Workplace Safety During Cold, Flu, COVID Season

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Workplace Safety During Cold, Flu, and COVID Season

Mary Mallon worked as a cook throughout her sixty-nine years of life. In that time, it was believed that she infected up to one-hundred twenty people with a deadly disease of which five died. However, others infected by her also spread the disease and more deaths resulted, some were also asymptomatic like Mary. Known as Typhoid Mary, she was isolated for the last thirty years of her life as there was no cure for Typhoid at the time.

Nowadays there are treatments for Typhoid and yet Typhoid fever infects an estimated 11-20 million people each year, resulting in 120,000-180,000 deaths.

The need for an enhanced discussion aimed at improving the status of disease carriers and their impact on society resulted from Mary’s case. Examining this bit of history underscores the need for a discussion on how to deal with Covid-19 in the workplace as this virus is more contagious and deadly than Typhoid. Not to mention how flu and colds can impact employees and your business.

 

How do I keep my employees safe in my small business?

 Having wellness protocols established for your business is vital as the covid-19 pandemic continues as well as important for dealing with the cold and flu season. These procedures should be communicated to the employees yearly. The best advice for keeping employees safe is for them to stay home when they are not feeling well. Should they get ill while at work, they should be separated and sent home.

  • From the CDC website: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that employees should stay home if they are sick until at least 24 hours after their fever* (temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher) is gone. Temperature should be measured without the use of fever-reducing medicines (medicines that contain ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
  • Further, they note: Not everyone with flu will have a fever. Individuals with suspected or confirmed flu, who do not have a fever, should stay home from work at least 4-5 days after the onset of symptoms. Persons with the flu are most contagious during the first 3 days of their illness.

 

How do I plan for cold/flu/COVID and sick employees?

 Currently, one in five-hundred people in the U.S. have died of Covid-19.  In a small business of 5 or less employees each staff member is a necessary part of the daily operations. Losing a worker to illness, least of all the principal of the business, could do long term damage if not permanently shut it down. As the character Violet in the movie Nine to Five put it; “I’m no fool, I’ve killed the boss, you think they’re not going to fire me for a thing like that?”

There are several ways to plan for a sick employee:

  • Cross train staff to cover for missing workers.
  • When possible, have the ill staff member work from home if they are not too sick.
  • Develop alternative work schedules to prevent exposure.
  • Develop and keep a cleaning schedule: Using soap or detergent reduces germs on surfaces by removing contaminants.
  • Improve ventilation: Increase outdoor airflow. Use fans to increase the effectiveness of open windows. Change air filters and increase them where possible.
  • Have workplace policy for vaccines. Offer incentives through insurance for yearly flu shots.
  • Identify a qualified workplace coordinator to deal with COVID and flu issues.
  • Make a policy for masks or other preventive measures necessary to reduce exposure.

 

What if an employee is diagnosed with COVID, what do I do?

Mary just spent the weekend dancing up a storm at the Covid-19 Corral. She’s at work wheezing like a leaky windbag and informs you that her Covid-19 test just came back positive.

According to the OSA act, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

If you’ve previously identified a qualified workplace coordinator, they should take the following steps.

  • Instruct any workers who are infected, unvaccinated workers who have had close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19, and all workers with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home from work.
  • Implement physical distancing in all communal work areas for unvaccinated and otherwise at-risk workers.
  • Provide workers with face coverings or surgical masks, as appropriate, unless their work task requires a respirator or other PPE.
  • Perform routine cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
  • Implement protections from retaliation and set up an anonymous process for workers to voice concerns about COVID-19-related hazards
    • You should note (obtained from the OSHA website):  OSHA provides the following: Record and report COVID-19 infections and deaths: Under mandatory OSHA rules in 29 CFR part 1904, employers are required to record work-related cases of COVID-19 illness on OSHA’s Form 300 logs if the following requirements are met: (1) the case is a confirmed case of COVID-19; (2) the case is work-related (as defined by 29 CFR 1904.5); and (3) the case involves one or more relevant recording criteria (set forth in 29 CFR 1904.7) (e.g., medical treatment, days away from work). Employers must follow the requirements in 29 CFR part 1904 when reporting COVID-19 fatalities and hospitalizations to OSHA. More information is available on OSHA’s website. Employers should also report outbreaks to local health departments as required and support their contact tracing efforts.
    • In addition, employers should be aware that Section 11(c) of the Act prohibits reprisal or discrimination against an employee for speaking out about unsafe working conditions or reporting an infection or exposure to COVID-19 to an employer. In addition, mandatory OSHA standard 29 CFR 1904.35(b) also prohibits discrimination against an employee for reporting a work-related illness.

