Some of my clients and I’m sure other businesses, especially small ones, are feeling quite overwhelmed or confused about what to do and how to weather this COVID-19 storm. So this is an attempt to assimilate the massive influx of information, and to package together some useful recommendations and credible resources.
The last few days of shut-downs and announcements have been alarming, a relief to some and an over-reaction to others, especially while most of us are asymptomatic. The virus has a 14-day incubation period (hence the quarantine and self-isolation periods) and public health officials are telling us we all play a role in delaying community spread, as long as possible. In other words, to flatten the curve (i.e., let’s try to avoid what happened in Italy: the complete overburdening of the medical system there due to the rapid spread and spike in cases needing treatment…). It’s a tricky balance to prepare, not alarm people, so everyone can take necessary steps.
Staying home and limiting interpersonal contact for an undetermined period is challenging for all, including small businesses with limited resources. The government is promising financial help, but the facts and timing are not yet clear. Meantime, many business owners are looking at ranges of options from credit/cashflow financing to pay/hours cuts to potential layoffs, trying anything they can to keep their ships afloat. This also provides an opportunity to creatively improvise and innovate how you support and interact with your staff and customers...
Engage your team in brainstorming and problem-solving these questions:
- How can you adapt your service offerings to accommodate this situation and client needs?
- What internal and client meetings and tasks can be done with more physical separation, online, on the phone or by videoconference, vs in-person or cancelled?
- What technology and processes do you have or need to put in place to support this?
- Where can you maintain productivity, cut some slack, keep everyone connected and even make this very difficult and challenging situation fun and stress-relieving for people?
- Who from your team can you enlist – or wants to help – with these items?
Plans, policies, practices:
- If you don’t have a COVID-19 policy or communications prepared, including workplace etiquette and hygiene, self-isolation and quarantine policies and other expectations, you should have one, consistent with and customized to your existing policies and practices.
- If you don’t have a work-from-home policy, you now probably need one, at least on an interim basis.
- If you don’t have paid sick days, you may want to consider implementing them, if you can afford it. Alternatively, the Canadian government has announced that it has eliminated the waiting period for EI to relieve some of this burden. It also has an application-based Work Sharing program, which may allow some employers to avoid layoffs resulting from COVID-19.
- Ontario public health officials are now indicating that employers should not be requesting doctor’s notes for COVID-19 related time off work, because it may place an undue burden on medical professionals (i.e., they’re busy dealing with the influx of cases). If your employee offers to provide a doctor’s note to substantiate medical time off for COVID-19 or anything else, ask them to scan and email it from home (if they have that capability), not bring it in while they’re sick.
- If you don’t have a pandemic or business continuity plan, make a record of all the things you may need to deal with – including staff, clients, suppliers, technology etc. – that you’re now or maybe soon figuring out on the fly! (And once all this is over, go back and put a proactive business continuity plan and supports in place for the next time.)
Please contact me if you need help creating or updating your policies or staff communications. Please also share your ideas, resources and experiences – what’s working and what’s needed.
Remember, this too shall pass… Your staff, clients, partners and others will appreciate your leadership in the interests of their and everyone’s welfare, which should pay off in the long run. Stay safe and well!
Links to Public Health, Government and other Resources:
Public Health ON: http://www.publichealthontario.ca/
Toronto Public Health: http://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/diseases-medications-vaccines/coronavirus/
Public Health Canada – COVID-19 (includes printable resources): http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
WHO – Getting Workplace Ready: http://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/getting-workplace-ready-for-covid-19.pdf
FAQ’s for Employers from Sherrard Kuzz LLP (Employment Lawyers): http://www.sherrardkuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Briefing-Note-COVID-19-Frequently-Asked-Questions-for-Employers-Updated-to-March-12-2020-Sherrard-Kuzz-LLP-Employment-and-Labour-Lawyers.pdf
Employer Update re COVID-19 from Hicks Morley (Employment Lawyers): http://hicksmorley.com/2020/03/12/update-on-coronavirus-covid-19-ontario-announces-pandemic-enhanced-measures-to-safeguard-public/
Government of Canada actions for COVID-19 (general): http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/canadas-reponse/government-canada-takes-action-covid-19.html
Government of Canada actions for COVID-19 (resources for business): http://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/campaign-campagne/ressources-entreprises-COVID-19-business-resources.aspx?lang=en
Work Sharing Program (financial assistance for impacted businesses – Canada): http://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/work-sharing.html
Insulating for isolation: a mental health checklist for getting through quarantine (Conference Board of Canada): http://www.conferenceboard.ca/insights/blogs/insulating-for-isolation-a-mental-health-checklist-for-getting-through-quarantine
Article explaining Flattening the Curve (Washington Post): http://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/