The coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented healthcare crisis that has shaken the entire global system. In the wake of the Pandemic, industries and financial systems worldwide are collapsing, with businesses shutting down. As people struggle financially with the vast majority of skilled workers forced to sit at home, governments are deliberating recovery.
Businesses across the world have embraced work-at-home as the new normal. While remote working models got utilized long before, they have emerged as a mainstream reality after the COVID-19 healthcare emergency. Businesses have realized the cost-cutting potential of the work-at-home model. However, not all industries can embrace it entirely.
For instance, the manufacturing industry and factories cannot delegate duties with the work-at-home models. The global economy is suffering, and the pressure to reopen businesses is immense. Many countries across the world have reopened their businesses with close attention to COVID-19 SOPs.
Experts are worldwide deliberating upon the new normal triggered in the coronavirus pandemic and its implications on business activity. This article will discuss various strategies and policies that ensure safety during the Pandemic.
· PRACTICING SOPS
Many government and private offices across the world have started to resume activities with diligent attention to SOPs. As mentioned above, not all businesses can embrace the remote or telework model. Factories and retail outlets that are resuming activity or pharmacies that never closed down must implement robust measures.
Entrepreneurs and executive leaders must prioritize worker safety and curbing the spread of the virus. Almost all the businesses worldwide are conducting research and obtaining guidance on preparing workplaces for COVID-19. The virus is spreading at a volatile rate, and the death rates have increased considerably since March 2020.
- ENSURING MASKS
Practicing COVID-19 prevention SOPs is an absolute necessity for workplaces focused on resuming regular activity. The new-normal focuses on ensuring that all employees and visitors are wearing masks. Individuals without masks should not gain entry into any workplace, retail outlet, or other spaces.
- 6-FEET DISTANCING
The workplace must designate spots to ensure 6-feet distancing. It is essential for banks, coffee shops, and other outlets where customers/clients have to form queues. It is crucial to mark the spots to ensure that people maintain a 6-feet distance while waiting in lines.
- CHECKING FOR FEVER
In recent months, many restaurants, bars, and boutiques have opened up for business. It is vital for companies that allow customers to spend more than an hour to undertake strong measures. For instance, most retail outlets and restaurants take a quick fever test before allowing customers inside. Many restaurants offer masks to visitors who aren’t wearing one to ensure all their customers’ and employees’ safety.
McDonald’s, the global fast-food chain, has adopted a praise-worthy COVID-19 policy that prioritizes health. All customers without a mask get turned away, and the security personnel provides sanitizers as a protective measure.
· EMBRACING THE TELEWORK MODEL
Remote working is the future of the corporate world. The work from home model is enjoying robust growth for the last five years. This trend will only increase, and the coronavirus emergency has expedited its wide-spread implementation.
Businesses, from large-scale corporations to small and medium-scale enterprises, are realizing their potential. It allows them to ensure superior efficiency and eliminate the costs of maintaining big offices. Companies that can resume their operational activities without requiring office space must do so.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has not ended, and with many vaccines in-progress, it is ideal for exercising caution. The telework model ensures all employees’ and clients’ safety, and it offers a highly lucrative advantage. Businesses can save up millions of dollars spent maintaining offices, utility expenses, and ensuring employees’ comfort.
Telework allows that capital to funnel towards growth and expansion-focused agendas that drive profitability.
· PRIORITIZING HEALTH
Understandably, not all businesses can enjoy an undisrupted activity with the work-at-home model. However, setups, such as factories, oil refineries, construction companies, and chemical plants, can adopt other measures to ensure virus prevention.
For instance, many countries have allowed businesses to call in a smaller number of employees to resume business activity. Instead of grinding work to a complete halt, allowing half the employees to work at home is a more viable alternative. Construction companies and factories can reduce the number of employees or create batches that work on alternate days.
This model also requires a robust implementation of COVID-19 SOPs, ensuring a 6-feet distance and mask. Employees who show the slightest sign of sickness should undergo a test immediately. In case they test positive, they should go into quarantine, while close colleagues must undertaking tests as well.
CONCLUSION
The new-normal is scary, overwhelming, and ridden with anxiety. The coronavirus pandemic has given birth to an enormous death toll. The entire world has plummeted into darkness, and the human race is experiencing an unseen entity. Businesses are no more predictable, and reopening appears as a courageous decision.
However, bravery requires caution and close consideration to prevent the rampant spread of the deadly virus. Practicing SOPs and taking precautionary measures is the way to go forward. Businesses get entrusted with the well-being of their employees, customers, and business associates.
This enormous responsibility requires a mindful approach to safety and ensuring a risk-free work environment!