 

How do I help my employees feel comfortable at work who are nervous about COVID?

 Knowledge is key when it comes to reducing fears surrounding COVID.

  • Communicate frequently with updates from the CDC.
  • Provide information on what Covid-19 is and how it is contracted.
  • Empathize and listen.
  • Encourage vaccination.
  • Point out available employee benefits such as counseling and assistance.
  • Support those at the workplace.
  • Be generous, when possible, with work at home options, relocation or redesigning the workplace to help reduce stress.

 

Need more information? Paris SBDC can give you ideas and expert advice on managing employees during cold/flu and COVID season. Let us help you understand your obligations as an employer and how to keep employees safe. Contact Paris SBDC today!

 

 

 

For additional on keeping employees healthy and on how to manage sickness during cold-flu-COVID season, please contact us at the Small Business Development Center – SBDC – Serving Paris area:  Lamar, Hunt, Hopkins, Delta, and Red River, Texas counties.

Post-Pandemic Service Industry

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The Post-Pandemic Service Industry

It’s not a secret that we are living in unprecedented times. Every American has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and their daily lives continue to be affected by this virus. Even so, the impact has been hardest for employees in the service industry.

While life for most is finally returning to normal, albeit slowly, what does this mean for the service industry? How does an entrepreneur rebuild their brand in an industry fighting to stay afloat? This guide provides valuable suggestions and advice for small businesses in the service industry to come back better and stronger than ever.

A Tale of Two Employees

One of the biggest struggles the service industry faced during the peak of the pandemic and continues to experience today is hiring new employees while retaining current staff. The intense scrutiny of public health and safety in every aspect of our lives manifested into a fear of even leaving the house; so, how does a small business owner attract potential employees while simultaneously caring for the current staff?

 

Improved Safety Measures:

Enhancing certain safety protocols might seem obvious with the public eye on health and wellness, but what exactly does this entail? In a restaurant setting, consider having food handlers wear masks and gloves at all times. Easy access to hand sanitizing stations should also be taken into account. If the number of COVID cases begins to rise in your immediate area, consider limiting the number of customers in the store at one time. Testing employees for COVID at specified intervals could also be implemented.

This health and safety initiative has a two-fold effect. First, new and existing employees might feel it is a safer working environment with the new modifications and thus continue to show up for work. Second, the customers might also feel safer in this modified setting and not only provide repeat business but spread the word around town.

 

Pay Increase:

A pay increase is another seemingly obvious recommendation, but the execution might not be quite as clear. A huge perk for attracting prospective staff is offering wages that are higher than other similar small businesses. It is important to keep in mind that these are starting wages and employees will eventually request a raise. So, review your supplemental profit to determine a decent starting wage with room to grow.

The same algorithm can be used for your current employees as well. A small raise might be insulting to them whereas too much of a raise might threaten your ability to hire additional staff. Look at a long-term plan of raises and retaining good employees.

 

Schedule Flexibility:

Unlike increasing wages, allowing schedule flexibility may not be an obvious attractor for prospective workers. However, offering flexibility in scheduling can be very inviting and expands the field for potential employees. Certain individuals may only have certain times of the day they are available to work. Mothers may be available while their child is in school, or a full-time student might only be free at night or certain days of the week to work. This principle also applies to existing staff. With the ability of schedule flexibility, these individuals might feel inclined to become an employee or continue on as part of the staff.

 

Enhanced Employee Benefits:

If employee benefits were in practice pre-pandemic, they should be reviewed to determine which benefits can be enhanced. If benefits were not offered, it can be vital to your business and employees to provide benefits other competitors don’t offer.

