spaces in the COVID-19 era. Post signs that remind staff, patients and
visitors to follow 6-foot social distancing practices. Signage should
also remind staff to wash their hands for 20 seconds periodically
throughout the day. Have plenty of hand sanitizer and disinfectant
wipes available. Invest heavily in cleaning supplies. Clean the break
room, door handles and light switches daily — and throughout the
day, if possible. Establish enhanced cleaning protocols and ensure
staff follow them.
You might find that some employees will refuse to report for work
because of fears they have about being exposed to the coronavirus.
Ask them for additional ideas that would make them feel safe — and
implement them. If they still don't want to come to work, implement
your absentee protocols: Give a written warning and a final warning
before termination.
Whenever possible, continue holding team or leadership meetings in
the virtual realm, even after your facility reopens. Online meetings
worked very well in many industries, and continuing them with
employees in the same building should be a common practice under
the current circumstances. Workstations might have to be reconfig-
ured, or new barriers might need to be installed — at the patient reg-
istration area, for example — in order to abide by social distancing
protocols and limit exposure risks. If possible, consider staggering
shifts to limit the number of employees in the facility at the same
time. Formalize social distancing practices as policy, communicate to
the staff why the policies are important and explain how they're going
to be implemented.
Also consider adopting testing and other safety protocols for staff
members who return from vacations. Finally, assess the situation in
your local area. If you have large numbers of new coronavirus cases,
your staff would need to adhere to local social distancing regulations
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