Operating a business is a challenging endeavor as is. Enter a global pandemic, and all business owners are embarking on unchartered territory. Aside from motivating its people to work together to keep the company afloat, it is important for business owners to prioritize their workforce’s safety.
Now more than ever, everyone, especially business owners, should stay proactive and remain cautious in order to safeguard the welfare of its people and customers. That is why business owners should keep the following things in mind to keep vigilant in the new normal:
1. Keep everyone informed of the latest news and information
While the news can be discouraging at times, business owners should keep themselves and their people informed of the latest happenings in the country and worldwide. The government and the media keep the public updated on the developments surrounding the virus, and shares information that is relevant to all businesses.
New regulations and rules are introduced on a regular basis as well, so keeping everyone in the loop is a must. Protocols that may have been in place since the onset of the pandemic may not be applicable today. However, it is imperative to steer clear of fake news and spread verified information shared by reliable sources only.
2. Understand the risks involved
Ideally, all business operations should be conducted from home. However, not all businesses can operate optimally through this set-up. In line with this, business owners should be aware of the risks of continuing operations amid the ongoing pandemic.
In general, there are two major risks to be aware of: the high-risk activities (situations that have a high chance of spreading the virus), and the high-risk group (people who are most vulnerable to the virus).
In line with high-risk activities, a lot of businesses have changed the way they operate in order to avoid mass gatherings. There are a lot of asymptomatic cases out there so if your business requires foot traffic, social distancing should be observed and upheld at all times.
Immunocompromised people, senior citizens, and the youth are considered high risk to the virus, so business owners should assess if they have staff who belong to this group. These people should work remotely or should be stationed at a place with minimum exposure to other people.
3. Recognize the signs and symptoms
While not all COVID-19 infected people display symptoms, it is still important to keep yourself and your workforce aware of the usual symptoms. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fever, dry cough, and tiredness are common COVID-19 symptoms. Less common symptoms include the following:
- aches and pains
- sore throat
- diarrhea
- conjunctivitis
- headache
- loss of taste or smell
- a rash on the skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes
Those with difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, and/or loss of speech or movement display serious symptoms. It is recommended for people with mild symptoms to stay at home at practice self-isolation. Those who display serious symptoms should confer with health professionals before having themselves admitted to a hospital as the front liners have their hands full as is.
It should be noted that it can take 5 days up to two weeks for people to display symptoms, so it’s important to veer away from large crowds and risk exposure as much as possible. If anyone from your workforce displays any symptoms, their work area should be disinfected immediately, and protocols should be in place in case of an infection.
4. Employ and enforce precautions
Safety is king in this day and age, and it is important for your workplace to employ various precautions in order to lower the risk of contracting the virus. The office or work establishment should be disinfected on a regular basis. All employees should have hygiene supplies readily available, and office gatherings should shift to the virtual space.
While there is no cure or vaccine yet, there are so many ways for business owners to step up the ante of their safety protocols not just to protect the company, but for the welfare of its workforce. After all, a company is only as strong as its workforce.
That is why it is important for business owners to enlist experts who can help uphold the safety of their workforce.