 

Sign-on Bonus:

A sign-on bonus can be alluring to prospective staff. If a full-time student is interested, consider offering student loan repayment options in exchange for a certain period of work-time with the business. Health insurance and paid time off (PTO) are other great incentives for potential and current employees alike. Childcare benefits can be especially attractive for individuals with childcare needs. Review benefit packages to determine which is best suited to your small business employees.

 

Get creative with employee “perks”:

Sometimes employees just want to feel appreciated and will stay if they feel valued. Getting creative with employee “perks” doesn’t have to cost a lot or affect your bottom line, but can go a long way toward employee retention. Some ideas of creative perks:

  • Celebrate birthdays with a song and small cake or treat.
  • Celebrate milestones (months or years of employment) with balloons, certificates or banners.
  • Offer a free meal after employees complete their shift.
  • Create “Employee Appreciation” days, once a month or once a quarter that could include drawings for gift cards, movies or a spa day.
  • TELL them how much you appreciate them and their hard work. (Employees want to HEAR they are appreciated.)
  • Have an off-site team building exercise with laser tag, paintball or even a movie.
  • Allow a dress-down day or “casual Fridays.”

The Adventures of Repeat Customers

In a world full of unknowns, one thing is for certain and that is the need for repeat business. Customers are the lifelines of small business ventures. So, how do you keep them coming back for more?

As previously mentioned, the improved safety measures can make them feel safer during their shopping or dining experience. If strategies such as in-store pick-up or curbside delivery were implemented during the pandemic, continuing these services can keep customers returning, especially if customers are utilizing these strategies. Free home delivery is another great post-pandemic strategy. If these product delivery programs have not been previously implemented, you might consider doing so as they can be vital in creating repeat business.

 

For additional resources on the service industry post-pandemic, or other tips for growing your small business, please contact us at the Small Business Development Center – SBDC – serving Paris area: Lamar, Hunt, Hopkins, Delta, and Red River counties, Texas.

 

 

Pricing Discounts and How to Manage the Bottom Line

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What does “Managing the Bottom-line” mean?

The term “bottom line” in business refers to the profitability of a business after revenues are recorded and expenses are subtracted. It is a company’s net earning value.  Successful businesses learn to invest resources in a strategy to find and keep customers. It continually develops products or services and markets those offerings to increase sales. Cost reduction strategies can further increase a business’s bottom line.

 

How do I manage the bottom line?

There are several strategies you can look at as a small business to manage and improve your bottom line. Here are a few things to look at implementing in your business:

  • Expenses: Look at all of your expenses. Are there areas you can cut costs, such as shipping, rent, manufacturing or inventory that doesn’t move? Examining your expenses is the first step in improving your bottom line.
  • Pricing: Is your pricing covering all direct and indirect expenses and still allowing a profit? If sales are good, but you aren’t seeing a profit, it may be time to increase pricing.
  • Interest: If you have loans on your real estate, or if you are using credit cards to cover business expenses, you may want to look into a low-interest loan or a property refinance. Applying for an SBA loan could offer a lower interest rate while helping you grow.
  • Marketing: Are you using effective marketing for the price you are paying? Review the demographics of who you are selling to and determine if you are targeting those groups appropriately.
  • Networking: A vital part of managing the bottom line is networking. Making connections with customers, manufacturers, and suppliers can all work to your benefit. In today’s business world, networking can involve social media, emails and face-to-face meetings. Make sure you are spending enough time networking.
  • Innovation: Keep an open mind toward innovation. Look for new opportunities to increase sales and decrease expenses.

 

What are pricing discounts?

Don’t you love a bargain? Everyone loves a deal, especially if they feel like they have paid less than the original cost of an item. Today’s small business customer is expecting a deal and they often chose their purchases based on the amount of money they will save.  Discount pricing can be used as both a promotional strategy for new products as well as means for increasing traffic and sales while moving inventory.

