Pandemonium and Pandemics – Handling COVID-19
“The American spirit is stronger than stone and mortar, tougher than steel and glass, and more enduring than any pain or suffering that can be inflicted on our national conscience.” – Olympia Snowe
As both the fears and the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic sweep across our nation, how are you responding as a business owner? What measures have you taken to protect your people, your customer base, and yourself? Below are several things that you should take into serious consideration for the health and wellbeing of your whole company.
Increase Sanitation:
Set up sanitation stations around your facility. If these stations can’t include running water and soap, provide hand sanitizer with an alcohol base of at least 60%.
- Assign an employee to wipe down surfaces such as doorknobs, countertops, and light switches with disinfectant wipes – several times/day. (COVID-19 can be spread through a mutual contact)
- Prohibit staff from sharing personal phones, office or desk space, tools, and equipment. (Remember, the virus can lay on a surface for up to four days before going dormant).
- Print posters about hygiene safety and post them throughout the building.
- Share information about handwashing, cough and sneeze etiquette, use of rubber gloves and masks, etc.
- Provide instructions and supplies for disinfecting personal workspaces.
Social Distancing:
The COVID-19 is most dangerous for people over the age of 60, for those with underlying health conditions, and those who are immunocompromised. One of the main reasons it is essential to practice social distancing as much as possible. Someone with good health may carry the virus home to a family member with ill-health. If someone is sick, send them home.
- Encourage your employees who are at high risk to stay at home.
- Re-arrange the shift workers so that there are limited amounts of workers together at one time.
- If it is feasible, set up a system where employees can work from home as well.
- Limit physical contact by using things like Zoom, Skype, and conference calls.
Provide Training:
Keep abreast of all information by following the regulations and guidance published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and your local governing officials.
Training your workers on how to respond is also vital.
- Distribute information on symptoms and send anyone home who is ill – whether or not their symptoms match the virus.
- Differentiate for your company the difference between High, Medium, and Low Exposure Risks and implement policies for protection in all those circumstances.
Update the company’s family and sick leave policies, as well as flexible and remote work options:
Many parents need to juggle working with childcare since schools and many daycares have closed. Some workers need to stay home because of a mild illness that typically wouldn’t have kept them from work. Others inadvertently encountered a COVID patient and now must be isolated for 14-21 days. Bottom line: Companies must balance keeping workers employed and safe against the company’s bottom line. It’s a challenging scenario at best.
Understanding that times are rough right now, ERG Staffing seeks to serve both clients and candidates, focusing on creating mutually beneficial connections. When you partner with us, you are getting over three decades of experience and dependable service. Whatever you need, whether it is temporary assignments, temp-to-perm, on-site services, payrolling employees, or direct hire, ERG Staffing offers flexible partnership models to meet your unique needs. We take care of the headaches of recruiting and hiring, so you can focus on your business. Contact us today.