How To Know If Your Business Is Ready For Reopening After Covid-19

Novel Corona Virus was declared pandemic by the WHO by February and since then, many businesses have never been the same.


Every business private or public has been affected uniquely by the Covid-19 pandemic. Also, the process of deciding and preparing to resume normal--or "new-normal"--operations will be just as different on a case-by-case basis.


For some, the timing won't be right even after the green light from government officials is given. Check these four guidelines below to determine if your business is ready for reopening.



You have met all conditions set by authorities

As the decision to reopen private businesses is a matter for states to decide, each is running its own phased approach. Both Federal and state governments have set their criteria for reopening.
Also, the NCDC has outlined some guidelines for the reopening of private companies. You can check their website for details.



You have established comprehensive health and safety measures

Before reopening, most businesses will need to make physical and procedural changes that facilitate social distancing and prevent the spread of Covid-19, such as installing clear barriers and increasing cleaning and disinfecting.


Some of the health and safety measures you need to put in place include:

• providing daily Covid-19 updates addressing social distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and changes to normal business operations (e.g., staffing, business hours, etc.); 

• continuation of remote work, including video meetings for any staff working onsite;  

• daily temperature screenings of all employees before they enter the building;

• providing PPE for employees who must be onsite; 

• and limiting visitors to the building, offices, and other physical spaces.

You are prepared to address concerns from your employees

Every business owner should prioritise the health and safety of their employees above all else. It's good humanity, first and foremost, but it also happens to be good business.


Whether for fear of becoming infected with Covid-19 or for other reasons, some employees will be hesitant to return to work environments. Regardless of what their concerns are, manage with kindness and fairness. Meet with your human resources department, employment attorney, or other trusted counsel to be as informed and prepared as possible for those conversations.


By the same token, be prepared to assume the risk that someone may contract Covid-19 at work.




You've considered the consequences of resuming operations prematurely

Aside from potential health risks, reopening your business before it's ready could be more damaging than remaining shut down. Weigh the risks versus the rewards. If you are in retail or manufacturing, for example, are your customers ready to return to the marketplace, and if so, are they in the market for your products or services?


Second, what shape is your supply chain is in? If you don't have enough inventory to accommodate demand, re-opening may be riskier than remaining closed.


And third, what do your fixed expenses look like? If they are on the higher end, the longer you go without revenue, the worse off you'll be. If they are more modest and you don't run a severe risk of losing market share permanently by delaying reopening, some short-term loss may benefit the long game.