As COVID-19 continues to have an effect on daily life, many business owners are looking forward to a return to “normal.” However, even as stay-at-home orders are eased and non-essential businesses are allowed to resume operations, there’s a lot for organizations to consider before they reopen.
1) The new office reality
When you get the go-ahead to re-open your office, be prepared for changes. Employees looking forward to their return to the office and a sense of normalcy should brace themselves for a wide range of new safety protocols. Advisers at Canadian commercial real estate and architecture firms have issued guidelines on how to prepare for employees’ return to workspaces once it’s deemed appropriate. Here’s some helpful information when planning your re-opening.
2) Getting ready to re-open your retail or service-oriented business
Because these types of businesses often have customers on the premises, there are workplace considerations, some more involved than others, depending on the specific type of business. There are some steps you can take right now to explore potential changes your business can make to help lessen the blow. The Retail Council of Canada has developed a Reopening Playbook to assist retailers and business & personal service providers in their reopening planning – useful best practices for your employees and customers, too. https://www.retailcouncil.org/coronavirus-info-for-retailers/recovery-playbook/
While resuming operations following the COVID-19 pandemic may seem like a daunting task, businesses don’t have to go it alone. To help with this process, you can seek the help of your Broker to determine what actions you need to take to ensure your business reopens smoothly and securely.