AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE · The Ames Chamber of Commerce is offering...
Transcript of AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE · The Ames Chamber of Commerce is offering...
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDEPreparing to Open Your Business in the Age of COVID-19
For the Workplace• Deputizeworkplacecoordinator(s)chargedwithaddressingCOVID-19issues.•Maintainregularhousekeepingpractices,includingroutinecleaninganddisinfectingofsurfaces,equipment,andotherelementsoftheworkenvironment.
• Frequentlycleananddisinfectsurfacescommonlytouchedbymultiplepeople.Thisincludesdoorhandles,desks,phones,lightswitches,andfaucets.
• Promotefrequentandthoroughhandwashing,includingbyprovidingworkers,customers,andworksitevisitorswithaplacetowashtheirhands.
• Implementpoliciesandpractices,suchasflexibleworksites(e.g.,telecommuting)orflexibleworkhours(e.g.,staggeredshifts),toincreasethephysicaldistanceamongemployeesandbetweenemployeesandothers.
• Increasephysicalspacebetweenemployeesandcustomerssuchasopeningadrive-through,installingpartitions,andmarkingfloorstoguidespacingatleastsixfeetapart.
• Provideprotectivegearsuchasfacemasksandgloves,iffeasible,andencourageappropriateuse.
For Employees• Activelyrequiresickemployeestostayhome.• Informandencourageemployeestoself-monitorforsignsandsymptomsofCOVID-19iftheysuspectpossibleexposure.
• Ensurethatsickleavepoliciesareflexibleandconsistentwithpublichealthguidanceandthatemployeesareawareofthesepolicies.
• Discourageworkersfromusingotherworkers’phones,desks,offices,orotherworktoolsandequipment,whenpossible.
• Considerschedulinghandwashingbreakssoemployeescanwashtheirhandswithsoapandwaterforatleast20secondsorusehandsanitizer.
• Phaseshiftsandbreakstoreduceemployeedensity.• Connectemployeestocompanyorstatebenefitsproviders.•Wearprotectivegearsuchasfacemasksandgloves,andencourageappropriateuse.
To Protect Your Customers• Providecustomersandthepublicwithtissuesandno-touchtrashreceptacles.• Encouragerespiratoryetiquette,includingcoveringcoughsandsneezes.• Encouragetheuseofprotectionlikefacemasksandgloves.• Providehandsanitizeratbusinessentranceandhighcontactareassuchasthecashregisterorfrontdesk.
• Installpartitionsorbarrierswherepossiblebetweencustomersandemployees.• ConsiderofferingspecialhoursforpatronsatahigherriskofsevereillnessfromCOVID-19.• Encourageandfacilitate6-footdistancinginsideofthebusiness.
BEST PRACTICES FOR ALL BUSINESS
What should I do if I have an employee who refuses to return to work without good reason? Iowans who refuse to return to work when recalled by their employer will lose unemployment benefits, except for certain circumstances. Employees in any of the following positions are encouraged to work with their employer to determine the best way to handle the situation:
• IfyouhavetestedpositiveforCOVID-19andareexperiencingsymptoms;• Ifyouhaverecoveredbutitcausedmedicalcomplicationsrenderingyouunabletoperformessentialjobduties;
• IfamemberofyourhouseholdhasbeendiagnosedwithCOVID-19;• IfyouareprovidingcareforamemberofyourhouseholdwhowasdiagnosedwithCOVID-19;• IfyoudonothavechildcareduetoCOVID-19reasons;or• IfyoudonothavetransportationtoyourplaceofworkbecauseofCOVID-19.
Refusingtoreturntoworkwhenrecalledforanyotherreason,orinanattempttocontinuetodrawunemploymentbenefitswillbeconsidereda“voluntaryquit”whichwoulddisqualifyaclaimantfromreceivingbenefits,includingtheFederalPandemicUnemploymentCompensationbenefitof$600/weekly.Anemployeewhoisrecalledonapart-timebasismaycontinuetobeeligibleforbenefitsdependingontheamountofwagestheyearn.Theyshouldcontinuefilingtheirweeklyclaimsandreportthegrosswagestheyearnedeachweek.
BusinessesshouldreportemployeeswhorefusetoreturntoworkwithoutgoodreasonorwhoquittheirjobsassoonaspossibletoIowaWorkforceDevelopment.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP! The Ames Chamber of Commerce is offering technical assistance to businesses in
Story County. Businesses who opt-in will participate in a one-hour video conference with a member of the Business Development Team to discuss their current challenges and then the realities of opening up. Our team will share some best practices and tie it
directly to their business so they have some true actionable items.
Contact our offices at 515.232.2310 or by email at [email protected] to sign up for this FREE program.
304MainStreetPhone515.232.2310
Ames,Iowa50010www.AmesChamber.com
State Fire Marshall Occupancy Requirements
• dps.iowa.gov/divisions/state-fire-marshal
United States Department of Labor• osha.gov
Center for Disease Control (CDC)• cdc.gov
World Health Organization (WHO)• who.int
Iowa Department of Public Health• idph.iowa.gov
Iowa Department of Revenue• tax.iowa.gov
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)• irs.gov
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• iowaosha.gov
IMPORTANT WEBSITES TO MONITOR