An Employer’s Guide to Navigating the Coronavirus

As we all know, employees are the main resource of any company and COVID-19 has caused a major imbalance to the manpower community of all companies.  Although the work-life with Covid-19 has become a new normal, it is our responsibility to be more careful in maintaining a good health and in avoiding health issues. Impact on employee’s health will reflect in both employee’s family and organization’s side as well. We should follow certain preventive measures to avoid the COVID-19 spread within organizations.

What are the protocols that employers and employees should follow to keep a safe working environment?

Employer guidelines

• Disinfect all the areas in the office premises at regular frequencies (every day before the start of work and at the end) using effective disinfectants
• Disinfect the frequently used places, things, in the office often and also the items received from outside vendors
• Use of thermal scanners to monitor the body temperature of the employees before entering the office
• Provide hand sanitizer to employees, customers & other vendors entering the office and make sure they wear a standard face mask
• Track the travel and health history of all the employees. If possible, check the travel and health history of vendors and customers before meeting them in-person

• Try to reduce the usage of air conditioners at the office as much as possible. Also, use air purifiers to reduce the risk of infections through air
• Provide shifts / allow employees to work in batches and ask them to work from office on alternate / specific days. (other days, prefer to opt for work from home option)
• Provide enough workspace for employees to maintain social distance
• Avoid larger meetings with 10 or more people. If the meeting group is large,  accommodate the conference hall with a minimum number of people and others can connect with them through online communication tools from their respective workplace
• Avoid direct meetings with the customer/vendor instead, conduct meetings online
• Since the vaccination for Covid-19 is available, advise the employees to vaccinate, as per Doctor’s advice
• When required conduct recruitment via telephone or use online toolsand avoid direct meetings

• Keep employees updated on the current status and recommendations periodically issued by the government and health organizations
• Train the employees to keep up good personal hygiene (i.e. healthy food habits, consuming plenty of water, boost up the immunity, follow regular exercise and meditation, keep themselves and the surrounding clean)

Not only the employers but also the employees should take responsibilities to avoid Covid-19 spread in the work environment. Employees should take care of their hygiene and should keep their workplace clean and safe.

Employee guidelines

• Wear mask inside and outside the office and also during the transit
• Wash your hands often with soap and  use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contain at least 60% alcohol. (Recommended to wash your hands every 1 hour)
• Disinfect your working place before starting the work and before leaving the office
• Maintain social distancing and avoid physical touch with other employees, customers, and vendors
• Avoid crowding at one place and have group lunch
• Disinfect toilets seats after every single-use
• Microwave outside foods for 2 minutes before consumption
• If you are unwell, kindly inform the organization and visit the doctor immediately. If you or your family members are reported to have COVID-19, kindly stay at home to avoid the spread and get back to work after complete recovery
• Update your travel history to the organization regularly

We should be more careful than before to prevent the infection from second and third wave of COVID-19 . Awareness among the employers and employees about the new symptoms of evolved Covid-19 and its preventive measures at workplace and in public will help to maintain a stable economy of the country. Don’t let COVID-19 take control of you and your work.

Keep wearing a mask, washing hands, and maintaining social distance!
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!