Creating successful pricing discounts can increase revenue. Here are a few strategies to consider:

  • Holiday Discount: Offer a discount on certain items during specific times of the year. (Consider “Christmas in July” to clear out old inventory and prepare for new.) Other holidays, such as Halloween, Hanukah, Diwali or Ramadan could be an opportunity to offer a different discount and increase sales.
  • Promotional Discount: Offer a limited time discount on a new item.
  • Bulk Purchase Discount: Offer a tiered discount for items or the amount purchased.
  • BOGO: Buy one get one free sales are proven to be a very popular discount among consumers. You might also consider BOGO-1/2-off (Buy one get one half off) for items that have a smaller profit margin.

 

How can offering pricing discounts help manage my bottom line?

It sounds counterproductive – to offer something cheaper that will (in the end) make you more profit – but pricing discounts, when done properly can improve your overall sales and even increase sales. It is also imperative to know what your costs are so you can “afford” to offer pricing discounts without losing money. There are a few things to keep in mind when offering a discount and still keep your business profitable:

  • Make discounts temporary: You don’t want to de-value your own inventory or items. Showing them discounted for a limited time, will help maintain their perceived value to the consumer.
  • Offer a limited supply: This can be done by turning off the discount after a certain number is sold, or by limiting the pricing discount to only a few, select items.
  • Don’t discount…. but offer a “perk:” Sometimes it’s better for your bottom line to offer a “perk” instead of a discount. Some popular perks for today’s small businesses are:
    • Offer quicker shipping for purchases over a certain amount. (Free shipping is always a good way to get customers to purchase more items.)
    • Include something free – such as gift wrapping or a small gift.
    • Offer a rewards program for repeat customers.
    • Include fellow business discounts (see our business collaboration blog!)

 

Need more information or ideas? We can help you with strategies, tips and tricks to monitor and maintain your bottom-line.  Contact Paris SBDC today!

 

 

For additional resources on pricing discounts, or with help in how to manage your business’ bottom line, or other tips for growing your small business, please contact us at the Small Business Development Center – SBDC – serving Paris area:  Lamar, Hunt, Hopkins, Delta, and Red River counties.

 

Local Business Cooperation | Collaboration

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Local Business Cooperation – Working Toward a Common Goal

Does the idea of a group project bring you anxiety? You know…the stress of working hurriedly towards a common goal, all the while feeling like you might be better off working alone? No? Just me?

Well, in the world of starting and supporting your own business, collaborating with others can be vital to surviving amongst the sea of big-box retailers. Whether you have a virtual storefront, or your business thrives on foot traffic, this guide can ease any apprehension by explaining the importance of working together with other small businesses. After all, teamwork really does make the dream work.

 

Like A Good Neighbor, Your Business Is There (Supporting Local Business)

Expanding Your Network

One of the more significant obstacles small businesses must overcome to be successful is right there in the name: small. Entrepreneurs consistently rely on their day-to-day contacts, whether new or familiar, for network expansion. If new connections are not formed, then your business is less likely to thrive. Partnering with another small business, even one with a similar business model, can markedly expand your network to potential customers you could not previously access.

 

Let it be Educational

Here again, teamwork can effectively make your dream work. Teaming up with other entrepreneurs and professionals, especially those with different strengths and skillsets, can offer new techniques on how to effectively run your business. Being open to these learning opportunities can improve your business structure and possibly increase revenue. Be ready to learn from other’s mistakes and successes.

 

Increase Innovation

As a small business owner with an established daily routine, creating and implementing new methods of doing business, or new marketing ideas, can easily become lost among the technicalities. Who feels inspired to alter their marketing strategy after a day of crunching numbers or anxiously awaiting a new product order? Partnering with local entrepreneurs provides the opportunity for new and fresh perspectives that can be harnessed for innovation. Whether it be altering in-store product placement or refining your online marketing strategy, these small business owners can provide constructive criticism or even enhance your ideas. This partnership with other like-minded professionals is mutually beneficial in maintaining that ever-important creative flow.

Overall, the mutualistic relationship formed when you team up with one or more local small businesses can grow these businesses to exponential heights.

