After the initial coronavirus outbreak, life is quickly returning to normal. Although the danger is still present, society is beginning to function as it did before the outbreak. However, some changes do exist, especially in the way people are protecting themselves so that they can avoid becoming infected and lessen the chances of spreading the virus. With that in mind, we have prepared these office tips for companies returning after the coronavirus outbreak. If you follow our guidelines, you will be able to create a more productive office space in the long run, the one that will be as protected from the virus as much as possible. After all, you shouldn’t forget that being cautious is still very important, even now when the initial outbreak is behind us.
General tips for companies returning after coronavirus outbreak
On the importance of cleanliness
The first among our tips for companies returning after the coronavirus outbreak could be obvious, but we should still emphasize the fact that keeping the working environment clean is of the utmost importance. In this aspect, nothing has really changed since the outbreak began.
Disinfectant is still our best ally. You will need to clean all surfaces and items very frequently in order to minimize the risk. This can be especially tricky if you need to conduct a relocation of supplies and office furniture. Apart from working with moving professionals who care about complying with the safety standards, make sure that you disinfectant each and every item after the relocation process. The same goes for all objects that you will be bringing in, no matter how big or small the package is.
You will need to be well supplied with sanitizers. Dispensers should never be empty, so make sure to check on them frequently. Apart from that, a location in the workspace where anyone can use soap to wash their hands (most likely a bathroom), should always be available. Apart from all the usual rules related to creating an office space that people want to work in, the coronavirus outbreak has brought another one: keeping the office space healthy if you want your employees to feel safe and work as well as they can.
Raising employee awareness
Moreover, you will need to raise awareness among the employees concerning the importance of frequently washing their hands, as not doing so could easily allow the virus to thrive. Apart from making sure that the employees are verbally briefed and well-aware of how serious the situation is, you can also put up posters around the workspace, advocating the importance of keeping the employees’ hands clean at all times.
You should have a spare room available where one or more of your employees will be isolated before they are transferred, in the unfortunate event of becoming ill during work hours.
You will need to be supportive of your employees. Emphasize the fact that there will be no penalties for sick employees and that they will be given a paid leave. Even if they have only some of the symptoms and it is not confirmed that they are the victims of coronavirus, it is still best if they stay at home. The same applies in the case they are taking medications which could make some symptoms invisible, for example ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Tips for holding meetings after the coronavirus outbreak
Special tips for companies returning after coronavirus outbreak are needed for organizing and holding meetings. Such events can be especially dangerous if there is a need for plenty of people to communicate in a small area, as the virus is then likely to spread if at least one person at the meeting is infected.
Therefore, you will need to think twice on whether meeting in person is really all that necessary. It would be best if you can avoid it altogether, for example, by organizing an online meeting. If you can’t do that, then try to hold a meeting with a minimal amount of people present. The less people there are – the better. Even if you are used to holding weekly conference meetings in order to improve morale – now is not the time to do so live.
Before the meeting commences, there are some things you can do to prepare. Make sure that there are enough sanitizers and that all persons at the meeting have washed their hands before the meeting has begun. That will help if the location is nicely ventilated, so open all nearby doors and windows if you can.
Whatever you do to prepare, there is no guarantee that one or more of the participants will not begin feeling ill during the meeting. You will need to be prepared for this situation as well. Designate an empty room where such a participant will rest until he/she is transferred to a hospital. Before the meeting begins, take contact details from everyone. You will need to know their address and their telephone number. If someone becomes ill, you will need to share this information with relevant public health workers.
Plan for the worst
While, with some luck, you will be able to steer clear of the virus entirely in your working environment, this does not mean you shouldn’t be prepared for the worst. Therefore, knowing just what to do if someone at your workspace is infected can save you lots of trouble later on.
You will need a plan detailing how your business will stay afloat even with substantially less employees or other business associates. It is hard to provide specific advice on this topic, as different businesses will need to use different tactics in order to adapt and overcome this problem. Think of the ways you can keep your business running in this situation. After coming up with a plan, share it with your employees as they, too, will need to know what their responsibilities will amount to in this situation.
With these office tips for companies returning after the coronavirus outbreak, you should be adequately prepared. However, the more work your employees can do from their homes (online, for example), the lesser will be the chance of the virus spreading. Finally, don’t forget that nowadays, following adequate safety protocols is just as important, or even more so, than any other aspect of your business practice. So, good luck, and stay safe!
Alex Durick has been working for promoversmiami.com for more than 15 years now. He loves all kinds of sports, especially baseball and basketball, as well as spending time with his wife and infant daughter. At work, he is currently preoccupied with the necessary safety measures, to the extent of annoying some of his coworkers. But, in the end, they all understand that their safety and the safety of their families always comes first.
Image – https://pixabay.com/photos/conference-room-table-office-768441/