With cases of Covid-19 reaching the 1 million mark milestone in California and showing no signs of slowing, businesses which have remained closed during the pandemic may be looking to reopen in order to stay in operation. If you’re ready to reopen your doors and welcome your customers back in, or if you’re an office which has seen your employees work from home the majority of this year, how can you safely reopen your business if you’ve been closed? We have some tips for you.
Retail shops and restaurants should post rules and requirements about face masks and social distancing on your front door – and be ready to enforce them
Clearly communicating your business’s expectations will help prevent confusion and reduce the chance of having unhappy customers. You can do this by posting signs outside your place of business that explain your requirements – whether you need them to wear a mask, stay 6 feet apart from others, or anything else specific to your operations.
In the worst case scenario, remember that you always have the right to refuse service to anyone who does not want to comply with your requirements.
Communicate with your staff
Clear expectations about your new protocols aren’t just limited to your customers. Communicate your expectations with your staff and update them promptly about any changes. Post reminders in break rooms, bathrooms, and other frequently-used spaces to help ensure everyone remembers to wear masks, keep their distance, and wash their hands regularly.
And, of course, make sure to inform staff if someone in your office gets Covid-19 to help people know when to get tested and prevent unintentionally spreading the virus to their friends or family.
Communication goes both ways. Open channels of communication with your staff to get a better idea of what protocols are working and what accommodations or equipment people need to do their job safely.
Reorganize your office or building to help people stay socially distanced
The CDC recommends that people stay socially distanced (6 feet of distance or more between individuals) in order to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. You can help your staff stay 6 feet apart from each other by doing some redecorating.
- Rearrange tables, desks, and employees’ workstations so that there is at least 6 feet of space between your staff
- Use tape or floor markers to indicate 6-foot spacing for your customers in retail and restaurant workplaces
- Rearrange your breakroom (and your break schedule) so that only 1 – 2 people will be in the break room at one time.
Make arrangements for your staff to work remotely if possible to reduce the number of people onsite. It’s also recommended that you require your employees to stay home and get tested for Covid-19 if they have any signs of being sick.
Provide your staff with the tools they need to stay safe
Although social distancing is a great step you can take to prevent a Covid-19 outbreak in your office, it’s more effective if your staff have personal protective equipment (PPE) readily available. Encourage your employees to bring their own face masks and/or face shields, but make sure to have some onsite just in case they forget theirs at home.
Provide gloves, hand sanitizer, and easy access to hand washing stations to prevent the spread of germs. It’s also a good idea to provide cleaning supplies such as disinfecting wipes to help them keep their workstations virus-free.
Hire a professional service to clean your building daily
Even if your staff has a daily cleaning routine that’s been updated per CDC recommendations, a professional service takes cleaning to another level. These types of services sanitize and disinfect your building using disinfecting misters known as ‘electrostatic sprayers’ . They also use antimicrobial products that prevent viruses from being able to spread and grow on surfaces.
Screen your staff regularly with company Covid 19 testing in Los Angeles
Regular Covid-19 tests can help prevent Covid-19 from spreading among your staff by quickly identifying who is sick. However, the uptick in cases and tests in Los Angeles means that many community testing sites have hours-long waits.
Instead of having your employee wait in line and potentially expose others to the virus, you can provide company Covid-19 testing in Los Angeles for your staff with a service such as Concierge MD LA. Their service sets up a Covid-19 testing station onsite to quickly and efficiently test your staff and provide professional medical guidance if someone on your staff tests positive.
Conclusion
Reopening a business during the pandemic is challenging, but not impossible. There are many business guidance resources available from the CDC, such as the Resuming Business Toolkit, to help you keep your staff and customers as safe as possible as you resume business operations.