How to Stay Safe and Do Business During This Pandemic?

Safety Tips for Small Business Owners

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a threat not only to the world’s healthcare system but has also massively disrupted several businesses. According to a study, 41.3% of businesses were temporarily closed because of the pandemic. The virus is extremely contagious and has forced many governments to put in place global lockdowns. The economy has been hit, and this has forced governments to open businesses. However, this doesn’t mean that the pandemic doesn’t exist.

Learning how to stay safe during the pandemic is needed to curb the spread. You will have to learn how to stay safe during the pandemic to keep yourself and your small business healthy. This global crisis has taken a toll on several small businesses, and you will need a plan to build your business back when this crisis recedes. Until then, your main goal should be planning and implementing ways to stay healthy during the pandemic.

If you are a small business owner, there is a high possibility that you might feel extremely threatened by this situation. But you will have to make rational decisions while maintaining your physical and mental health. In this blog, we have listed out some important points and health and safety tips that will help you learn how to stay safe during the pandemic. This will help you get yourself ready to handle the situation, particularly if it persists.

Safety Tips For Small Business Owners

The Coronavirus has destroyed several plans and has tested the world. We have listed out these tips for you to stay healthy and keep your business safe:

1. Protect Your Health

If you are a small business owner, keep in mind that your human resources are very limited. You cannot risk you or your staff getting sick. If you are looking at ways to stay healthy during the pandemic, keep your fieldwork minimal. Unless your work requires you to get out, do not step out. Try limiting your work and employees’ work to home settings. If you need someone to do fieldwork, restrict the number of your employees who work in the office to a handful. By doing so, you will reduce the possibility of the virus impacting yourself and your employees' health. Remember, if you aren’t healthy, your business will not be healthy. The best way to manage this crisis is by learning how to stay safe during the pandemic.

2. Create A Plan

No matter how organised you had been, this pandemic would have made your life chaotic. Now, creating an emergency plan based on learnings will not only help you safeguard your business but also will be a precaution in case of any grave situation. There might be future financial risks due to lockdowns, lack of sales, or even impaired health. You need to create a plan that will protect your employees and prevent your business or team from weakening. While making the plan, do not forget to include points highlighting how your operations will function and how your business’s financials would be at stake. Creating a plan business-wise is an important part of learning how to keep yourself safe during a pandemic.

3. Become Your Own Manager

This might sound bizarre, especially if you have supervisors already in place. However, since this is a new situation for everyone, including your company’s managers, take the lead and keep your employees posted. Send frequent emails about any coronavirus-related news or meetings. Keeping your employees posted will not create any confusion. Instead, it will help you reduce panic in case of any emergency or unfavourable situation. There are several tools you can use to organise all your tasks and send out emails with helpful templates. Only if you, as a manager, take up responsibilities can you effectively learn how to stay safe during the pandemic.

4. Cleaning and Covid Safety Protocols

Although this is the most cited tip, unfortunately, it is also the least followed. Remember that a pandemic can be a potential health-risking situation, and the best way you can stay safe is by sanitising. Any package you get, sanitise it before you even bring it in. Do not forget to keep a bottle of sanitiser in the front of your workplace to enable employees to clean up and get rid of any germs. Make it compulsory for your employees to wear masks and maintain 6-feet of social distance. Keep track of how many times your janitors clean the place. You should stock up some disinfectants and hand sanitisers. These health tips during the pandemic are precautionary methods that will protect your employees and you.

5. Keep Track Of Your Finances

It is extremely easy to lose control over financial resources during a pandemic. This virus is not only a huge dent in your economy but also in the world’s economy. There is nothing to feel disheartened about if your sales do not go well. This is probably because of your customers being preoccupied with the crisis. Several remedies can help your business go on. This includes securing low-interest loans if your business is struggling with expenses during the pandemic. There are Paycheck Protection loans, Debt Relief Programs, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and other such financial aid and relief options offered by banks to help you recover. It is better to keep yourself educated about all the aids provided by your government. If you learn how to stay safe during the pandemic, you can keep yourself physically, mentally, and financially fit.

6. Adapt Your Business

Unfortunately, the future of this pandemic is still a question. If you are a small business owner, you might have to start preparing yourself for anything. It is therefore important to adapt yourself and your business to the changing norms. This can include offering new goods or services to your customers that are suitable for this new normal. If you have a conventional business and are new to this, you can get help by connecting with business strategists or other small business owners.

You can learn how to work virtually and offer services through online avenues. If you are selling goods, you can explore new ideas, new marketing strategies, and new goals to make your business a successful one. Adapting your business and selling products or services such as sanitisers and health plans will not only help your business grow but also will help you teach others safety tips during the pandemic.

Concluding Remarks

This pandemic has posed a major threat for every business, be it large or small. But now that we know that this kind of health crisis is a distinct possibility, you need to learn how to stay safe during the pandemic. It is better to remain prepared. Following these safety tips will protect your employees and your small business.

We have several other OkCredit Blogs that will help you stay prepared if you own a small business. Our blogs are available in several languages, including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi, and other regional languages. The website is quite versatile with content that is perfect for anyone, whether you are a reader or a business owner. Download OkCredit now and keep reading.

Also read:

1) The impact of Covid-19 on Small Businesses. How bad this has been?
2) Best COVID-19 Lessons For Small Business Sectors of India
3) How To Manage Investment During Covid-19 Pandemic?
4) Best investment ideas during the COVID-19 pandemic
5) OkCredit: Simple, Paperless & Secure solution for businesses

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FAQs

Q. What is some software that I can use to hold meetings virtually?

Ans. Working virtually is one of the best ways to stay healthy during a pandemic. You can use software such as Zoom to hold meetings and online tools such as Trello, Slack, and Discord to work together as a team.

Q. Should you make staffing changes?

Ans. If you have any redundant employees and you think putting them on furlough or laying them off will save your business, you can do that. However, do not get rid of your key employees as, when the situation gets better, you will need trained staff to pull everything back into place. However, above all, care for your workforce and ensure you are learning how to keep yourself safe during a pandemic.

Q. What are some strategies needed to control the virus spread in your workspace?

Ans. Apart from maintaining a 6-feet distance and sanitising regularly, there are several other ways to stay healthy during the pandemic. Firstly, encourage your employees to follow the pandemic health rules. Keep in mind that even one employee not following social distancing can potentially catalyse the spread. Ensure frequent temperature checks and covid tests if anyone is showing symptoms, and make wearing masks even inside your office compulsory. You can also try limiting the number of employees working at a time in the office to avoid any risks.

Q. How can you manage finances during the pandemic?

Ans. If you want to stay safe during the pandemic, apart from staying physically and mentally healthy, you should take care of your small business’s financial health. You can do this by planning for emergencies, updating your budget, minimise taking any unnecessary risks, and finally continually assess your financial health.

Q. What if your employees show symptoms at the workplace?

Ans. If your employees show symptoms, the best help you could do for them, and your workplace, is to send them home. If they test positive, sanitise your business workplace to remove any contaminants. You can call the corporation and let them know about the possible spread. They will come down to test your other employees at your workplace.