It’s been a little over three months from the time community quarantine was implemented in the country, and with the dangling fear of whether or not the vaccine for COVID-19 will be discovered soon, there is a chance the entire country will be under quarantine until the vaccine is made available. For now, we are jumping from one quarantine extension to another, and even if the government decides to lift the quarantine, the experience should be a lesson learned for many businesses.
Here are some methods to ensure that your business operations will run smoothly during quarantine, while following the government’s health measures and implementing your own rules and regulations within the organization to maintain the safety and security of your employees.
1. Abide by New Normal Guidelines
Do not risk getting your workplace a venue for the COVID-19 infection. Follow the guidelines set for employers by The Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry.
2. Implement New Office Rules
Limit the number of people in office and restrict them from gathering in one area such as the office lounge, the pantry, or by the water dispenser. Discourage overtime, as well as, create a clean-up activity for each team at least twice a week.
3. Sanitize Your Office
Intense proper hygiene will become a part of the new normal. Ensure that your employees have access to hand sanitizers, soaps, face masks, non-contact infrared body thermometer, and disinfectants. This will encourage them to practice proper hygiene while at work.
4. Work-from-Home Setup
Do not be hasty in sending everyone back to the office. Other companies will be doing work-from-home setup until the end of the year or until the vaccine for COVID-19 becomes available. It’d be wise to allocate funds for coronavirus testing as well.
5. Reduce Work Hours
One of the highly recommended ways to deal with our situation these days is to reduce the usual 8 hours to 6-7 work hours, or adapt a shifting or flexitime schedule for your staff. These would help limit the number of people staying in your office.
6. Provide Strong Internet Connection
One of the most expected struggles of work-from-home employees is slow Internet connection. They need an alternative solution when their own service providers fail to provide the promised Internet speed.
7. Develop a Business Continuity Plan
Creating a Crisis Management Committee to help provide updates and address issues for your company is recommended. Being upfront and handling concerns in a systematized manner avoid conflicts at this time of uncertainties.
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