As the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak continues to affect people and businesses across the nation and worldwide, Accent Consulting is doing whatever we can to support our employees, other local businesses and local communities. We are still here, working remotely, offering support where it is needed, IT or otherwise. It is important to us that our clients and our neighbors know that we are there for them in this time of crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading rapidly, with new updates flying in every minute. As the situation evolves, many small business owners are unsure of what steps to take to mitigate risk, protect employees and support customers. We recommend that you and your business have the following solutions set up during this time in the case of a shutdown in your area. Here are the top CDC-recommended tips that small business owners can take to reduce risk, protect employees and support clients during the pandemic.

Establish a remote work option

With plenty of people already working remotely, there are a lot of free tools business owners can utilize so that teams can stay in touch and keep working even if they aren’t in the same place.

Implement a remote work policy that covers when you expect your team to be online or available, how to communicate (via email, Slack, or video call, for instance), and what deliverables each team member is responsible for completing.

Reduce meetings and travel

Try to keep opportunities for exposure to the virus to a minimum. Postpone any team meetings or hold them virtually. Skip any conferences or other planned business travel. If your workers get sick because of travel or meetings, you could have a liability issue on your hands, or you will have to manage low morale and sick leave requests.

Give employees flexibility

Schools across the country are closing, as are offices, stores and other businesses. With the country slowly moving toward total lockdown, you will need to be flexible. Some team members may have to leave unexpectedly if their child’s daycare closes. Others may have students who come home from school for spring break and aren’t able to return. Try to be as understanding as possible when something comes up and have a backup plan in case you suddenly become short-staffed.

Communicate with your customers

Everyone is facing this crisis together, so be transparent about what your business is going through. Customers can empathize with brands facing a crisis, as long as you communicate with them properly.

As Harvard Business Review reports, “When customers are separated from the work that’s being done behind the scenes to serve them, they appreciate the service less and then they value the service less.” Describe the steps you’re taking to reduce risk and give them insight into the steps you’re taking to help the community.

Be obsessive about hygiene

Stop the spread of the virus by following these health and safety tips from the CDC:

• No handshakes: Use a non-contact method for greetings.
• Wash your hands: Employees should wash their hands when they arrive and every time they enter the premises, as well as frequently throughout the day.
• Try not to touch your face, and remind employees to do the same
• Constantly and regularly disinfect surfaces, including doorknobs, handrails, the POS system, tables and desks.
• Keep your employees and your customers safe by being as proactive as possible about cleanliness.

Plan for the long term

Though China and other economies are already starting to recover, the spread of the coronavirus is still extending throughout the world, creating a ripple effect that will impact us for some time.

As reported in SmallBizTrends, “27% of businesses expect the coronavirus to have a moderate to high impact on their revenue. Another 30% expect the virus to have a moderate to high impact on their supply chain.”

Speak to your suppliers, investors, partners and local officials on a daily basis to learn how you can start to implement precautions that will help you stay above water while the struggle to contain COVID-19 continues. It might be a while until your small business gets back to business as usual.