Mixed emotions started to pour in when the PM announced that more economic sectors will be reopened commencing from May 4th.
Most businesses welcomed the announcement as a good decision to revive the economy which is expected to shrink in terms GDP for the next two quarters, However the same sentiment was not shared across the country where most people were sacred about going back to work, commuting in public transport, sharing the same lift, eating at restaurant filled with others mainly due to the fear of re-infection.
After weeks of seeing empty restaurants and being confronted at roadblocks, going back to work on May 4th will be a new normal for most of us.
The priority is to safeguard our health at all times and for the entrepreneurs ,employers and employees , the burden lies on your shoulder to abide by the SOP at all times.
As a head start, the government has already announced that a list of activities that are allowed from May 4th onwards and large gatherings, events, gathering of more than 10 people and gatherings at houses of worship are not allowed altogether.
We can breathe a sigh of relief for that and concentrate on things within our control among which is the SOP to be followed at workplace.
1) Taking temperatures
Ensure that you monitor the temperatures of your employees and clients every single day in a log book. This should be done along with the registration of the names, identification number, address and phone numbers of the clients who have entered your premise.
2)Prepare extra mask
It is vital for employers to prepare ahead with a number of masks ready to be used by your employees or clients when they are interacting or at their workstation.
3) Flexible with working hours
The working hours can be adjusted and this should be done only if its feasible. Some employees can be allowed to work from home if the job does not require them to be at the office place entirely.
4)Sanitization
Keep enough stock of sanitizers at critical areas such as workstation, meeting rooms, pantry, toilets, and reception areas and ensure that employees and clients are utilizing the sanitizers whenever they enter or exit from the critical areas.
5)Work with JMB to sanitize your office areas regularly
Some JMBs are proactive, so you can request them to sanitize your office premises for a fee and that can reduce the risk of infection from workplace.
6) Social distancing
I think this has been our new norm for the last few weeks and it is not that difficult to implement the same at workplace. Keep a distance of 1 to 2 metres while you are interacting with your colleagues or clients. Avoid touching your nose and mouth.
6)Communication
I am not sure how well is this rolled out to your employees on other pertinent issues. But, please make sure that you are constantly communicating with your employees on the risk of infection vide flyers, emails, notice boards and meetings. Keep reminding them all the above key factors and the habit is practiced throughout.
This list does not complete the full requirements that you need to safely reopen your business because it will differ according to size of your office premise, number of employees and the nature of your business. However these are essential steps you can implement at your workplace from May 4th onward to ensure the smooth transition to the new working mode.
We all can do our part and focus on things that we can control.