As companies gradually begin to re-open their workplace, what safety measures can you take as an employer, to make your employees and customers feel safe?
Here are a few things that you can do to allow your business to function without compromising public health or confidence:
Mandatory Protective Coverings:
Companies must strictly comply with safety requirements. Employers must promote a safe work environment by providing masks, face shields, and coveralls depending on the nature of the business.
Employers are also advised to encourage certain hygiene practices and reduce touchpoints, such as frequent hand washing, coughing, and sneezing etiquette, proper tissue disposal, use of alcohol-based sanitizers, and use of disinfectant wipes in their personal workspace.
Social Distancing at the office:
Employers must minimize contact among workers, clients, and customers and replace face-to-face meetings with virtual communications. If you must have a meeting, ensure that you host in a large enough room to give each individual a 6-foot distance between one another.
Moreover, adjust your employees’ schedules and implement alternate days that reduce the total number of employees at an office at a given time.
Create an employee/customer/client checklist:
Conduct a screening checklist for all visitors, clients, and new hires prior to entering the workplace to help ensure the safety of your employees. Where necessary, take temperature and visual checks at the entrance of each employee.
Work from home:
For companies that have already adapted to lockdown requirements by allowing their employees to work from home, this arrangement will likely continue to reduce the likelihood of this infection. Depending on the nature of the job, employees should be able to work from home if they have concerns about returning to the office.
Lastly, provide your employees with up-to-date education and training on COVID-19 risk factors and protective behaviors (e.g., cough etiquette and care of PPE).
As we move into the “new normal”, look out for your employees. Communicate with your employees regularly in order to keep them engaged and motivated. Provide them with resources they may need, such as working from home tips, remote training and updates on your business operation. This will help keep your team feeling united and goal oriented.
