The safety of your employees is your first and foremost concern when considering your work operations during these uncertain times of the COVID-19 outbreak, also known as coronavirus. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new coronavirus that had not been previously identified. It was first identified after an outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
The virus is a respiratory illness that can be spread from person to person. Symptoms can be mild or severe and include fever, cough and difficulty breathing, among other symptoms. There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, although researchers are working on developing a vaccine and drugs to treat the virus. It is a worldwide threat that must be taken seriously.
Coronavirus and employee safety
Coronavirus is spreading rapidly, and employers are looking for ways to keep employees safe. Here are some measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
- Do not shake hands, use other methods of greeting
- Encourage employee hand washing and send regular reminders to employees by email
- Remind employees to cover coughs and sneezes and avoid touching their faces
- Increase ventilation within the building by opening windows and adjusting air conditioning
- Use videoconferencing as opposed to face-to-face client meetings
- If you must hold a meeting, make sure it is in an open, well-ventilated space
- Postpone large meetings or gatherings
- Do not share food
- Encourage employee health screenings, especially for employees who handle food
- Ask employees who are sick or who have sick family members to stay home
- Regularly disinfect any work surfaces
- Send home any employee who comes to work appearing to have respiratory symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath
- Develop flexible work leave policies which will allow sick employees to stay home and employees who have sick family members to stay home and provide care for them
- If an employee has a confirmed case of COVID-19, fellow employees should be informed of their possible exposure to the disease while maintaining confidentiality
For more information on workplace preparedness during the coronavirus outbreak, read OSHA’s Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19.
How working remotely can help prevent the spread of COVID-19
Many state and local governments have issued mandates to temporarily close non-essential businesses until the coronavirus poses less of a threat. Even if you do not live in an area where there is a mandate, you soon could be. Now is the time to explore how to handle keeping your business running should you be asked to temporarily close a physical location.
Sending employees home to work remotely may not be an easy decision, but it could be one that saves lives by protecting the safety of your employees. Health professionals recommend social distancing as one of the top ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Even if you are not under a mandate, you can prevent exposure by not having a large number of employees at the same location. If a mandate is handed down, you must have your plan in place.
Increasing the physical distance of employees from one another by telecommuting will require a remote work strategy. You must make sure you have the infrastructure and technology to successfully convert a physical workforce to work remotely.
Your employees are understandably worried about the future and will be looking to company leaders to provide reassurance. Once you have a remote workforce, you will want to provide a plan to communicate the latest COVID-19 information and updates to employees. Keeping the lines of communication open will go a long way to alleviate employee fear and anxiety.
Converting to a mobile workforce using Cloud ERP software
You may have heard much about the benefits of Cloud ERP software but never thought it was the solution for your business automation needs. However, these are challenging times for businesses that require unique solutions.
Cloud services allow your workforce to collaborate remotely and share files from the comfort of their own homes or wherever they may be working. All of your departments can store and share files remotely through advanced cloud technology that keeps files secure and synchronized.
Team projects can be accessed by all parties remotely from any internet-connected device. Any changes that need to be made can be completed immediately with real-time editing ability. All employees in all your departments can stay connected from anywhere, including their own homes, which is an important benefit for companies who are looking to transfer to a remote workforce during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Premier Computing can help you with converting to a remote workforce amidst COVID-19 concerns through Cloud ERP software. We are ready to help you find solutions to keep your business thriving during uncertain times. Contact us for more information. We hope you; your employees and their families stay safe!
