We’ve finally turned a corner in COVID-19. Businesses and communities are being allowed to open up and employees are allowed to return to work – to some degree. While there’s no clear roadmap on how to guarantee a smooth return, there are some guidelines and strategies that you can implement to help your business.
Returning to Work After COVID-19
- The first part of the phase is not simply to open up everything and return to normal. Business owners may begin to start operations again, but it’s recommended to do so in stages. All employees who can feasibly do their jobs remotely should be allowed to continue to do so. The only employees who should return to work onsite are those who cannot work from home.
- Once phase one is complete and the state is ready to move onto phase two, businesses can reassess their needs again. Employees who are able to work from home should still be allowed to work remotely. Just as in phase one, only employees who cannot work from home should be in the workplace. At this time, youth activities may resume and large venues may be able to reopen at a lower capacity. Social distancing measures should still take place.
What Business Owners Can Do Now
- Create a plan for how you’re going to keep your business clean and safe for all employees and visitors. The CDC offers the best and most detailed plan for business sanitization, and we highly recommend all business owners refer to it.
- Continue to support public health while running your business by providing PPE to employees, keeping the workplace clean, and social distancing.
- Provide reasonable accommodation and sick leave for your employees. If you employ workers who must be onsite, you will need a plan for vulnerable employees who cannot come back to work.
At Economic Development Collaborative, we understand that it’s a challenging time for all. Click here to access the free resource guide for your business that can help you take the next steps for your company.
