3 Ways to Properly Train Your Employees in Our COVID-19 Era

BY: HEATHER BENDINELLI

Over the last few months, all businesses have felt the massive repercussions of the current COVID-19 pandemic. As we attempt to navigate this new era, the challenge comes with keeping employees up to date on new information, along with prioritizing their overall health and wellbeing. In order to continue business as usual, it is vital to arm employees with the best possible training so that they can perform their job duties to the best of their abilities. When determining how to properly train employees, the following tips will help to both guide and bring back that much needed confidence to be as successful as possible during this trying time.

Emphasize Health and Hygiene

COVID-19 has ripped off the Band-Aid aOne vital aspect that the pandemic has highlighted is that we all need to take our health and hygiene more seriously. As a small business owner, it is your duty to train your employees on how to both properly care for themselves as well as those around them. To do this, highlight the proper hygiene practices that employees must partake in while at work, as well as at home, and how they can keep both themselves and customers safe.

In addition, it is important that they are educated on how they can play a part in flattening the curve. Make sure to encourage conversations around how the virus is contracted, what the symptoms are and emphasize that if they are feeling sick, they need to stay home. Establishments that are properly cleaned and maintained will help business owners remain 100% compliant with current rules and regulations, as well as keep employees and customers alike safe and healthy as the pandemic continues into the near future.

Keep Employees Up to Date with New Procedures

As the pandemic progresses, many of the former rules and regulations have since changed. Many small businesses have needed to continually update their practices and policies as their individual states have reopened, increasing traffic and person density in their establishments once again.

With that said, many of the procedures that are instituted today likely won’t remain as we begin to phase out of this era. For example, guest metering practices may shift as we continue to make strides to get life, as well as business, back to “normal”. Be sure to take the time to educate your employees on current rules and regulations, help them adapt, as well as direct them to where they can find the most up-todate information. Most importantly, employers should implement strategic training to ensure that their employees understand what is expected of them, how to conduct themselves, as well as how to interact with customers as business practices continue to fluctuate.

Offer a Helping Hand

As small business owners, it is important to understand that this “new normal” is in fact not normal at all. Many employees are experiencing nervousness, depression, and/or anxiety as a result of this pandemic, and they can greatly benefit from receiving a helping hand from their supervisors.

To help combat their feelings of worry and stress, host frequent meetings that allow ample time for employees to ask questions. Take the time to hear them out and answer them honestly, as they are also having trouble navigating these uncertain times. Employers should keep a consistent, open line of communication so that their employees can feel comfortable coming to management if they need help or someone to talk to about the current situation. By being more flexible and allowing employees to take time for themselves, they will feel much more at ease and create a better sense of togetherness during this difficult time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has flipped the workplace upside down for many employees. In order to navigate this unique situation, implementing training that covers new procedures, regulations and rules will only help them feel more confident in themselves and work more efficiently as they brave this new era.

Heather Bendinelli is the co-founder of Small Business Employee Training. To learn more, head to the website: http://smallbusinessemployeetraining.com/