How Do You Reopen your Business After Covid19?
Are you about to get the go-ahead to reopen your business? Or maybe you have been operating with very strict guidelines and now some of those are going to be eliminated. We would all like to get back to normal again and get our businesses up and running (and get some revenue coming in). But, keep in mind, just because you are open, doesn’t mean that customers will come back in through the door. They will be paying close attention to what you are doing to make them feel safe in your office building, store, restaurant, or service business.
Most people are going to be weighing the risks of whether to go out in public or use the other options available to them like Amazon or other online service businesses to fulfill their needs. As you reopen your business, this is the time to put yourself in your employees’ and customers’ shoes and think about what you can do to make them comfortable that your location is a safe place to work and patronize.
Before you reopen
Make sure your place of business is clean. Not only should it look clean, but it needs to actually be clean and sanitized. This visual will mean everything to your customers. The restrooms need to be pristine too with soap and disposable towels. Hand sanitizer near the front entrance and throughout the space will show you are serious!
Decide what your policies are for anyone who is entering your location. Start by following all local regulations, but also determine what your additional best practices are going to be. Before you reopen, make sure you have all the supplies your employees are going to need: face masks, disposable gloves, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes or spray. Have a meeting with your employees and go over everything with them. Be firm about face masks and any other protocol that must be followed. And…we’ve all seen it: people wearing masks with their nose uncovered; make sure your employees know the right way to wear a face mask.
Reopen with signage and information
Communicating a positive and consistent message to your employees and customers will help with cooperation. Signage that is clear will help people know what is expected and make it easier for them to comply. The signs should include reminders about social distancing, your policy about face masks and any other information that will help them during their visit to your business. Consider putting contact information on all signage that points to a specific person on the management team that can answer the questions and concerns people will have.
Produce flyers or handouts that tell the story of what is being done in your business to help keep people safe. These handouts should be in a rack visible and available to people as they enter. Update as needed and include things such as extra cleaning, HVAC changes or upgraded filters, changes to policies about returning merchandise or any other pertinent information. It will be easier for people to follow the new normal if they know what it is.
A few more things to consider
- Before you reopen, decide on how you are going to handle face mask requirements at your business for both employees and customers. Consider having extra face masks to issue visitors that do not have one. Not all customers are going to comply. Prepare and train your employees how to respond to these incidents before they turn into altercations.
- Stairs and/or elevators in your building? Place signage in those locations limiting how many people to an elevator or stairwell.
- If you have a drinking fountain or vending machine, turn them off and place signage there explaining.
- Are you part of a big office building? You may want to consider taking temperatures as people arrive in the lobby. This will take detailed steps or you can consider technology: https://roboticassistancedevices.com/wally-health-screening-option/
- Think about the deliveries you get and how you can minimize any unnecessary traffic going through your location.
- Document everything you do for these processes. Consults with your insurance and attorney as needed to cover any possible liability. Stay in tune with the most current CDC announcements.
Reopen safely
Partnering with a CRA (Consumer Reporting Agency) with the services you need to fill in your HR gaps can be an economical solution that also helps you stay in compliance. The right CRA partner can help you recruit, integrate your system, perform background checks, provide education and license verification, drug testing at convenient locations, and support throughout the process.
Feel confident that you are bringing the best hire into your company by having done due diligence both legally and ethically for your employees and customers. A professional CRA partner pays for itself by avoiding costly hiring mistakes. For a free consultation or more information, contact Genesis Background Screening Services at 866 944-0041 ext 101. Online, email or visit www.genesisbackgroundscreening.com. You can sign up to be emailed whenever we post a new blog at https://genesisbackgroundscreening.com/subscribe-to-the-blog/
Genesis Background Screening is not a law firm and provides our blogs for informational purposes only. Blog is not a substitute for experienced legal advice. Research laws or regulations mentioned in our blogs and ask your legal counsel any questions you have to be sure your organization is within the law and compliant with regulations.
Jacqueline McClure
Genesis Background Screening Services
