Coronavirus Business Best Practices

Coronavirus Business Best Practices for Companies in the Tech Industry

Is your business adjusting for COVID-19 / coronavirus? Here are a few best practices and thought ideas to consider as the global economy deals with this crisis.  

If you are like most company owners and managers right now, you probably wonder how the recent spread of the coronavirus will ultimately impact your business. The truth is that nobody knows for sure yet. This is a constantly changing situation that has to be monitored closely daily until we see some sort of resolution across the world.

However, as we navigate a global economy and a serious health crisis at the same time, there are certain things to keep in mind along the way. Here are a few business best practices to consider when dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Should You Close Your Business Until the Coronavirus Passes?

This is a question that each company needs to ask individually. Deciding to shut down a business or require employees to work in a limited capacity dramatically depends on the industry you are in and the amount of contact your workers have with the general public. If you do not have customers coming in and out of your business—such as in a retail capacity—it might not be essential to stop operations right away. However, if you are located in a geographic area that has a high number of documented coronavirus cases, it might be a good idea to consider the possibility of temporary closure.

Why Do You Need Employees to Potentially Work from Home?

In some situations, it might be best to have employees work from home. Major companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon are already encouraging staff to perform tasks remotely where their duties allow. This is designed to help reduce the spread of germs and contain the illness as much as possible. The coronavirus is already proven to be highly contagious before symptoms begin to persist and by having employees complete tasks from loaned laptops or home computers, you can help keep from having a situation where your entire staff is infected with the virus. However, there are also practical reasons to consider remote work for a short time—such as if you have employee families with children who attend closed schools or care centres and don’t have any other options.

What Do You Do If an Employee Tests Positive for the Illness?

If an employee tests positive for the coronavirus, there are a few steps you need to take. To begin, send home the employee and anyone they’ve worked in close contact with—three to six feet—to start a fourteen-day quarantine period. This ensures enough time to keep the virus from spreading. Next, deep clean their work area or any spaces they have been in by either hiring a professional cleaning company or by doing a very thorough job with approved cleansers. This includes both hard surfaces like desks and soft surfaces such as upholstery.

How Does Limiting Social Contact Impact Your Industry?

Of course, specific industries have a more significant impact on limiting social contact than others. If your business requires you or your employees to regularly come in contact with the general public or a large number of outside vendors, it is important to consider the ramifications that COVID-19 has on your business. As a best practice, think about this factor when making plans for company events or programmes over the next few weeks and months.

Are You Prepared for the Risks Associated with Remote Workers?

Having remote workers during this time does come with a few associated risks and it is important to be aware of them. Employee home Wi-Fi networks may not be as secure as those at your office, so it is important to limit access to certain files or databases during this time to prevent instances of hacking, data breaches, or malware. You’ll also want to have a set of written guidelines for your employees as to what your expectations are in terms of utilising company digital resources while working remotely.

How is Microsoft Recognising the Coronavirus Pandemic?

As a whole, Microsoft is taking broad precautions when it comes to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. There are no known impacts to Microsoft 365 services at this time, but the company’s American headquarters located in Seattle, Washington is requesting some employees to work remotely. This could impact support times as we move forward, but isn’t expected to cause too many problems.

Conclusion: A Few Adjustments Make Big Differences with COVID-19

In short, the few adjustments and thought ideas presented here should help you determine how your company needs to move forward to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. At Sydney Technology Solutions, we are here to help with all of your IT and tech service needs, including setting up specific parameters for remote workers. Please contact us today for details.