It's not just marketing agencies adjusting to the new norm

I've been working for almost 30 years in marketing and today was the first day that I found getting ready difficult. I had to consider my circumstances, the fact that I am meant to be a leader, and our entire work environment.

How should we adapt? What changes do we need to do? Do we need to change our Employee Manual? What do we do if a staff member doesn't wear a facemask and refuses? What procedures do we need to put in place? If someone drinks water, do they need to leave the room? What about a cup of tea or a coffee? 

As business leaders we are meant to have all the answers and to be honest, having to think about this right now is not exactly a good use of my time, but it is a necessity. Coronavirus cases are increasing and the Government will never let us get back to normal if we don't follow the rules.

As a marketing agency:

• New additions to the Employee Manual is required. Adding a section that outlines the requirements of wearing a facemask in the workplace, and when an emplotoyee can take it off is important. Providing guidelines around drinking, eating, and interacting with other employees is essentials as well as safeguards around conference calls and basic inbound calls.
• Provisions around symptoms and what actions need to take place.
• Email blast to all employees to ensure that they have not missed the additions to the Employee Manual.
• Counsel for employees that are struggling with the 'new norm'.
• Guidelines on how to conduct brainstorming sessions that don't take away from the interaction they need to fully optimise the session.
• Safe distancing especially around lunch breaks and the coffee machine.

But the reality is that we are not alone. A marketing agency is not the only industry adapting to changes and finding that their eye is taken off the ball when it comes to their jobs because there is so much red tape to contend with.

All we can do is collectively move forward, adapt to the new rules and pray that things will go back to normal sometime in the future.