Employees in High Contact Jobs Getting Rubbed the Wrong Way by COVID19
With the opening of several “hands-on” businesses (such as massage therapy), several questions and concerns arise for both employees and employers. If there is a higher likelihood of contracting COVID19 at a physical-contact place of work, should employees go to work? If an employer’s staff stops coming due to this, what do they do next? Possible solutions are below.
Massage Therapy
As massage therapy centers open in Georgia, therapy assistants find themselves at odds with the prospect of returning to work with an unpredictable virus on the rise. Worries evolve from the nature of their work; massage therapy is all about physical contact. They wonder if it is conducive to spreading COVID19. For massage therapy businesses with more than three workers (from practice assistants to administrators), losing any part of personnel could be devastating.
To avoid such immense losses, managers should communicate with their distressed employees. What specific conditions cause them anxiety? If possible, eliminate the source of concern, usually by strengthening health precautions and sanitation practices.
Tattoo Professionals
The tattoo industry is one of the most well-trained in sanitation and health; it follows strict clinical standards. On this basis, some tattoo businesses want to re-open soon. While the process continues to choose which non-essential businesses get to open and which do not, preparing for new health guidelines and proper discretion is crucial.
Even though the tattoo industry already implements many health precautions to ensure no infection occurs, it requires even more attention in the wake of this pandemic.
Hair and Beauty Professionals
In some areas, hair salons and other non-essential businesses are opening back up. Although this appears good to hair salon business-owners, some issues arise. Workers and consumers alike may be driven away by the prospect of physical contact and close quarters.
Businesses must show they care about their employees’ and customers’ well-being to ease these fears.
Conclusion
If employed individuals refrain from attending work, proceed with caution. Throwing around a word like “fired” is not advisable. The workforce possesses rights. OSHA states the employed can refuse to come to work if they have reasonable fears that they are in immediate danger of infection. National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects workers from being punished for not working in hazardous conditions. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) allows that work environment changes should occur to socially distance employees as much as possible. There are a few locations enforcing employee attendance, but this is not the norm.
The bottom line is providing workers with suitable equipment and safety measures. Opening businesses need to assure everyone they are doing their best by clearly communicating what actions they are taking. Some further tips are listed below.
- render services only by appointment
- customers must wait in-car until the designated time
- signage indicating anyone with flu-like symptoms must reschedule
- provide sanitizer that clients must use to receive services
- disinfect everything at frequent intervals
- use disposables as much as permissible
- all employees must wear protective equipment that is appropriate for their placement and function in the workplace
- alternate employee work hours
- make educational material available to employees and train them in health and safety awareness
Nike Roach is the published author, of 52 Ways to Fund Your Home Business, a clinical massage therapist, and is a wellness business strategist. He leads a digital marketing team when not working in the wellness industry.
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Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.