RETURNING TO THE OFFICE AFTER LOCKDOWN

2020 has been a time of uncertainty for most. With the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic, nobody was prepared for what the year had in store, let alone business owners.

Although there are no guarantees, all we can hope is that we can start to get back to some kind of normality soon. Most governments have started to re-open their countries and hope to improve the economy by easing the lockdown measures so businesses can start to function as they once did.

We are still being advised to work from home if we can, but that is not always possible for some businesses. Now is the best time to start preparing yourself for returning to the workplace. Before you can do that, there are certain measures you will need to put in place.

Before allowing your staff to return to the office, you will need to make sure it is safe for them and any potential visitors who may attend your premises.

Steps you can take before returning to work

Here is a list of tasks you can carry out to ensure the safety of your employees and customers.

• Carry out a full risk assessment and make sure you share this information with your employees to put their minds at rest.
• Ensure you have washing facilities readily available to make sure everybody adheres to the local health authority guidelines.
• If certain staff can work from home, try to make that possible for them where you can.
• Explain social distancing measures and ensure all of your staff follow the procedures.
• Advise your employees of the importance of healthy living to boost their immune system.

How can you use self-storage post lockdown?

During the lockdown period, businesses had to close, which no doubt had a huge impact on sales and the movement of stock. When you return to the work premises, it may be beneficial to have a temporary place where you can store your goods.

It may be that you sell a product that is sensitive to harsh elements such as the cold, heat or dust. By choosing to store your products in a secure storage facility, you will be keeping them safe until such time they are needed again. An example of this could be leather items or other delicate materials.

You may also notice an increase in hand sanitisers, cleaning products and PPE that you didn’t have to store before now. By keeping them in a self-storage facility, they will be out of the way but on hand as and when you need them.

Make more room for social distancing

If you have a small workspace, it can be difficult to put social distancing in place. It may be that you have bulky furniture or too many filing cabinets. This poses the risk of your employees accidentally bumping into each other. Now would be time to have a clear out. You don’t have to permanently remove the items, but by storing them in a self-storage facility, they will be on hand ready for when it’s ‘business as usual’!

Keeping secure data secure during and after lockdown

During the pandemic, it is likely you have been working from home. It would be tempting to dispose of commercial waste in your own bins, avoiding cluttering up your home. Not only is this a breach of data protection, but you are also risking the possibility of crimes such as fraud, and you could potentially be faced with fines.

As a business owner, it is your responsibility to prove any confidential waste is destroyed of in a responsible manner, not only yours but your employees who are also working from home.

Offering your employees the option of temporary storage will prevent any possible data protection issues. Confidential waste that is no longer needed could be taken to a secure facility where they provide an archive storage and confidential waste service.

At Flexible Storage Solutions, we can help you get back on track. We offer a reliable and professional self-storage and waste management service.

Should you wish to discuss your requirements in more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will be happy to assist.