“We are used to wearing the mask but I can tell you that it has an impact on the functioning of the company, on the conviviality between people”explained on Wednesday February 16 Benoît Serre, deputy national vice-president of ANDRH, the National Association of Human Resources Directors, after Olivier Véran’s announcements on Wednesday on franceinfo concerning the end of the indoor mask in mid- March.
franceinfo: the end of the mask in business in a month, isn’t it too soon? Knowing that doctors believe that things are going a little fast on the government side and that the professional environment can be a place of contamination
Benoit Serre: In terms of health assessment, I know absolutely nothing about it, I am not a ‘doctor’. On the other hand, if I place myself from the point of view of the employees, it is indeed very good news. We are used to wearing the mask, unfortunately, but I can tell you that it has an impact on the functioning, on the company, on the conviviality between people. As people are coming back, since now we no longer have a massive telework obligation, it would be rather excellent news since it is true that it is quite painful in certain professions where they can never to take off.
After two years of mandatory mask, it seems almost unbelievable. Will we have to get used to going to work without a mask again?
So, on the one hand, we will have to get used to it again. Then, in a way, you know, in two years, we had time to integrate people. I can tell you that I won’t be surprised if people can’t recognize them because you’ve never seen them without a mask after all.
“It’s important because it goes with the fact that we can resume moments of conviviality, find what also sometimes makes the character of a company, that is to say the fact of being together, to work together and stop hiding or protecting each other all the time.”
Benoît Serre, Deputy National Vice-President of ANDRHat franceinfo
So that will help us a lot to restart the unity of our social body and to get a business going again normally, without losing sight of the fact that, on the other hand, the telework which is clearly installed will continue.
You were talking about conviviality, you will have to take off your mask to have a drink since it is the return of pots in business, in strict respect, of course, of barrier gestures. Do you expect any catch-ups in the next few days? These are important moments these pots in business, aren’t they?
Yes, we canceled a lot of pots in December and it had been badly experienced by many people. So they say they want to have a sales meeting, they want to have a drink with the teams. I think there will be a catch-up phenomenon, it is probable. These are moments of conviviality and management. Especially with the crisis we have experienced, it is even more important that people in the company can talk about something other than work. They can also exchange in an environment which is not that of the organization of work. It creates bonds between people. These are very useful moments, a bit like the coffee machine, something happens in a company. And so, it’s all those moments that are missing and that create a collective dynamic.