It’s not easy being a business owner at the best of times, but during a global pandemic? Then it’s even more challenging. Regardless of what type of business you’re running, you’ve probably had to make some operational changes, to ensure that your business’ finances remain healthy.

While you’ll have the health of your business at the forefront of your mind, it’s also important to think about your employees during these trying times. They may also be going through their own difficult periods. As a responsible business owner, you have a duty of care towards your members of staff. Here’s how you do it. 

Give Them Peace of Mind

There are plenty of nervous people out there, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. They’re worried about their health, of course, but also their livelihoods. There’s no denying that there’ll be economic repercussions as a result of COVID-19, and not everyone will make it through to the other side with their jobs intact. The best you can do is to be honest with them. If you know that you can afford to keep your staff on the payroll for at least the next three months, then tell them that. If things are not looking good, tell them that too. Peace of mind doesn’t just mean telling them what they want to hear; it’s simply letting them know at the earliest opportunity what the reality of the situation is. 

Working From Home

Your employees will most likely be wary of contracting COVID-19. We’ll take a look at what you can do if you must have your employees onsite below, but if it’s not essential, then let your employees work from home. This can take a little time to set up, but it’s from an impossible task. The key things are to ensure that your employees have the tools they need to work at their best.

This can include software, communication tools, the hardware -- such as a laptop -- things like that. You’ll also want to take extra steps to ensure that your digital security is on point, too, for the sake of your business. Cybercrime has been on the rise during the lockdown, so consult with a security expert if you let your staff work from home.

On-Site Safety Precautions

Of course, it’s not always possible to let staff work from home. Sometimes, they’ll need to be onsite. To ease your staff’s concerns, make sure that you’re putting as many precautions in place as possible.

You can stock up on hand sanitiser gel from a chemical supplies company, and also provide surgical masks. Perhaps the most important thing will be to limit the contact between employees, and between employees and customers.  

Give Them a Break

Finally, remember to give your staff a break from time to time. People respond to difficult times in different ways. If one of your employees is beginning to feel the strain of the pandemic, then be sure to make things a little easier for them. A few days off could be just what they need.