
There are still countries where COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
For this reason, companies should examine the risk of a travel location before sending off the employee.
In the end, corporate executives should prepare the workplace to address potential risks and consequences that might emerge during the post-pandemic period.
Contemplating possible scenarios and taking a proactive approach concerning physical security will put corporate offices in a better position to detect threats and address crises as companies return to normal.
Leaders who possess situational awareness can have more peace of mind knowing they’ve done their job to protect the welfare of their employees in these uncertain times.