I shared a HazMat Picture with a couple of co-workers as a possible safety precaution to return to work. The responses ranged from scary to funny. Right now, the idea of returning to work is scary for some, and no problem for others. I would guess there are a few people who would wear the HazMat suit if it was available. I might even be one of them.
Right now, collectively, we are thinking about our feelings about our return to the workplace. The government and all types of businesses are creating guidelines and practices about the return to work.
As the saying goes, “at the end of the day,” it comes down to you and me. How do we feel about returning to work? I have heard a lot of ideas and thoughts. I thought I would share a few of them with you.
Company Personal
Who needs to be in the office? Do I need to be in the office?
What safety precautions do we need? Am I confident it is going to be safe?
Should we check people’s temperatures? I don’t want to be around sick people!
How do we socially distance people? Are we going to be jam together like before?
These are just a few. There are hundreds more. Government and businesses alike are trying to do the right thing. It comes down to people, what can they do? What can you do? If everyone does their part. We can make this work. I know going out the door is a risk. Really what choice do we have? We cannot stay inside forever. We must get back to work. I know it is a risk. If everyone is smart about it, we can minimize the risk. It is up to all of us.
It wasn’t long ago a co-worker was telling me that her new travel schedule was causing her to get sick. She caught a bug twice in six months. My advice was simple:
“Touch as little as you can. And wash your hands.”
It has been my motto for traveling over the last thirty years. Six months later, it is more like a best practice for everyone. I will be honest. I have always been a little bit of a germ freak. Here is my list of precautions.
- Never touch an elevator button with your bare finger. A pen, your key fob, the room key all work great.
- I am very conscious about not touching my face. It takes thought, but you can do it.
- When I arrive at the airport, I wash my hands. When I get in my seat, I use sanitizing gel from my computer bag. When I get off the plane, I wash my hands.
- I carry sanitizing wipes in my computer bag. I use it to wipe off the handle on my luggage after picking it up in the baggage claim.
- I use the wipes on the steering wheel of the rental car.
I could go on! I am sure you get the point.
We all can do our part to minimize the risk. The risk will always be there. If the fear takes over, you will never leave your home. It is smart to take precautions. And remember my motto! It will help you get control of your work life again.
This article was originally written by Ron Steinbrink, CORT’s Director of Strategic Business Development on April 23, 2020. Looking for new opportunities for your Commercial Real Estate Property? Follow Ron on LinkedIn for more tips on how to use CORT’s Furniture as a Service™ in your workplace.
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