Best Practices for Operating a Business During COVID-19

From encouraging work hours flexibility to implementing strict sanitation practices, here are some best practices for businesses to ensure that critical operations are still being met, all the while mitigating the level of disease transmission.

The coronavirus has caused problems for many businesses of all sizes across the Philippines. From encouraging work hours flexibility to implementing strict sanitation practices, here are some best practices for businesses to ensure that critical operations are still being met, all the while mitigating the level of disease transmission.

Enforce remote work setup

Like most changes to routine, working from home will require some initial adjustment and recalibration from both employees and employers. It will come across as unusual and uncomfortable at first, however, making the health and safety of employees a top priority should be the guiding principle in making difficult decisions during this challenging time. Aside from keeping the employees safe from the virus, remote work setup brings a lot of benefits to the table, such as improved employee retention, greater productivity and efficiency, better work-life balance, and apparent cost-saving opportunities.

Adapt to virtual communication

One way in which businesses must respond is to transition the in-person meetings into virtual ones. This will ensure that social distancing regulations are being followed. Start by selecting a meeting tech that can be implemented across the whole organization such as Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Microsoft Teams, among others. Whatever the chosen meeting platform may be, it is highly encouraged to conduct basic training on how to use it, how to book meetings using a virtual system, as well as what are the rules of engagement around virtual meetings; for example, minimizing background noise.

Reassure customers with a more personalized, convenient process

Maintaining customer loyalty is one of the most integral parts for a business to succeed amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Despite the challenges, businesses can implement a few ways to retain customers. Begin with sending consistent messages that show love and care through all channels available. Keep them up to date regarding business operations and make temporary offerings, like discount promotions, payment deadline extensions, or free upgrades. Also, companies might want to rethink their entire seller-buyer journey. Streamlining the process to a more convenient one will send a message to the clients that they are being considered and supported, rather than conveying that the business is still trying to hit a quota.

Implement health and safety measures

As aforementioned, encouraging a work-from-home setup is the most basic thing to do to reduce the risk of exposure to coronavirus. Where that is not possible, businesses need to carry out measures that are intentional with the employees’ health and wellness.  Kickstart these procedures through conducting a pre-screen test, like taking the employee’s temperature, assessing symptoms before work, and requiring them to undergo a swab test. Employees should also be strictly instructed to wear a mask or face covering, practice social distancing, and report to their supervisors in case of symptoms appearance, or direct contact with an infected person. Further, it is a must that workspaces are disinfected and cleaned before and after operating hours. Putting a barrier in-between stations as well as air filters might be helpful. To cap off these precautionary actions, businesses shall obtain comprehensive personal accident insurance to avoid financial legal liabilities to their employees in the event of accidents.

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