This Plastic Device Will Make Your Employees Feel Safer

When I saw this image on LinkedIn, I smiled.  Why?  Because for the good of all of our mental health, it’s important that we get back to some semblance of normal as quickly as possible and this will happen faster if people feel safe.

These rubber bracelets communicate to others where we are on the COVID-fear spectrum, so a person can begin to go out and about without having to worry that someone is going to get too close or invade their personal space. 

A person can choose to wear red, yellow or green on their wrist, and the bracelet speaks for itself – no explanations and no one has to defend their feelings through a conversation:

• Red – Hi! I’m keeping my distance.
• Yellow – OK with talking, but not touching.
• Green – OK with hugs and high-fives.

In addition to doing an excellent job telling others ‘where we are’ and ‘how far to stay away,’ this bracelet reminds us that people are in different places as it relates to feeling safe, so we should respect everyone where they are at.

Jill, What Can I Do?  Consider going online and ordering a set of these bracelets for all of your employees.  I say a set, because people are going to move between wearing the red, yellow, and green bracelets as time passes, and as they feel more comfortable interacting with others.  If you do a web search on plastic bracelets, thousands of online stores appear where you can customize and order this product.  The benefits?  People will appreciate being able to communicate their feelings about COVID non-verbally and your organization will show that it cares about people’s emotional well-being.  A win-win for everyone.