You’re probably used to thinking like a manager or an HR professional or an executive. But it’s likely time to put on a new hat and think like a virus, since the coronavirus doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.
HOW TO THINK LIKE COVID-19
Walk around your workplace, just noticing.
As the virus, you take advantage of stale air and confined spaces. You victimize people standing, sitting, talking, and eating too close together. You attack the careless—those who, at the first opportunity, ignore the rules.
You exploit the little things no one thinks about, like carpooling, tight living conditions, public transit, family members who work in high-risk situations.
For you, it’s not so much about toilet seats and countertops as it is about people doing what people do: laughing, telling stories, joking around, being together.
You are elated around people doing hard labor or working out in a gym, because they are breathing harder and that gives you more opportunities to hang out in droplets and aerosols.
You’re everywhere. And you revel in this simple yet complicated fact.
We now know that small children can hold a LOT of virus in their sinuses. Previously discounted as a factor in outbreaks, now the presence of children in a worker’s life can mean opportunity for you, the virus.
What about masks? These ubiquitous paper masks block the flow of fresh air, make it difficult to talk to others, often don’t fit well, and are typically a nuisance to wear. So people frequently touch them, pull them down, or don't wear them at all.
This is all perfect for you, the virus.
HOW TO STOP THE SPREAD
Once you start thinking like the virus, you can ask yourself, “What can I do to prevent the virus from spreading in my place of business?”
If you need help ensuring the safety of your employees and the compliance of your business, we are here to guide you through it all—every step of the way, if you’d like.
