Provided By: Karis Alliance and Atrium Health

 

We provide the best workforce solutions.

Experiencing a workforce dilemma? Do not fret.

Karis Alliance can help solve your company’s complex problems during the unprecedented times of COVID-19.

We’ve partnered with Atrium Health & Dr. Kaddra Grenne to provide workplace safety suggestions.

For more information, please call (704) 588-1079 or learn more about Karis Alliance by visiting karisalliance.com

Entrance

Be prepared for your employees to return to work.

  • Pre-screen prior to entering the building:
  • Check temperatures, assess for symptoms (fever, cold symptoms, exposure to persons with COVID-19)
  • Give mask at entrances if possible or have employees wear their own mask (similar to what many doctor’s offices are doing)This should include all visitors to the building/work area.
  • Determine if you need to put a hold on unnecessary visitors.
  • Develop policies and procedures for immediately isolating people who have signs or symptoms.

Employees

Precautionary measures for presenting symptoms.

  • High risk individuals include those with immunosuppression (ie cancer), Diabetes, Heart Disease, Lung diseases, age >65 – consider a plan for those individuals
  • Do you have staggered work shifts and if not, can it be implemented to help with the number of people in the building/area?
  • Make sure employees have their own equipment and don’t need to share or borrow equipment.
  • Discourage them from using each other’s cell phones.
  • Consider factoring more breaks due to wearing a mask all day if part of the plan.

Workplace

Get your office ready.

  • Frequent hand washing for at least 20 seconds.  Sing ABCs.
  • Always wash hands when visibly soiled.
  • Hand sanitizer stations (needs to be alcohol based with a minimum of 60% alcohol).
  • Maintain 6 ft distance as much as possible in work areas.
  • Provide plenty of tissues and trash receptacles throughout facility.
  • Schedule regular housekeeping practices including routine disinfection of surfaces and equipment.

Meetings

Consider virtual, rather than in person.

  • First ask, why can’t this meeting be virtual?  Multiple platforms available like Teams, Zoom, Skype, Free Conference Call.
  • If in person meeting is necessary, have in a location where 6 ft distance can be maintained or consider meeting outside if area permits?

Breakrooms

Distance, Distance.

Set up break room to maintain 6 ft distance, consider alternatives such as taking lunch in the car or an open outdoor area? Stagger lunches and breaks.

Monitoring

Ongoing Safety

  • If a person reports a fever or cold symptoms, need to determine how long you want person to stay home.
  • If cold symptoms, stay home at least 72 hours or until no fever for 24 hours, should not require a doctor’s note when possible to avoid clogging the health systems.
  • If contact with COVID-19 + individual, 14 day quarantine with testing.
  • Atrium has roving mobile testing sites each week, no appointment needed, evaluation performed onsite.
  • Develop flexible, but consistent sick leave policies that are aligned with public health guidance and ensure that employees are aware.

Miscellaneous

Additional resources from our partner at Atrium Health

  • Culture of safety – if employee is sick, we need them to stay home, contact their doctor for advice regarding testing or go to www.atriumhealth.org/coronavirus. 
  • Can also call 704-468-8888 if no PCP.  Do not have to be a patient of Atrium to use this number.Biases – Dealing with employees who think it is a hoax and how this will affect team morale.
  • May not follow guidelines, discuss with your employees about community respect and responsibility.
  • The goal is keep everyone healthy and safe at work.
  • Post more signage about respiratory etiquette, 20 second hand-washing throughout facility and workplace expectations.Support employees as they have multiple concerns right now: pay, leave, families, safety, health, etc.
  • If you do not have an Employee Assistance Program, consider aligning with local organizations to provide emotional support.

References