Operating in an Essential Market

Keeping Your Team Safe From Corona Virus If They Can’t Work From Home

As the world faces a pandemic, the likes of which it hasn’t seen in hundreds of years, many stay at home orders have been issuedto halt the spread of Covid-19, also known as Corona Virus.

As a result, many businesses have been forced to close or push their employees to work from home where possible.

For some vital businesses, such as supermarkets, food stores, food producers and others, closing simply isn’t an option, as you still need to feed the nation and give them the product they need.

If your business is operating in an essential market, and you want to stay successful and still keep your valued employees healthy, here are some practical tips.

Engage A Professional Commercial Cleaning Company

One of the best ways to ensure that your staff are safe, and reduce their chances of catching Covid-19, is to keep their workplace clean. Work with Ideal Cleaning to enjoy a professional cleaning service and ensure that your workspace is decontaminated on a regular basis. The company offers advice on how it can help businesses stay clean and sanitary during the pandemic on idealcleaning.co.uk.

Communicate With Staff

The uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic can be more frightening for many individuals than the virus itself, so it’s important that you create an open dialogue with staff throughout this challenging time. Make it clear that you still value them, and that you have put precautions in place to keep them safe. Provide clear instructions on how they can personally reduce their chances of catching the virus and any procedures that they’re required to undertake whilst at work. This will reassure your team that you are doing everything within your power to keep them safe during this tough experience.

Distribute Hand Sanitiser Throughout Your Workplace

Regular handwashing and good hygiene are vital to slowing down the spread of Covid-19 in any space, so make sure that hand sanitiser is readily available to both your staff and customers. Provide staff with personal hand sanitiser bottles, and also place communal bottles and hands-free sanitising stations across your workplace. Place them near high-risk areas, such as food preparation stations, doors, and bathrooms. You should also place signs near every sink encouraging people to wash their hands whilst they have the opportunity. Place anti-bacterial soap in all holders, so that everyone has access to it and can clean their hands thoroughly.

Send Staff Home If They Show Any Symptoms

If any of your team starts to get a fever, runny nose, or a cough, then you should ask them to stay home from work to avoid spreading the infection. Even if they haven’t officially been diagnosed with Covid-19, you should ask them to take time off work as a precaution. The UK Government has made arrangements for statutory sick pay to be paid to any staff who have to self-isolate, but you should consider offering them full pay if this is possible. By offering full pay to staff who are self-isolating for the benefit of their fellow team members, you’ll be showing your staff that you value their health and wellbeing.