6 Steps to Reopen Your Small Business Post-COVID19
As more and more states begin to relax stay-at-home orders, employers across the country are faced with the challenge of preparing workforces to return-to-work.
With coronavirus cases steadily rising, the idea of reopening business can seem daunting. How do you maintain a healthy workforce, restore customer confidence, and minimize liability when reopening your small business amidst a global pandemic?
We have pulled together some vetted resources and best practices to help you develop your return-to-work plan.
6 Steps to Reopen Your Small Business during COVID19
- Assess Your Risks
Some work environments are more at risk for the spread of the coronavirus than others. The first step of developing your return to work plan is to determine your level of risk. OSHA has set forth guidance that sets forth minimum return-to-work standards for your level of risk.
2. Review Return-to-Work Standards
Before reopening your business, take time to familiarize yourself with federal, state, and local guidelines and procedures. On April 10, 2020, the White House issued a three-phase, state-by-state set of Federal Guidelines for reopening based on the advice of public health experts. The CDC has also issued guidance for businesses and employers responding to the coronavirus.
3. Temperature Checks & Screening
Employers are now allowed to take two actions to protect their workforces: temperature screening and checking for symptoms of the coronavirus. While federal law prohibits employers from asking about employee health or undergoing a medical test unless it’s related to the job and business necessity, COVID-19 is the exception to the rule. The EEOC lays out specific guidance for testing for COVID-19.
4. Staggered Scheduling
You may want to consider implementing staggered work schedules to reduce the number of employees in the workplace at any given time. If telework is an option for your business, you might consider phasing employees back into the office on certain days each week and gradually build toward a full-time schedule.
5. Social Distancing
Your work environment should look different upon return to work. The CDC released specific guidelines for what a return to office buildings should look like, including mandatory masks, distant desks, and closing common areas.
6. Sanitization
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC, washing hands with warm soap and water is one of the best practices to avoid getting sick and spreading germs. Place hand sanitizer in strategic locations throughout the office can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Keeping disinfecting wipes, spray, and traditional cleaning products around is also a good practice. Employees should get in the habit of wiping down their workstations daily.
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cert19 is a ‘return to work’ application that certifies for employers, employees, and customers that everything possible is being done to work safely during COVID-19 and beyond.
With features like temperature checks and questionnaires, employers can capture and record important data around symptoms and overall well being of employees on a daily basis. The application also allows employers to stay up to date on COVID 19 test results and contact tracing. By consolidating and storing all of this information in one easy to use dashboard, cert19 minimizes liability risk, provides data for future analysis, and facilitates using machine learning to act as an early warning system. Want to learn more about cert19, Contact us today!
