When employees return to the office after many months working from home, the idea of having to interact with colleagues again can cause anxiety and concern.
“Before the pandemic people shook hands, slapped backs, even hugged,” says Norma Kissane, HR Vice President at Chicago’s Generational Placebos. “Some people may still be comfortable with all these things, but others may never be.”
To ensure all employees feel safe, the company is instituting a color-coded badge program to help staffers indicate how they would like to be greeted by the colleagues they encounter in the hallways.
“Nobody is allowed back in the office until they complete the Greeting Preference Form,” says Kissane. Based on this, each employee is assigned a badge, the color of which indicates their preference. Employees may select from one of these eight options:
- Absolutely no interaction (BLACK)
- A casual nod and quick “hello,” with both parties continuing to walk the hallway at the same pace (GREEN)
- A quick slowing of pace, casual nod, and exchange of “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” from six feet or more (RED)
- The same as above, except from a distance of three to six feet (BLUE)
- A quick stop, optional shaking of hands or knuckle bump, and brief exchange of information – projects, family, etc. (PINK)
- The same as above, with added placement of one hand on the others’ shoulder (BROWN)
- A stop, handshake, hug not to exceed three seconds, and conversation not to exceed three back-and-forth exchanges from a distance of three to six feet (PURPLE)
- A stop of any length, no limitations (GOLD)
