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Return to Office Trend Continues - Are You Creating a Safe Workplace?

Return to Office Trend Continues - Are You Creating a Safe Workplace?
March 8, 2023
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As much as 9 out of 10 companies will require employees to return to the office in 2023, according to this study by Resume Builder. What are employers doing to entice employees back into the office, and how are they creating a safe workplace? 

Read on for the answers to these pressing questions. 

Return to Office Trends Employers Are Implementing 

People are becoming frustrated working from home, and offices all around the globe are steadily beginning to fill up once again, while still falling short of their pre-pandemic numbers. Here are a few incentives employers are using to encourage workplace attendance: 

Money Matters

Although most remote workers prefer to remain remote, financial incentives may be used to persuade them to work in actual offices again. Money is one of the strongest motivators to increase employees’ willingness to work at a physical location. The additional compensation could come in the form of a salary increase, additional paid benefits, or a premium rate on hours worked on-site. 

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Outside of financial incentives, many employees may be more ready to work in a physical office if they can take advantage of a four-day workweek or additional time off. Many companies are reviewing the impact of going to a four-day worksheet do having an alternative schedule where designated weeks are only four days.  

Employees who choose to work in the office or spend a certain amount of days in the office may be able to earn additional days of paid time off. Paid time of a huge part of total benefits for employees and can aid in recruiting employees and not just retaining them. 

Free Food 

Feeding your employees may seem like a small incentive, but who doesn’t love free food? Free lunches and snacks may be among the most well-liked employee benefits. Few will travel for an hour to get a free meal, but it may be the last bit of encouragement needed to get employees who live close enough into the office. 

The incentive may be one catered meal a week, a fully-stocked and company-paid snack pantry, or vouchers for nearby restaurants.  While employees may not run back to the other office this perk certainly is motivating and great for making sure teams are in the office at the same time and collaborating.  And who doesn’t love a pizza party or free sundae bar?

Deploying Safety Protocols

Many employees are concerned about returning to the office due to concerns about safety, including health and physical safety. Companies are being proactive by adding additional safety measures in their workspaces, such as continuing to follow spacing guidelines, providing hand washing options, and adding tracing protocols. Security cameras are also playing a role in making employees feel safer when they return to the office. 

What Is Considered a Safe Workplace? 

Establishing and maintaining a safe workplace should be a top concern for companies. In fact, companies are required by Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) law to develop and maintain a safe workplace and adhere to OSHA standards. However, putting up a few safety warnings and holding annual safety training sessions simply doesn’t cut it.

In order for safety to become an ingrained part of a company, companies need to actively create and nurture a solid culture of safety throughout the year. This involves more than just claiming that safety is a critical company value. It necessitates adopting proactive measures to ensure that employees are working in a safe environment and continually looking for ways to make the workplace safer.

What Can Companies Do to Create a Safe Workplace?

The use of technology-driven safety measures is crucial in today's world, where keeping employees safe is a top priority for most companies. The safety and security of employees can be significantly improved using facial recognition, CCTV cameras, security systems, badge cards, and security personnel. 

Facial recognition technology has become an increasingly popular tool for supporting a safe workplace. This technology is being used to administer access to buildings or office space. Registered users are identified by comparing their facial features to those in a database of known individuals and determining if the individual is authorized to enter. 

This AI technology can assist with tracking movements and accounting for the entries and exits of personnel. In addition, companies can quickly identify and warn security personnel of unauthorized visitors. 

Badge cards

Badge cards are also essential for ensuring the safety of employees. These systems may be used to limit access to particular sections of a building, making sure that only people with the proper authorization can enter sensitive areas. Companies may significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and potential threats to employees by using these technologies. 

Installing CCTV cameras is another method of ensuring worker safety. These cameras can provide a clear view of the entire office. This allows security personnel to quickly respond to any potential threats and monitor the behavior of all individuals within the building. Employees should be aware of the camera installation so as not to worry that employers are watching their every move. CCTV footage can be used to support employee issues that may require mitigation, record thefts, and more likely deter thefts or other criminal activities.

On-site security personnel

Finally, on-site security personnel may further increase worker safety. Security staff is a visible deterrent to potential threats and can respond quickly to any incidents that may occur.

By implementing these measures, any or all companies can create a safer workplace for their employees.

Why Is Video Redaction Software Needed When Using CCTV?

Video redaction software is a type of software that companies can use to help them manage their video data by automatically detecting and blurring sensitive information in video footage. When CCTV is used in the workplace, video redaction tools can be very helpful since they enable businesses to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of their clients and workers while still giving the company access to video footage they may need for various purposes. 

One of the main reasons why video redaction tools are necessary when using CCTV in the workplace is to protect sensitive information and personal data. CCTV cameras are frequently used to monitor the behavior of workers, clients, and visitors, and cameras often record private information like license plate numbers, facial photos, and other sensitive data. Companies can use video redaction software to automatically blur such types of personal data, protecting the privacy of individuals on their premises

Another reason why video redaction software is necessary when using CCTV in the workplace is to help organizations create a safer working environment. CCTV cameras are often used to monitor the workplace for potential security risks and to help prevent theft, workplace violence, and other types of incidents. However, if the video footage contains sensitive information, it may not be suitable for distribution to the relevant authorities or the public. By using video redaction tools, companies can remove any sensitive information from video footage before sharing it, to help protect the privacy of employees and others.

Redact Faces from Office Video with Sighthound Redactor

It can also be used to help companies comply with privacy and data protection regulations. Some countries have strict laws and regulations that govern the use of CCTV and the collection, storage, and use of personal data. By using video redaction software, companies can ensure that they are complying with these laws and regulations

Video redaction software may also be helpful for other company initiatives that include managing videos. 

Privacy for customers is also important for companies, as is protecting their information and the general public’s information if recording, storing, or sharing video data. With Sighthound Redator, companies can leverage AI to automate the redaction of sensitive information. Redacting for hours or hundreds of hours can be time-consuming and expensive, but Sighthound Redactor can reduce the burden with easy-to-use tools, bulk processing, and automatic features.  

Keep Reading: The Importance of Live Video Redaction  

Final Thoughts: Creating a Safe Workplace 

Since more companies are reopening and expecting employees to return to work, the trend of returning to the office has grown. Employers are using incentives to encourage employees to return to the office. 

But creating a safe workplace for workers should be a top priority when companies reopen and are establishing new workplace policies. 

When adopting CCTV and other video surveillance safety measures, organizations should think about using video redaction software to maintain a safe work environment. By obscuring any identifying details from security camera footage, such as faces and registration plates, video redaction may help preserve workers' privacy. Deleting potentially sensitive information from video surveillance recordings may also help safeguard employees. 

By investing in video redaction software, companies can ensure that they are using CCTV cameras responsibly and effectively, while also protecting their employees and visitors.

Learn how your company can use video redaction software to improve workplace safety.

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