How to Supply and Clean Your Office During COVID-19

Many businesses across the country are slowly starting to reopen their doors to clients and employees. Two topics that are top of mind for any business owner or employer right now are office cleanliness and employee safety. Business owners are concerned about making the right choices to offer the safest environment possible for their clients and employees, and Perks + Protection is here to help. So, what steps should you be taking to ensure safety and clean your office during COVID-19?

Best Practices for Reopening Your Business During the Pandemic

The CDC has provided some great resources for business owners to consider as they reopen their businesses. The CDC has provided a Resuming Business Toolkit and thorough guidelines on cleaning and disinfecting the workplace. The first step to resuming business safely is to assess the current spread of COVID-19 in your community. Also assess the exposure level your employees will be facing as they return to work. Employers should continue to monitor state and national guidance as they reopen their businesses and then make decisions based on the most current information.

Before reopening their businesses, employers should conduct a thorough assessment of the workspace to ensure proper ventilation and the availability of hand sanitizers and options for hand washing. Employers should also consider closing any shared spaces within the workplace until further notice and providing practical ways for employees to maintain social distance. Employers may want to consider daily health screenings of their employees as they return to the office and come up with a communication and action plan for employees who fall ill.

Consider enacting a thorough cleaning and disinfecting plan. For example, high touch surfaces should be sanitized on an ongoing basis throughout the day. Employees should be provided with disposable disinfectant wipes or sprays that are effective in killing the virus for use within their own spaces.

Employers should also consider offering training for their employees on preventing the spread of COVID-19, social distancing, symptom evaluation. Other important topics are stress management, safe work practices, and proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

3 Crucial COVID-19 Office Guidelines

As employers welcome their employees back to work, they need to ensure that the basic guidelines listed by the CDC and government guidance are followed closely. Follow these three steps to protect clean your office during COVID-19:

1. Clean Your Hands Often

  • Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water frequently, especially after you have been in a public space, coughed, or sneezed.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains 60% or more alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. If you have touched your eyes, nose, or mouth, try to avoid touching other surfaces until you have the chance to clean your hands.

2. Avoid Close Contact with Others

  • Keep at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and other people.
  • Wear cloth face coverings where appropriate.
  • Avoid having employees share desks, phones, or other work items. If sharing does occur, items should be disinfected between uses.

3. Make Special Accommodations

If you are an employee who is at risk for severe illness, contact your management team and request accommodations that will allow you to continue to do your job effectively while remaining safe.

One of the most important aspects of reopening safely is creating a plan to disinfect and clean your office during COVID-19, implementing the plan, and remaining aware of the latest state and national guidelines to revise your plan. If your business reopens and an employee comes down with COVID-19, you can refer to the CDC's additional cleaning and disinfecting guidelines after a sick employee here.

We know that employers and business owners are working hard to maintain the safety of their employees and customers while also maintaining their livelihood. Following the tips and guidelines outlined by the CDC will help employers remain open while also providing a safe environment.

Perks + Provisions has opened a new business segment, Perks + Protection, to help business owners and employers keep their workplaces safe and clean. Perks + Protection has a large stock of all necessary cleaning and sanitation supplies for businesses, even those that may be hard to find at regular retailers. Contact us today to set up your first delivery!