By Eva Reinoso Tejada
The weeks of quarantine, isolation and anguish for many business owners are closer to an end, at least in Denver and throughout Colorado. It is not like a magic event that will give us back what we had before COVID-19 entered our lives. But we must start somewhere. As it is after a surgery, or a major illness, we won’t be back on our feet jumping up and down. We will need time to recover and relearn life under these new conditions.
As a small business owner, I am grateful that I am still in business. And I am excited that I will be opening my doors to the public soon. But in the back of my mind, I am still afraid that my employees, loved ones and myself, can still get sick with the virus. By now we know that social distancing will be part of our lives for a long time, and big events will be out of the question for some time as well.
It will take a lot of behavior changing, and constant vigilance on our part to continue the practices that helped us “flatten the curve”. To form new habits will require discipline and a constant reminding ourselves of the new things we need to do, and the old things that we cannot do anymore (like shaking hands…)
In alignment with policies established by Governor Polis, the City and County of Denver released guidance at the beginning of May as to which types of business would be allowed to open and when. For most of the businesses and offices to reopen, the following are some of the rules that need to be followed to ensure the safety of customers and employees:
• Create special hours for vulnerable individuals when practical
• Limit the number of on-site customers to continuously maintain six-foot distancing
• Provide hand sanitizer and wipes at entrances to the greatest extent possible
• Use contactless payment solutions when possible
• Create signage regarding health protocols
• Deputize a workplace coordinator to address COVID-19 issues
• Maintain six-foot separation between employees and discourage shared spaces
• Clean and disinfect all high touch areas
• Post signage for employees and customer on good hygiene
• Ensure proper ventilation
• Avoid meetings or groupings of more than 10 employees, clients or customers
• Implement symptom monitoring protocols such as temperature checks
• Eliminate, or regularly clean and disinfect, any items in common spaces
• Require employees with symptoms to stay home
• Accommodate employees who are vulnerable individuals
• Provide flexible options for employees with child or elder-care obligations
• Provide appropriate PPE, like gloves, masks, or face coverings, if employees are unable to provide their own
Large businesses with more than 50 employees in a single location must:
• Create signage regarding health protocols
• Implement symptom monitoring protocols such as temperature checks
• Close common areas to disallow for gatherings of employees
• Conduct mandatory cleaning and disinfecting protocols
• Implement social distance protocols
For additional safety, Denver recommends employers and businesses also follow these suggestions:
• Implement symptom monitoring protocols such as temperature checks
• Limit or discourage in-person meetings
• Discourage use of shared spaces such as breakrooms and meeting rooms
• Consider using separate entrances and exits, with staff members counting visitors to control the number of guests at one time
This is a lot of work. But the reward of staying healthy and being able to get back to work is worth it. Many of these items will require clear communication and visible signage. We, at Image Impressions, are ready to provide you with all the printed products that you need. Social distance banners, social distance stickers, promotional products that relate to hygiene, etc. If you own a small business, you can get a free sticker for your door, like the one on the picture, to remind your customers to wear a mask. These will be available on a first-come first-serve basis, ready for pickup at our location. One per business. Please call us today at 303-308-9444 for a free consultation. Stay safe and let’s get back to work and rebuild our lives!