As Businesses Reopen, Here’s How Your Office Can Reduce COVID-19 Risks
The last six months have taught us a lot about how American businesses operate (or, rather, how they don’t) during a crisis. But while the coronavirus rages on, businesses across the country are reopening in order to stay afloat and serve their customers.
Just because your business is reopening, however, doesn’t mean you can throw all caution to the wind. Only 19% of businesses claim to be very effective at developing leaders — but if you’re able to show your business is putting health and safety first, you could make a real difference in your sector and in the community. What can you do to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at your office? Check out these tips below as a place to start.
Mandate Face Coverings and Social Distancing
Although this should go without saying, there are those who still believe that face masks and social distancing are either unnecessary or too ineffective to make a difference. It’s essential that these two preventative measures be used in tandem. Employees should wear face masks at all times while on the job site (which you can provide to them) and maintain at least six feet of distance, if not more, between themselves and others. Many businesses have already practiced social distancing by using floor stickers to maintain space between people. This enables working during the Covid outbreak while helping to stop it from spreading. Even if you have your own private office, it’s not a bad idea to wear a mask there, as well. This can become tricky around lunchtime, of course. If there aren’t private offices available for every employee, it’s a good idea to encourage employees to eat outside or even in ther cars. Desks and chairs should be spaced out in larger rooms to accommodate as much space as possible. Remind your employees that a mask is not a magical barrier that will keep the virus out; while it may make it a bit harder for them to get sick, adequate distance is also required.
Prioritize Frequent Sanitization
Sanitizing shared surfaces should have already been a crucial part of your operations, but it’s even more important now. You should regularly clean and disinfect office equipment, tables, doorknobs, and other shared touchpoints with CDC-approved cleaning agents. Discourage employees from sharing computers and technology and consider asking workers to use disposable or self-provided items in order to reduce contamination risk. Be sure to provide plenty of hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer for employees to use throughout the day.
Improve Office Ventilation and Air Flow
Airflow can play a big role in COVID-19 transmission. Although a properly ventilated roof can last for over 20 years, your building’s roof isn’t the only place where airflow matters. The more you can improve your office’s ventilation, the safer your employees will be. When a building has poor airflow and ventilation, your workers will be more vulnerable to viral transmission. Do whatever you can to increase the fresh air intake ratio to recirculated air. In some cases, you may need to have your HVAC system serviced or upgraded; in others, you may need to keep windows and doors open. Figure out what steps you can feasibly take to maintain fresh airflow and proper ventilation so that no one has to worry about what they’re breathing in.
Stagger Return Dates or Continue Remote Work
You may yearn for the days of welcoming all employees back to the office on a Monday morning, but that approach isn’t necessarily the safest. As your business reopens, you might want to think about staggering the return of your employees. You might want to bring back your vital workers first (who may be unable to do their work remotely) or you might ask for volunteers. Decide which system will work best for both your operations and the well-being of your employees. Keep in mind that if your business is functioning well with some level of remote workforce, there’s nothing that says most people have to come back to the office right now. In one survey, 60% of remote workers said that if they could, they would leave their current jobs for a full-time remote position at the same pay rate. Whether you’re bracing yourself for a second wave, you want to attract new talent, or you simply want to keep your employees healthy and happy, it may behoove you to keep remote work as an option.
Although many of us are eager to get back to normal, the reality is that “normal” is a long way off. As businesses start to open their doors again, it’s essential to be cautious and to do your due diligence as a business owner. Otherwise, you could be putting your team — and others in your community — at unnecessary risk.
