With every U.S. state currently in some phase of the reopening process, businesses of all sorts are looking into measures that can keep their employees safe as we move into a world forever changed by COVID-19. As discussions are happening of mandatory reduced capacity in offices and continued telecommuting in the upcoming years, it is very clear that we as a country are considering every tool possible to navigate these uncharted waters.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which seeks to protect workers in the United States, released a report outlining the way a business should approach its reopening. OSHA creates 3 risk categories (low, medium, and high) into which it sorts business. On top of the basic safety measures already being taken across the country, OSHA adds additional precautions which should be taken based upon the risk of exposure an employee will face. Most businesses that are in the process of reopening are those in the Medium to low risk category. High risk businesses are those that work actively with confirmed COVID-19 positive cases, such as Hospitals, and are naturally not involved in the reopening discussion given they never closed.

While the original report is very lengthy and goes into specific details, the basic suggestions for both categories include the following: use of PPE as appropriate for the tasks being completed, limited customer access, and minimal face to face contact. These guidelines, as anyone reading them can see, leave a lot of room for interpretation which has resulted in the wide variety of safety measures we are now seeing pop up nationwide.

Reopening Tips and Trends
While there is a great deal of variation across the country in regards to how exactly businesses are approaching reopening, there have been a few recurring trends across industries. We will seek to look at some of these trends and ultimately assess their effectiveness as we continue to monitor their implementation in the upcoming months. Here are some of the top trends emerging as businesses plan to get back to work post pandemic.

1. Establish a COVID-19 Task Force
As states began to pass their infection peaks, many businesses proactively established reopening task forces. These interdisciplinary committees include people from all departments, including human resources, legal, and facilities personnel. Many have been working behind the scenes (in some cases for months) to anticipate and plan for potential issues involving the reopening of businesses. The committees have proven to be essential, as nearly every day states are releasing new guidelines and standards that must be met. Having a task force in place makes reopening easier, as it ends up serving as a group in which all different views and logistics from every aspect of the company can be shared.

2. Use your workspace wisely
With the need to keep space between workers remaining at the forefront of all safety measures, it is important not to forget about utilizing all the space possible in an office. Gensler points to “flex spaces” such as conference rooms and lobbies as perfect areas to convert to offices. This extra space allows for more employees to report to the office if necessary while still maintaining social distancing. It will also be important to use these spaces to keep track of employee movements. Tracking employee interactions will prove to be important in the case of a potential outbreak, as the company will be able to trace the origin of the spread and notify impacted employees. Tracking who sits where also allows for effective communication with facilities workers who can concentrate their cleaning efforts as necessary.

Staying Safe while Getting back to normal
The fear of reopening America too soon and further hurting business is fresh on the mind of citizens everywhere, however many lawmakers and citizens alike remain steadfast in their commitment to getting back to work. With states like Florida, which was one of the first states to reopen, reporting spikes in cases as large as 5.3% in a day according to CNBC, it is not without reason that businesses are looking to take every precaution possible to ensure they will not need to shut down once again due to a second wave. As we look to the future, it is becoming abundantly clear that there will be no “one size fits all” opening for any two states let alone any two business. It is important that business owners remain vigilant and continue to heed all warnings of the CDC as to ensure all employees remain safe until we successfully navigate treating COVID-19.

The PharmaOut team remains committed to doing our part to fight COVID-19 and help keep our families safe. Our team of expert recruiters and consultants have years of experience to assist our clients in successfully continuing their business with our staffing, consulting, HR and investigator meeting services. Please contact us if you would like to discuss how PharmaOut can be your strategic partner.

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