Guidance for businesses in the face of Covid-19 Outbreak (US CDC)

Peter du ToitI'm the founder of FutureWork IQ where I spend my time assisting businesses to design digital workplaces or “offices in the cloud.” These environments enable companies to allow flexible and remote working for their teams. I also teach the digital literacy, fluency, communication and collaboration skills needed to work in these modern technology-rich workplaces.

It stands to reason that besides rigorous hand hygiene, covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, social distancing is an extremely effective way to stop a virus like this from spreading.

The CDC advises businesses:

“Explore whether you can establish policies and practices, such as flexible worksites (e.g., telecommuting) and flexible work hours (e.g., staggered shifts), to increase the physical distance among employees and between employees and others if state and local health authorities recommend the use of social distancing strategies. For employees who are able to telework, supervisors should encourage employees to telework instead of coming into the workplace until symptoms are completely resolved. Ensure that you have the information technology and infrastructure needed to support multiple employees who may be able to work from home.”

In the UK there is a serious consideration that in a pandemic schools and businesses will need to close for up to 2 months or more.

How ready are your teams to work this way? Here are some high-level must have’s: Video capability for all meetings. An Enterprise Social Network; Cloud Document Storage.