In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has changed in many ways. Some changes have likely become a permanent part of the new normal, like more remote workers or more online shopping, while others may revert to the old normal, like a renewed desire to travel. However, one thing that experts feel will not change is the increased value of health and safety in the workplace.

Businesses of all kinds – hospitals, hotels, salons, restaurants, cruise ships, retail shops, and offices – must adopt and communicate rigorous safety and hygiene policies to reassure both employees and patrons these are safe places of commerce. The spread of the virus within certain businesses damaged trust with both employees and the public, and that trust must now be rebuilt.

Consumers now have high expectations of the places they visit to eat, shop, travel, or work, follow best practices to prevent the spread of illness, and adhere to the highest standards for cleanliness and sanitization. And if businesses don’t meet these expectations, consumers will seek out other places that do.

Some ways businesses can demonstrate their commitment to health and safety include:

Better cleaning and hygiene measures.

Employees and janitorial vendors should be enlisted for frequent deep cleaning and sanitization. If possible, these efforts should be visible to the staff and the public to reassure them that a business is dedicated to providing a clean environment. Additionally, regularly refilled hand sanitizing stations should be placed by all entrances, exits, restrooms, and common areas to encourage good hygiene.

Touchless technologies.

Customers appreciate advancements in technology that help keep them safe. Touchless payment systems, check-in systems (for hotels or doctors’ offices), keyless entries, temperature screening kiosks, and other advancements can help prevent the spread of illness and make patrons feel more confident in their safety.

Alternative dining options.

The days of continental breakfast stations, dinner buffets, and communal dining in hotels and on cruise ships are likely gone for good. During the pandemic, many restaurants had to widely separate tables, limit capacity, and create additional options for dining outside to provide distance between patrons. Continuing these practices post-pandemic, to some extent, can make patrons feel safe. Businesses may also want to stagger lunch breaks to avoid crowds in common areas and cafeterias.

Have a plan.

Learn how to Create a Health and Safety Plan for Your Workplace and how to effectively communicate that plan to staff and customers. Even a sign in a business’s window designating a location as a certified WELL building can increase confidence in a company’s commitment to health and safety.

At DeCurtis, we provide technology solutions to improve health, safety, and security across a wide range of industries. If you’re interested in finding out how we can help you implement safety and security technology to protect your facility, we’d love to talk. Visit our website or contact us today.