Covid-19 covered the future of American businesses with uncertainty. One thing that it did make certain though is that businesses were not, and perhaps are still not, prepared to protect themselves from a crisis of this magnitude. However, with the severity and widespread nature of the destruction, was being better prepared even a possibility? The answer is yes. American businesses could have been much better prepared for this crisis.
One organization from our friends across the pond, The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, is a perfect example. The All England Club hosts the annual Wimbledon Tennis Tournament. Starting in 2003 after the SARS outbreak, the club decided to prepare for the worst and paid close to $2 million per year for pandemic insurance. This planning has paid off, with the club receiving a payout north of $141 million dollars from the coronavirus.
Not all businesses are the All England Club and have $2 million on-hand annually to protect against a pandemic. However, there are other ways to protect your business in a more cost-effective manner. As workers return to work and consumers return to the streets this summer, more problems will continue to present themselves. These issues will only be amplified by the potential second wave experts are worrying about. Now more than ever, it is vital for your company to be prepared for the worst, but how can your business do that?
Improving Workplace Infrastructure
Without a vaccine, it is likely that businesses must alter their operating procedures to comply with social distancing practices. Several variables at play make it hard to determine the best way for employees to come back to work. According to a survey by Qualtrics, 66% of employees do not feel comfortable returning to work at this time, and there are several measures that these individuals believe need to be taken in order for them to feel comfortable as seen in the graphic below.
Companies have to develop new policies and procedures that are conducive to these preferences in order to move towards this direction of a “new normal”. Some common precautions that have already been taken by several businesses to cope with these problems include installing plastic dividers between workers, using automatic thermometers, and rotating schedules for workers. Although these measures reduce liability in one area, they create a different liability in others. The question is , will dividers and obstacles meant to protect against human-to-human contact inhibit a safe evacuation for workers and customers in the event of an emergency? Furthermore, in the digital age where privacy is of the utmost importance, will automatic detection devices leave your business liable to a lawsuit from employees or customers?
These problems already existed prior to the pandemic and are surely only going to be exacerbated going forward. Having a professional come to analyze the premises of your workplace and evaluate company operations is a good investment to mitigate these risks when returning to work.
Checking in on Your Employees
The pandemic has likely been hard on your employees and colleagues. Over the past few months, some may have lost a loved one, taken a pay cut, or had a spouse lose a job, putting extra pressure on their entire family. Furthermore, many of the leisure activities they have traditionally used as an escape have been taken away by the stay-at-home order. This environment has certainly taken a toll on the mental health and stress factors of all of us. One in five people already have a mental-health condition, and one in two people are at risk of developing one. Research shows that the coronavirus has placed additional pressure on Americans’ mental health since its outbreak.
Mental health issues are a double-edged sword in the workplace. Not only are they hard to detect and discuss, but employees suffering from them can present serious liabilities. Although the stigma of discussing mental health problems is going away, people are still inclined to hide their issues from others, especially in the workplace where showing instability could put their job at risk. People we work with are often our friends, and confrontation is not always preferable when trying to preserve a relationship. However, business owners need to know if someone on their team is struggling with mental health. High stress, depression, and anxiety can make people more irritable and cause them to make rash decisions. This can be a significant liability to your company. Bringing in a third party to look into potentially problematic employees confidentially and make objective business decisions regarding the risks they pose to your business is a good way to circumvent some of these uncomfortable confrontations.
Evans Brothers Consulting is committed to helping your business prepare for these tough times. Stay tuned for more information about how your business can protect itself from liability and subscribe.