The New Workplace: Preparing Your Business to Operate in the COVID-19 Era (Webinar Included)
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Following this week's article and live webinar presentation of The New Workplace: Preparing Your Business to Operate in the COVID-19 Era, we want to #ShineItForward™ by providing a complete complimentary recording of the program. Click on the video below to learn more about this new and evolving topic.
Beyond this complimentary replay, read on to learn more about some of the topics discussed during this webinar, the resources cited therein, and additional guidance to help you safely and confidently operate your business during the COVID-19 era.
Implementation of a Workplace & Operational Management Plan
This week's webinar included a discussion with Featured Guest, Mike Griffin, Senior Vice President, Market Leader, Savills North America, one of the world's leading commercial real estate firms. Throughout the pandemic, Mike and his company have tirelessly worked to help businesses by providing guidance on workplace health and safety procedures, implementation of operational management plans, development of communications strategies, and more. For additional insight from Mike's Team about safe operations for your business during COVID-19, click here.
Notification to Suppliers of Your Business Plans
Given potential changes in your inventory needs and the amount of time it will take to receive new products, a critical component to the speed of your economic recovery is sharing your current operating plan with your supply chain. As a business owner, you should lead the charge by initiating communications with your suppliers to let them know when, and to what extent, you are ready to receive their shipments. As a part of such communications, review existing supply agreements to determine if both you and your suppliers can meet your contractual obligations, or if more time is now needed to achieve the previous quantities ordered and/or make such deliveries. This supply chain report can help you and your Team with such discussions and preparations.
Update Your Logistics Arrangements
In addition to communicating your updated business plans to your suppliers, you should also communicate with your logistics team. If your supply needs have changed, how does that impact the cargo ships, unloading docks, ports, freight trains and trucks that help to provide deliveries to you? Are warehouses that you use operational? If so, at what capacity and what are the requirements to now access such facility (e.g., pre-scheduling an appointment, wearing PPE, limiting the number of team members who access the warehouse, etc.)? Logistics are critical to motorizing economic recovery, so ensure that coordination with this part of your team is part of your updated business plans.
Consideration of Whether a Software Shift is Required for Your Business
The past two and a half months have been eye-opening for businesses with outdated software resources. Businesses with good business plans and client relationships may have survived in spite of outdated technology, but those without such a solid foundation struggled. Given the need to work differently for the foreseeable future, now is the time to determine if the software you are using has all the tools you need at a price affordable for you and your business. If the answers to these questions is "no," now is the perfect time to see if better software has become available in the marketplace. Questioning and investigating these possibilities is a key to long-term success.
Consideration of Technology Management & Consulting to Meet New Online Demands
Similar to your software needs, with workers, sales, marketing, meetings, and additional aspects of your business now relying on your remote and technological capabilities, additional aspects of your technology plan may need to be addressed to keep up with demand and the competition. You should speak with an IT consulting company like https://www.cyberjaz.net/it-consulting/ to see how you may be able to better integrate, analyze and monitor your software and network on a higher level. They offer strategic planning, advice and expertise, so your business can run quicker moving forward. And, for additional resources to help your workforce work remotely, see the previously published articles on our Blog, Shine brightly while working from home! and Effectively Leading Your Remote Team.
Government Resources to Assist with COVID-19 Operations
The forgoing issues and those addressed in our The New Workplace: Preparing Your Business to Operate in the COVID-19 Era article and webinar only touch on a few of the issues businesses must address in light of COVID-19. The following resources may be helpful to you in learning about and staying abreast of additional best practices:
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (“NIOSH”) Small Business Resource Guide
U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") Coronavirus Resources
DOL COVID-19 and the American Workplace
DOL Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights
DOL Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") COVID-19
OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
U.S. Department of the Treasury The CARES Act Works for All Americans
U.S. Food & Drug Administration ("FDA") Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Summary
It is exciting that businesses are beginning to safely reopen and start the journey to economic recovery. Hopefully these resources bring clarity to the steps that should be taken to best prepare your business for operations over the weeks and months ahead.
And, do YOU have additional tips that will help the SYS community?! We’re sure you do, so please share your advice by emailing Melanie at melanie@spreadyoursunshine.com or messaging Spread Your Sunshine on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter. We love hearing from you, as together we are strongest.
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