The Watercooler

Prepping Your Business for a Second Wave This Fall

SecondWaveCoronavirusPrep

While several areas across the nation are still riding out their first wave of the pandemic, experts warn that a second wave may hit this fall.

Don’t be caught unprepared!

Thankfully, your business has learned valuable lessons about how to manage the impact of COVID-19. This time around, you can apply what you’ve gleaned to prepare effectively for a second wave, if it comes to your area:

  • Follow federal, state and local guidelines.
    We know from experience that the coronavirus spreads differently across the nation. While it’s essential to follow CDC and OSHA guidelines (you can find a summary and links in this post on social distancing), be sure to also closely monitor state and local government sites as well. All three sources of information will help you understand the effect of COVID-19 in your area and plan accordingly.
  • Conduct a SWOT analysis.
    Rely on your insights from the first wave to consider how a second may impact your business. Here are a few questions to consider when planning:

    • What areas of organizational strength have you discovered over the past few months – and how could you use them to your advantage?
    • How will new closures or lockdowns threaten you, your employees and your customers or clients?
    • How well did your team respond, adapt and innovate during the first wave? What could you do better next time?
    • How did COVID-19 impact your employees’ health, safety and mental well-being – and what resources would you need to keep your team operating at their best through a second wave? Consider how you could leverage a staffing partner’s resources to stay flexible and operate safely.
    • What cash reserves, technology or other operational resources would be essential to weathering a second wave?
    • Finally, while it may seem counterintuitive, consider what business opportunities you could capitalize on. Analyze what successful competitors did during the first wave to identify potential business opportunities you could pursue if a worst-case scenario unfolds again.
  • Stay vigilant about safety.
    Social distancing, enhanced cleaning, health screenings, face coverings and other safety protocols are not going by the wayside anytime soon. Hold periodic safety training refreshers and send reminder communications to make sure everyone continues to follow the protocols you’ve established. In addition to keeping your current employees safe, continued vigilance will help you attract and keep great people during a second wave and beyond.
  • Overcommunicate.
    Effective communication is always essential in business, but even more so during a pandemic. Send regular communications to your employees and customers/clients to: prevent fear and panic if a second wave hits; apprise them of changes in your practices or business strategy; and maintain their confidence and trust in your organization.
  • Partner with PrideStaff.
    While nobody has a crystal ball, PrideStaff can help you build a flexible staffing strategy to manage the continued uncertainty and volatility you’re dealing with. Contact your local PrideStaff office to schedule a free workforce consultation and learn how we can:

    • flex your workforce to match changes in demand
    • improve your access to talent
    • provide just-in-time coverage for employee illnesses
    • offload non-essential tasks to improve your core team’s productivity and efficiency
    • keep your business running smoothly, even if a second wave hits