Maintaining Your Company During a Pandemic

During any kind of crisis, such as the pandemic that we are currently in, things tend to get worse before they get better. Since we can never be sure how long the crisis itself could last, how can you ensure that your company can survive the long haul? As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, so has the number of businesses asking their employees to work from home. But what about the ones who can’t? Those that are considered essential battle the task of being around people daily that could put their lives at risk. Now that the country is trying to reopen and get back to “normal,” business owners are faced with making the best decisions for their human capital and the functionality of their businesses. Whether your employees are out on the front lines or putting in their hours virtually, here are some ways that you can continue to keep your business afloat and keep moral at a maximum during some of the most challenging times of this age.

Keep your employees protected

When employees have to physically go into the office, owners should be flexible and non-punitive about their leave policies, not requiring workers to come into the office every day as long as the work is getting done. Consider employees that may need to stay home with their children due to school or childcare closures. While they are in the office, promote etiquette for coughing, sneezing, washing hands, and wearing masks. You might also contemplate limiting the number of people in the office at any given time and minimize face-to-face contact between employees at all times. Encourage your sick employees to stay home, even if it is not virus related. Mostly, make sure that you, as the “Boss” is leading by example; do everything that you are asking your employees to do.

Nurture Your Employees Skills

Since office interactions are limited, there are not a lot of chances for socialization or getting to know the people that work for you. Professional growth and promotion may be restricted while companies decide what the new normal looks like. Now is a great time to figure out what your employees are good at and use those skills to navigate them to new virtual opportunities within the company. A new assignment that lends to skills not often presented at work can give your employees a fresh outlook and encourage them to start thinking outside the box. New projects help to keep morale up and promote employee retention at a time when it’s hard for them to see their options within the company.

Communication and Community

Be open and honest with the people who work for you about where the company is at this time; the highs and lows. Be transparent about it, and remain consistent. Keep staff meeting as you did before the crisis, to share information that they would get if they were in the building. You want to make sure that they are not losing moral and try to keep them engaged as much as possible. Consider conducting an ice breaker or a fun activity before your meetings, recognizing employees that think outside the box, and developing mentorship or partner programs that provide support on an individual basis; all in an attempt to get your keep your employees involves and your business thriving.

Every ordeal your business goes through is not a crisis. Your plan should only be used when an issue escalates to a crisis level, and several moving parts of your company or departments are affected.

RichLine Solutions encourages you to be strategic about your companies Crisis Intervention Plan. Connect with us today at info.richlinesolitions@gmail.com and let us know how we can make creating your plan easier. We want the opportunity to help you grow to your next level of greatness!