2020 was a challenging year, to say the least. With Covid-19 at the top of everyone’s minds, the anxiety over catching and spreading the deadly virus is still at an all-time high. Some businesses converted to virtual activities, some closed down completely, either temporarily or permanently. Essential businesses were required to remain open and take their chances.
While taking precautions can certainly reduce the chances of contracting the illness, nothing is 100% successful. However, it’s still important to do as much as possible to prevent the disease from infecting your workplace.
Even with the approved COVID vaccine now available, the timeframe for its distribution is still in flux. Surveys have indicated that over one third of the population are reluctant to get the vaccine until they see its impact on others. Continuing to practice prevention is critical to avoiding a widespread outbreak.
How Widespread Infections Can Impact a Business
The media has been inundated with advice on how to prevent contracting and spreading the coronavirus. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you’ve probably heard the same tips many times. Despite the advice, COVID-19 continues to spread.
When an outbreak hits the workplace, your business could be negatively affected in several ways.
1. Absenteeism
If workers suspect a Covid infection, they must either quarantine for 14 days or get tested. Test results typically take 3-5 days, even with rapid tests providing quick results. This wait time to initially get tested can be days.
If even one staff member is suspected or confirmed to have the disease, other employees in contact must quarantine or get tested. This creates a domino effect, potentially leading to multiple employees being out for extended periods.
2. Reduction in Business
Word spreads quickly. If customers learn of an infection in your workplace, they may choose to shop elsewhere. With uncertainties surrounding disease transmission, people are cautious about any potential exposure, regardless of its validity.
3. Business Closure
If your business relies on physical operations, an outbreak among staff can hinder productivity. Insufficient workforce due to the outbreak may impede accomplishing the mission.
One solution is hiring temporary workers for positions with minimal training requirements. If not possible, the only alternative is business shutdown. Temporary or not, this leaves employees unemployed, possibly leading to expertise loss if they secure other jobs. Hiring and training new employees becomes necessary to fill the vacancies.
Take Steps to Reduce the Chance of an Outbreak
There are some things you can do to decrease the chances of a COVID-19 pandemic affecting your business.
Stress Compliance with Recommended Guidelines. Of course, following the CDC guidelines is paramount no matter where you go in preventing infection. Make it mandatory for all employees, customers, and visitors to wear masks while in the building. Practice social distancing as much as possible. Wash hands often.
Adopt a Flexible Sick Leave Policy. Stress the importance of staying home if an employee is ill. Encourage anyone having COVID symptoms to get tested. You may want to go further and mandate testing if there are experiencing symptoms.
Establish a Family Care Rule. If an employee lives with someone who has been infected or is having symptoms, they should not be allowed to come to the workplace until cleared.
Allow Working from Home. If an employee can effectively do their job remotely, allow them to go virtual, at least until the pandemic is under control.
Set Policies that Apply to Everyone. When hiring temporary workers, ensure their company emphasizes compliance and follows the same sickness and preventive guidelines as your regular employees.
Have Your Workplace Sanitized. To prevent the circulation of germs in the workplace, professional sanitization and disinfection are crucial. Closing the building until everyone is vaccinated and immune to infectious diseases is one option. However, getting the building professionally sanitized and disinfected can effectively eliminate harmful bacteria and promote a safer environment.
Hire a Trusted Professional to Sanitize and Disinfect Your Workplace
PureOne Services of Central Minnesota actively helps keep your workplace healthier with our COVID-19 Sanitizing and Disinfecting Service. Using EPA-approved products and proven procedures, we eliminate germs, including the COVID-19 virus, and disinfect high touch points. Our disinfecting fog covers surfaces and eliminates airborne respiratory droplets.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 remains a persistent threat, causing widespread infections and impacting business operations. Protect your employees, customers, and business by taking preventive measures to prevent disease spread.
Contact us today to learn more.
