It was a quite a rough road, but your business survived the COVID-19 pandemic shut down, and you’re ready to reopen.

Now what?

First, check out Our Guide for Businesses Getting Back to Business. Corporate Coffee Systems is dedicated to helping your business get back to business safely

Also, the CDC has compiled an exhaustive set of resources on what you need to know about reopening your business and keeping current and new employees—as well as customers—healthy in this post-COVID-19 environment.

Get started with this 12-point checklist on reopening and rehiring based on CDC guidelines:

  1. CDC advises identifying a coordinator responsible for handling workplace COVID-19 policies and procedures.
  2. Conduct a hazard assessment of the workplace. Identify potential risks that might expose workers to COVID-19 and use the CDC’s Worker Protection Tool to identify the right PPE for your workplace.
  3. Post and review with employees, a checklist for COVID-19 symptoms, and the plan for dealing with potentially ill workers and customers. Be sure to include routine in-person or virtual health checks.
  4. Develop a cleaning and disinfecting plan. This should include:
    • Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces
    • Encouraging good personal hygiene
    • The wearing of masks
    • Social distancing
  1. Flexible and supportive sick leave practices result in happier and healthier employees and workplaces.
    • When possible, employees should be allowed to stay home to care for sick family members or take care of children due to closures.
    • Consider implementing non-punishing emergency sick leave policies such as not requiring COVID-19 test results or doctor notes as proof of illness.
    • Be sure to check with local, state, and federal regulations on sick leave rules as some new measures have been adopted.
  1. Protect high-risk employees by offering telework and assigning duties that reduce their exposure to customers and coworkers.
  2. Assess essential functions and prepare to change business practices, if needed, to maintain critical operations.
    • Identifying alternate supply chains for critical goods/services in worst-case scenarios will go a long way to help your business adapt to potential changes.
    • Consider resuming business operations in phases if possible.
    • When resuming onsite business operations, prioritize job functions for continuous operations.
  1. Work with building maintenance staff to determine if the ventilation system can be modified to increase ventilation rates or the percentage of outdoor air that circulates into the system.
  2. Provide customers with hand sanitizer, tissues, touchless trash cans, touchless entry and exit, masks, and prominently display cough/sneeze etiquette posters.
  3. Limit travel and advise employees who must travel to take additional precautions and preparations.
  4. Use videoconferencing or teleconferencing, when possible. When you can’t:
    • Cancel, adjust, or postpone large work-related meetings or gatherings.
    • Hold in-person meetings in open, well-ventilated spaces.
    • Continue to maintain six feet between people.
    • Require face coverings when appropriate or mandated by law.
  1. When bringing workers back, consider the following:
    • Video interviews to reduce risk.
    • Be sure all paperwork is up to date.
    • Make sure changes in work do not conflict with collective bargaining agreements.
    • Don’t forget to look into potential issues with paid leave, retirement plans, health insurance, unemployment, and vacations. See the CDC’s general business questions FAQ here.

Keeping your workers and customers healthy is suitable for your bottom line and your community.

Check https://www.coronavirus.gov/ often for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 mitigation efforts and policies, and help reduce the spread!