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Life hasn't been easy for those business owners who operate their businesses offline. These past 18 months have been very difficult indeed, and the blame can be placed on the COVID pandemic. Some businesses have closed for good, while others have lost money due to the temporary shutdown.
Trying to stay afloat and financially solvent has been tough but thankfully, for some business owners, there is light at the end of the dark tunnel they have been stepping through. Vaccinations are now in place and offline businesses are finally starting to open again. Hopefully, your business will be in the process of opening too. But now is not the time to get complacent, of course. The COVID virus still poses a risk, so for the benefit of your customers, and to make your employers feel good about returning to work, safety measures need to be put in place. These can include the following.
#1: Ensure social distancing measures are in place
One-way systems, barricades, and sticky tape markings on the floor are just some of the ways to ensure social distancing. It's also a good idea to have members of staff on the shop floor to remind customers of social distancing rules, especially when members of the public start to act negligently.
#2: Provide face masks and hand sanitization
Some people are exempt from having to wear a face mask, such as those who have a disability or who have breathing difficulties, so this is something you need to be aware of. But for all other people, you do need to insist that they wear a mask while on your premises. Provide face masks for those that don't, either by giving them away for free or by selling them to your customers. Provide hand sanitization facilities too by installing a cleaning station at your entrance.
#3: Remember after-hours cleaning
You don't stop COVID-proofing after closing time as there is still a need to sanitize your building and furniture. Hire a cleaning team if you're understaffed, and hire a linen service to take care of your staff uniforms and other pieces of laundry.
#4: Limit the number of people on your premises
This might be the last thing you want to do, especially when you're trying to reclaim lost profits, but for the sake of social distancing, it is imperative that you do. This will be relatively easy if you're running a restaurant or healthcare business, as you can use a booking or appointment system to limit numbers. If you run any other kind of business, it might be that you have to ask some people to form a socially distanced line at your entry point.
#5: Find out about industry-specific regulations
Some businesses will have to take specific precautions so make sure you know what these are. You can find out by checking the information provided by the CDC and by visiting those sites that offer advice to businesses such as yours. By educating yourself, you will know the steps you need to take, and you will be able to sidestep any potential illegalities too.
There will be a time when life returns to normal, but for now, we must all do our bit to keep our customers and employees safe. Follow our suggestions and then continue your research online for information relating to your particular industry.