All businesses have been affected by the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Yours may have been forced to close its doors temporarily if you have a brick and mortar store or office, or you may have been forced to focus on your online business. Even then, you may be limiting your product range to reduce the staff that you need on shift. Companies that can keep going are still facing setbacks as markets are slow, shopping trends are changing, and consumers are more careful with how they spend their money.
If your business is still going, your primary concern will be your team’s health and safety. Legal restrictions will mean that you have to change the way you work, and you may be keen to go further, to reduce the risks of any member of your team becoming unwell. Below is a look at some of the best ways to protect your staff during the current health crisis.
Implement Social Distancing
Social distancing is something that few of us had ever given thought to three months ago, and now it is a way of life. We cross the road to avoid people when we are walking, and we stand far from each other in food stores. It’s becoming more normal as time goes by, but it might not be something that you are used to at work.
Distancing is one of the best things to do to stop the spread of this dangerous virus. So, think about ways to implement it in your workplace. It might mean cutting staff levels, reducing working hours, moving desks, or stations further away and staggering breaks.
Keep Your Workplace Clean
The problem with a new virus like this is that we just don’t know enough about it. We can’t yet be sure how long it lives on different surfaces, which makes them all a danger. Use coronavirus cleaning services to make sure your workplace is as clean as possible before asking anyone to work in it.
Offer Relevant PPE
Again, the research on masks and other PPE is quite unclear, but most scientists agree that it can’t hurt, and masks might make your staff feel more comfortable. Offer all of the PPE that you can and make sure you’ve got a steady supply.
Temperature Checks
You may consider asking your employees to check their temperature before they start work, and perhaps again throughout their shift. This can help you to catch the virus early and reduce contact if anyone does become symptomatic.
Constant Communication
One of the best things that you can do for your team, whether they are working with you, working remotely from home, taking time off to stay safe, or because you have been forced to reduce your workforce, is communicate. Your team is bound to be worried about their safety in the workplace, but also about their jobs and the future. Be as honest as you possibly can, answer their questions, and keep in close contact, even if you can’t see them for a while.
