Information bite 220: Reopening Businesses as Lockdown Measures Ease

As lockdown measures ease across the UK, businesses are starting to re-open their doors to clients, customers and employees. You might be concerned about how to do this safely.

Being COVID-secure means being adaptable to the current guidance and having measures in place to manage the risk of coronavirus.

Key points for businesses to consider:

• Remember your COVID risk assessment – All businesses must continue to update their COVID-secure risk assessment to make sure they’re in line with the latest government guidance.
• Renewed vigour on COVID-secure measures – All businesses must have COVID-secure measures in place and must make sure that everyone is following them to manage the risks of COVID-19.

Social Distancing
Social distancing, frequent cleaning, good hand hygiene and ventilation should be maintained. You should also talk to staff and provide information, and consider the risk to workers who are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus and put controls in place to reduce that risk.

Mental Health and Wellbeing
Returning to the workplace may be difficult for some employees making them more susceptible to workplace stress. Talking to your employees is important in managing these concerns. You should ensure that access to resources such as your Employee Assistance Programme, or organisations such as Mind or Samaritans are clearly signposted.

Flexible working patterns
Where possible, providing flexible working patterns for employees can help them to manage their mental health and wellbeing. It can also reduce the number of employees in your office, enabling easier social distancing and hygiene control.

Keep prioritising COVID-secure measures
With infection rates dropping businesses should not become complacent – All businesses must prioritise their COVID-secure measures to maintain the safety of their staff, visitors and customers.

Please ensure your workplace is safe by following the government guidance on being COVID-secure.

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