Posted on 04/11/2020 9:20:26 AM PDT by Raycpa
How about some brainstorming on how to reduce risk for office workers to return to work if not able to telecommute.
How about splitting group of employees into high risk and low risk categories and bring back low risk employees that are younger and have no preexisting conditions.
Then split the returning group in shifts so that some workers work one day while others work another day. This would reduce the transmission rate by half.
Also use testing to determine who is immune and let them come back full time.
Fire everyone who is diabetic, prediabetic, obese, a cancer survivor, or over seventy if people deciding on their own whether to take a risk or not bothers you. Then go back to work.
This will reduce the ultimate number of employee deaths you have but won’t affect how much the virus spreads within your workplace
1. If I was in your shoes my inclination would be to operate as close to normal as possible. Let your employees know that they have the option of taking protective measures on their own (working remotely, staggered hours, wearing face masks, etc.), but I would not insist on it. I would not even ENCOURAGE it, because I think it gives the wrong signal about the safety of your work place.
2. Make arrangements to have the office cleaned and sanitized more frequently than normal.
3. Before you do anything ... Contact your insurance broker and have a frank conversation with him about the insurance protection you have (or need) in the event someone gets sick and sues the company. I’m not 100% sure if this scenario is covered under business liability insurance, office premises coverage, an umbrella coverage, or a new rider on your existing policy. In some states you may even be indemnified under worker’s compensation coverage.
I’ll check back in later after I see some more replies, just in case I get any new ideas after reading them.
IP phone system and remote desktop
Why have offices? Seriously, if you don’t have customers visiting the site and everything is done over the phone, why have offices?
If they get over it, now have immunity, and thus won’t missing work because of it then my workplace becomes better.
Leave shoes at the door.
Take temps at the door.
No common food.
No meetings.
No printed materials.
Very interesting.
He last three seem reasonable. I’m not sure how the first one would be effective at all. The second one is an absolute non-starter for me — as either the employer OR an employee. I’m not a doctor, and I’m not making a medical diagnosis related to someone’s work situation.
h(ighly) r(idicules) is over rated and need to go back to being Payroll. They have created an all too power hungry nightmare unto itself that needs to be SLAPPED BACK INTO REALITY !!!
I went to a mandatory class about Habits. The speaker said that it takes 21 days to form a Habit like Sleep (the example that was given). I worked in the Water Treatment Plant. Our schedule was 12 hour shifts, 7am —7pm days and 7pm — 7am, 3 nights on, 2 nights off then 2 nights on and 3 nights off and THEN every month We swapped Day and Nights !!!
So Me being Me, I raised My hand and when called on I asked if they looked at Our Time Sheets ? Then I had to explain what the Water Treatment Plant Operators Schedule was.
The next day I was called into My Stupidvisor’s Office and asked “What did You do yesterday to the h(ighly) r(idicules) Lady ?” So after a few seconds it sank in and I told Him what happened and added on that I had asked a legitimate question, and told Him what I said after raising My hand and being acknowledged before I spoke.
He started to grin a bit and said that you can’t be asking tough questions like that because they can’t comprehend multilevel questions like that. He added that they are a bit slow if the idea is not from inside their own heads.
Good advice. I haven;t thought about liability.
If you convert the conference room to an office, that gives you four offices. Assume you still need DR as your private office. LR as front office is likely a good size; maybe it’s possible to relocate an office there.
I’m thinking split everyone up for maximum space between wordspaces. If you can’t do that sufficiently, you might add a second shift to give them each more space. Minimal contact between employees. I’d make each responsible for wiping down their areas, phones and keyboards. Wear masks if possible.
The coffee area and restroom are likely your biggest issues. I’d keep wipes stocked in those areas. Likely enough people will wipe things down before touching that it won’t be a problem. And I hope it goes without saying but you might want to post Wash Your Hands signs as a constant reminder.
You might want to limit public coming in or at least contain them within a limited space.
You’re a good boss to be thinking of this and I wish you all the best going forward!
My staff is working from home while two of us are at office. I estimate that productivity is at about 70% of what it is in office. That 30% is about most of my profit,
The first one is because people spit. Changing over to slippers that are office only would keep the “crap” out of the office.
Check each employee for a temperature scan on the forehead and the ones who you don't like make them do it up the rear anally ...
If they have a temp above normal. Send them home or to your local Congressional office,
I hadn’t thought about converting conference room. It is obvious now that you mention it
...ways to return...
1) Get in car, drive to work.
2) Bike or walk.
Some of the staff is totally freaked out. Psychology is important.
Unlock the door.
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