Over the past couple of weeks, the major sports leagues in the United States have begun the process of continuing/starting their 2020 seasons. The NHL, NBA, and MLS have all opted to use the ‘bubble’ system to defend against outbreaks of COVID. This means that each league will congregate in a singular location after all having received negative results for a coronavirus test. Individuals will also not be permitted to leave the location during the season without being subject to quarantine and multiple negative test results. These three leagues have seen no new cases of the virus after successfully building their bubble sites and restarting their seasons.
However, the MLB has decided to maintain the usual ‘home stadium’ format for their 60-game season where teams will be traveling across the country amidst a pandemic to play their games. The MLB has received significant backlash over their laxed protocol for navigating the virus and somewhat naivety over the challenges that a cross-country schedule might impose. Furthermore, the league isn’t really monitoring the actions of the players off the field and away from team facilities but rather, “will expect the Covered Individuals on each Club to ensure that they all act responsibly.”
So, let’s check in on how that’s going:
On July 23 the MLB kicked off their 2020 campaign. After just two weeks of play there have been 2 different outbreaks of COVID-19 that has affected at least 4 different clubs and resulted in the postponement of 21 games in an already condensed season. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has come out and said that they will press on with the season and likely have to adapt their safety measures, schedule, and overall approach to navigating the virus.
But could these outbreaks have been prevented in the first place?
The Miami Marlins were the first team to experience an outbreak on July 26 and have voiced a couple of concerns of what they believe to be attributing factors to the positive cases.
- False Sense of Security— Marlins CEO, Derek Jeter has noted that players underestimated the virus and “got a little too comfortable”. Marlins players were reported not social distancing or wearing masks, gathering together at the hotel bar, and going out in Atlanta while playing exhibition games there.
- Rain Delay Protocol— Marlins manager, Don Mattingly complained about not having enough space to social distance in the dugout during a rain delay while playing Atlanta… five days later 17 members of the organization tested positive.
- Playing Through-– Members of the Marlins team knew they had tested positive for COVID-19 before a game against the Phillies, yet the game was still played with 10 members of that cohort at the ballpark.
Apparently, nowhere in the 113 page player safety manual developed specifically for this season, are there any precautions addressing these somewhat common issues. The league could have easily prevented causes 1 & 3 by implementing more strict guidelines on how players conduct themselves away from the field, clear consequences for breaking guidelines, and mandatory reporting and isolation for teams after receiving test results. Furthermore, the league even addressed new rain delay rules to adjust for a 60 game, three month season, but somehow stepped over the fact that all these players and staff would be waiting around in a confined space with a viral disease going around. The ill-preparedness of the MLB’s return-to-play protocol put the health & safety of it’s players and the completion of a 2020 season in jeopardy.
Learning from the MLB’s poor example, we examine key factors In order to successfully bring your business back.
- Have a comprehensive & dynamic plan– Try to account for all situations and scenarios, but have a procedure to adjust your protocol when unforeseen problems arise.
- Know how to enforce your plan– Any plan is only as good as it is managed and disciplined. The onus is on the organization to make sure the plan is carried out.
- Consistent communication & transparency– This builds trust throughout your workforce and will benefit your employees’ health & safety.
Protecting yourself, your employees, and your organization is of the utmost importance when constructing your return-to-work plan. When building your plan, it can be useful to have a third-party bring a new perspective. Here at Evans Brothers Consulting we bring a variety of experience, expertise, and connections to help you bring your business back to work safely.