Many businesses and organizations have been completely shut down to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Early indications are that Canada’s mitigation strategy is working; we’re seeing fewer cases meaning less person to person transmission. This does not necessarily mean that the virus is being eradicated but that, at the very least, our social distancing measures are slowing the spread.
Our new reality will likely mean that viruses and influenzas will be something that we have to live with and constantly be mindful of. COVID-19 is both highly contagious and appears to be more deadly than the annual flu.
As you approach the restart phase for your business, you need to consider that the changes put in place today will have long-lasting benefits. Here are three tips to help you develop a plan, and be better prepared for the restart of your business:
- Look after yourself. You cannot lead others if you are not taking care of yourself first.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle (exercise, eat right and get your rest).
- Keep motivated by learning.
- Get into the right frame of mind. Virus fears are legitimate your employees will need your assurance that their workplace will be a safe place to come to.
- Build a support group of employees and colleagues to help you work through this collectively.
- Communicate key information to your employees.
- Keep them apprised of meaningful data relative to the status of the virus in their community.
- Encourage them to stay healthy (exercise, eat right and get their rest).
- Provide them with local volunteer needs and encourage those who are capable to get involved.
- Ask employees for ideas on changes to the workplace would make them feel safer at work.
- Do a proper workplace assessment and provide the necessary improvements.
- Install more sinks in convenient locations so employees can more frequently wash their hands.
- Provide more sanitizer dispensers and build an inventory of gloves and facemasks.
- Rework the cleaning and sanitizing process for the workplace.
- Install physical barriers where appropriate.
- Rewrite appropriate policies to include wearing of protective equipment, stay at home provisions and testing to enter the workplace.
These tips are not exhaustive but are a great start for you to revive your business. If you have further questions, feel free to reach out to myself or one of my colleagues through our website at www.osborne-group.com or by searching the hashtag #restartwithaplan on LinkedIn or Twitter. Share your feedback and stay connected to see what others are doing to restart their businesses.
