As we start to re-open businesses, falling into our daily work routines and habits can happen quickly. Let’s face it, we are all anxious to get back to the grind. Just as businesses are responsible to follow general guidelines to help protect their employees and customers, employees must also be responsible   during this crisis. There are general guidelines for interactions between employees and other employees or vendors and interactions between employees and customers. 

Here are 5 things your employees need to know before returning to work after the coronavirus outbreak

1. First and foremost employees and customers have a responsibility to self-quarantine if they have a reason to expect that they may be ill or may have come into contact with COVID 19. This means stay at home if you are sick!
2. PPE – Employees must properly wear a cloth face covering. This means the face covering must cover both the nose and mouth. The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
3. Employees must also social distance themselves from each other while working. This can be accomplished through the following means:
   • Spacing or moving workstations
   • Staggering shifts
   • Restrict interactions between employees and outside visitors or delivery drivers
   • Adjust training/ onboarding practices
   • Discourage the use of shared phones, desks, workstations
   • Install physical barriers, such as sneeze guards and partitions
4. All employees required to go to work should perform a daily health check as prescribed by the Delaware Division of Public Health. 
   • Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough or shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. 
   • Take your temperature if symptoms develop.
5. Wash your hands often
   • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. 
   • If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
   • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Wash your hands often, avoid close contact (6’ distancing), cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover, cover coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect and monitor your health. 

Written by Wayne Dippold