After a year of social distancing and state-mandated lockdowns due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, businesses across the U.S. are gradually opening their doors again and welcoming employees back into the workplace. Even though this is a step in the right direction toward pre-COVID normalcy, the virus is still a cause for concern and should be taken seriously. It’s important that offices and other work environments maintain COVID-19 safety protocols to keep employees – and customers –healthy as they re-open. If your small business is about to return to the office, here are some things you can do to protect your employees:

1. Maintain a clean work environment

Maintaining a clean work environment is essential to keeping your employees healthy, happy, and productive. In effort to protect against COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routinely cleaning workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, and doorknobs throughout the workspace. Surfaces should be wiped with disinfectant regularly. It’s also important to promote regular handwashing and good respiratory hygiene. Be sure to put hand sanitizer in prominent spaces through your work environment. Most importantly, you should advise employees who feel sick – even with a mild cough or fever – to stay at home.

2. Provide your employees and customers with necessary supplies

As you re-open your workspace, be sure to keep a regular stock of these essential items that will keep your employees and customers safe and promote good hygiene:

• Soap and water
• Surgical face masks
• Non-contact thermometers
• Facial tissues
• No-touch, closed-lid trash bins
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol

3. Continue to promote social distancing within the workplace

Social distancing is an essential step in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Even with the increasing number of COVID-19 vaccine recipients in the U.S., social distancing should still be encouraged in the workplace. The CDC recommends increasing the physical space between employees (and customers) by modifying the workspace, such as moving desks at least 6 feet part or placing physical barriers to avoid foot traffic. You can also use signs, colored tape on the floor, or other visual cues to indicate where to stand when physical barriers are not possible. You may also want to consider closing or limiting access to common areas where employees are likely to congregate, such as kitchens, breakrooms, and meeting spaces.

4. Limit in-person meetings as much as possible

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses were successful in using web and videoconferencing to communicate with employees while they worked remotely from home. Even if your employees are back in the office now, it’s still a good idea to use videoconferencing or teleconferencing whenever possible to avoid gathering individuals in small meeting spaces. If you absolutely must have an in-person meeting, make sure the meeting or gathering size is in accordance with state and local regulations and guidance.

5. Limit business travel as much as possible

As your team settles back into the office or workspace, encourage them to use videoconferencing or teleconferencing to communicate with customers, clients, long distance co-workers, and vendors to limit the need for unnecessary travel. If long distance business travel is absolutely necessary, consult national travel advice before going on any business trips. Employees should comply with any state and local regulations and guidance. Also, ensure employees who become sick while traveling that they should notify their supervisor and promptly call a healthcare provider for advice if needed.

For more information about COVID-related safety protocols for your small business, here are some helpful resources:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

The World Health Organization

Cleveland Clinic