Coronavirus continues to sweep through the United States, putting many people at risk. But in addition to health problems, corona threatens the economy. Experts are concerned about joblessness, economic downturn, and the impact of closed businesses.
So, how can you minimize the effects of corona on your manufacturing business? Unlike financial firms, tech companies, and marketing teams, manufacturers can’t simply have their workers work from home. Manufacturing requires employees on the floor.
Here are some ways to cut down on corona’s impact.
1) Apply for financial aid
With the economy facing turbulent times and uncertainty, it’s likely that you’ve experienced disruptions in shipping and supply chains. These disruptions may have played a large role, or a small role, in your business’s bottom line.
The state and federal governments may offer loans or bailouts for businesses during these difficult times. You can also ask your bank for mortgage deferments. And, depending on what other bills your business has, you may be eligible for deferments or reductions on those as well. This may help you maintain some cash flow during the pandemic.
2) Send non-essential workers home
Your secretary, data analysts, and HR department may be among the workers who can work from home. Instituting Zoom meetings and calling for non-essential workers to work from their house can cut down on their exposure to corona. What’s more, it also prevents these workers from exposing other works to the virus.
You may have some hesitance to give your employees the freedom to work remotely. Interestingly, many businesses have discovered that working from home raises employee productivity. Some businesses have even expressed a desire to offer remote-working benefits after the crisis has ended.
3) Follow best practices
It may take some capital outlay to follow best practices, but putting the effort in is better than shutting down after corona sweeps through your workplace.
McKinsey writes that you should extend paid vacation time, allow workers to borrow against future sick time, and provide incentives and a “safety net” to encourage sick employees to stay home.
You may also want to adopt the following practices:
- Have employees wear masks during the day. The masks should cover both the mouth and nose.
- Institute frequent hand-washing.
- Socially distance — remain six feet apart. Space workers out.
- End “town hall” meetings.
- Take temperatures and the door, and have a doorman open the door for all employees.
- Stagger lunch-breaks and working shifts to avoid crowded locations.
- Frequently sanitize and disinfect commonly-touched surfaces.
- If possible, have workers wear gloves.
Final Thoughts
It’s challenging to run a business during times of uncertainty. But we all have to do our part to minimize the spread of coronavirus. By instituting safety policies, allowing some staff to work from home, and making intelligent financial decisions, your business will survive the pandemic.
Now’s a good time to cut down on IT costs, too. Contact Vodigy to learn how you can save on your business’s IT bills.
