How US Businesses Are Managing Employee Health Screening
Going back to work during the COVID-19 pandemic looks very different for a corporate accounting firm, for instance, than a quick-service restaurant. But considerations must be made to keep everyone—not only the workforce but also clients, patients, and visitors—safe and healthy. However, a single office with 8 employees has very different requirements to keep in mind than a multi-location company with hundreds or even thousands of employees. Luckily, the Hayday health screening for work application is highly customizable so that your company can set in place clear guidelines and to keep everyone safe. Here we’ve rounded up what the health screening for work process might look like for different industries, and how Hayday can help get everyone back to work safely.
Bars, Restaurants & Retail
Though they were among the hardest hit, restaurant, bar, and retail outlets seem to be slowly coming back from hibernation. But as patrons continue to be somewhat wary about going out to eat, drink or shop, waiters, bartenders, and store associates need to be hyper-focused on maintaining health and safety protocols. In each employee’s pre-shift work health assessment with Hayday, they are asked whether they have any COVID-19 symptoms, have had any exposure, and can be required to upload a photo of themselves wearing approved PPE. And since restaurant, bar, and store employees tend to work varying hours, managers can set each individual’s health screening at work appropriately—someone’s body temperature can change drastically, for instance, between 6 am and 6 pm. Anyone who does not have a smartphone or access to a computer can also complete their Hayday health screening at work upon their arrival.
Factories, Warehouses & Construction
For the most part, factory, warehouse, and construction company employees are not able to work remotely, so returning to on-site work is crucial not only for the companies themselves but for overall chains of supply. Staggering shifts and creating four-day workweeks have proven to be popular and effective ways to physically distance employees and limit exposure but makes tracking any staffers’ symptoms that much harder. Work health assessment systems for these employees need to be scheduled in advance according to their shift times. Any physical site visits from outsiders are not generally recommended at this time, but for when it is absolutely necessary, Hayday’s health screening for work application can be configured accordingly for visitors.
Gyms, Libraries, Museums & Places of Worship
Employee health screening requirements at such public places as gyms, libraries, museums and places of worship are likely to be very strict due to the nature of how patrons tend to mill about in these venues. This element also makes social distancing difficult to enforce. Whenever possible, these institutions will encourage staffers to work from home if their roles allow them to, so the Hayday health screening for work will start each Check In by asking whether the employee in question is due to work on site or from home that day. Similarly, when a staff member’s Check In deems them at risk, they might be presented with the option of working remotely during their “cool-down period,” if their company chooses to. Another consideration being made by institutions like libraries, which once might have had strict daytime hours, is staying open for work late into the evening or very early in the morning in order to allow for proper distancing and to accommodate those who have childcare issues. The health screening at work for these staffers can be adjusted and timed accordingly via Hayday.
Offices & Coworking
The average American offices in a COVID-19 world have lost some of their amenities, like break rooms, coffee systems and birthday celebrations with cake—at least for a while. The Hayday app, when requiring employees to Check In each morning, will offer HR and management the opportunity to boost morale in other, creative ways, and share reminders about things like birthdays and other treats. This space in the Hayday experience can also include tips on keeping the office sanitized or such notices as staggered schedules for visiting the company cafeteria.
Regardless of the type of workplace, there are some simple measures that management can put in place as reminders. These can include signs at the entrance notifying all who enter that they are required to wear masks, signs in bathrooms reminding employees of the importance of washing hands well with soap, and signs in frequently crowded areas reminding employees about the recommended six-feet distancing. And most importantly: reminders that employees cannot begin work until they have Checked In via the Hayday application!