Technology Advisor Blog

As countries, states, and cities begin to ease lock-down restrictions, this checklist for reopening businesses can help you jump-start your return.

You and your employees have been quarantined for the past few months at this point, and now authorities are looking to lift restrictions and open up.  Here is Massachusetts we're already on "Phase 2".  With no vaccine, universally effective treatment, or significant immunity, we will still face nervous times, but things are starting to be a bit more "normal".

Now is the time to prepare.  There are so many areas to consider:  people, workplace, technology, and your customers.  With proper preparation, you can alleviate many concerns for your employees enabling them to focus on work, not the global crisis. 

Here are a few highlights, and at the bottom of the page you can download the entire checklist.

People:

• Over communicate to your staff about returning to the workplace.  Make sure they understand what precautions you have taken and assure them they can return safely.
• Establish an ongoing Work From Home (WFH) policy.  This will help the workplace from getting too crowded, and will accommodate those who can't quickly return.  

Workplace:

• Establish guidelines for any visitors for entering your establishment.  Post the guidelines to ensure visitors understand and comply
• Remind your employees of the recommended social distancing guidelines.  Place posters in your workplace to remind employees to stay diligent.  It's human nature to want to be connected with co-workers, but don't get complacent to safety guidelines.

Technology:

• Schedule a meeting with your IT team.  Schedule a time to review all IT related matters and cybersecurity.  Cybersecurity threats increased dramatically over the past few months as workers were displaced.  It takes just one bad click to potentially put a business out of business.  
• Evaluate any new technology deployed during the crisis.  What worked?  What didn't work?  What do you want to permanently deploy?

Your Customers:

• Maintain an open line of communication with your customers.  Create a stream of communications to ensure you address their questions, comments, and concerns.  
• Survey your customers.  Survey your customers about what worked, what didn't work, and what changes they would like to see.

The abrupt change to work from home left many businesses scrambling.  As they say, necessity is the mother of invention and we've entered an age of technology dependence at this point. Many changes are here to stay, but the return to the office, or a change to "work from anywhere" will require ongoing, focused planning.