 

Break Me Off A Piece of That Local Business Deal (Offer Packaged Deals)

It’s no secret that customers love a great deal. Now imagine the allure of a discounted package deal (bingo!). It’s Friday night in Texas which can only mean one thing: high school football. You race around town looking for that perfect shirt when you notice a large easel with “25% off game day attire!” Ok, you’re interested…but wait! Purchasing any game day attire item gets you a bin of team-colored popcorn at half-price from Mom & Pop’s Popcorn Shop next door. And 20% off your meal at the local café. The list of discounts can continue depending on the number of participating businesses. Get involved with other businesses to offer group-business deals.

 

Best-Sellers

When reviewing revenue data, make note of the top-selling product, or even the top three selling products over the past 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year. If the best-selling products from these time frames vary, the trend should be evaluated for determining future product trends. Selecting products for packaged deals is important for not only enticing new customers but to have them return again in the future.

 

Partnerships

Just as important as selecting the product is finding the right local business to team up with. Do you want to expand your clientele beyond your normal customer base? Or do you want to continue to serve your ideal customer? Once you decide which population to market, you can pinpoint the local businesses you would like to partner with and with whom you can collaborate.

 

Snap! Collaborate! Pop! (Distinguishing Participating Retailers)

You and the other business owners have tested several package deals and determined the one that benefits all participating shops the most. Now, how to spread the word? Creating a distinct image, such as a special-colored ribbon or designing a unique seal, to affiliate participating businesses is a great place to start. Similar to the idea of rating restaurants with Michelin stars, or awarding Olympic athletes with medals, this image should be memorable and easily associated with this branding.

Branding can also improve your offerings-base as more and more businesses will want to become part of the “team with the theme” to highlight their own items and improve sales.

 

For additional resources on cooperating with local businesses, or other tips for growing your small business, please contact us at the Small Business Development Center – SBDC – serving the Paris area:  Lamar, Hunt, Hopkins, Delta, and Red River counties.

 

Bah Humbug

Retail Holiday Sales Strategies

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Bah HumbugRetail Holiday Sales Strategies:

Although it might be sticky and hot outside right now, the holidays will soon be upon us. You know…the “hap-happiest season of all”? Unless you’re a small business owner, then the “most stressful season of all” might be more accurate.

Whether your business is a combined in-store and online customer experience, or your business is entirely devoted to a virtual storefront, this blog offers advice to better prepare you and your small business for the “most wonderful time of the year”.

 

To Strategize or Not to Strategize? (Retail Strategies):

During yet another COVID-19 pandemic that is slated to last through the New Year, shoppers are likely to spend their money through virtual platforms as opposed to hassling with masks and social distancing regulations. This assumption of increased online shopping should be in the back of your mind when designing that magical holiday marketing strategy.

 

What are some good retail strategy tips?

  • Stick to the basics: Crafting that perfect holiday marketing strategy can seem like a monumental task, even more so in the world of online shopping. Sticking to the basics of marketing can be a great place to start and eventually lead to that magical holiday charm.
  • Review Earlier Holiday Campaigns: Auditing and understanding prior holiday campaigns can help you circumvent the same pitfalls from previous years and ultimately prevent a less than ideal history from repeating itself. Review the specific tactics previously employed and understand which tactics worked and those that can be improved or thrown out. It is also worthwhile to study your customer data over the past year. Have the customer’s values changed? Did your overall customer base fluctuate or significantly change? Understanding your customer and what they value most can help with holiday messaging.
  • Know Your Audience: Marketing directly to your audience is why analyzing customer data from the previous year is important. By repeating a previous holiday campaign, or even replicating a competitor’s holiday strategy, your message will likely become lost in all the noise. Instead, thoroughly examine your customer base for any nuances that can be advantageous in developing holiday messaging. If your customer is part of the millennial generation, you might consider increasing your social media presence. Did your customer buy in-store more often than online? In the wake of this second pandemic, you might offer a benefit to buy online, with pick up in-store or curbside delivery options.

 

Just A Small Town-er, Shopping in an Online World (Online Sales):

Planning and preparing for the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is essential during a year where customers are likely to shop online for their holiday gifts. Here are some things to do before sales start:

Prep for Increased Online Traffic:

Merchandising Strategies

First and foremost, an ample inventory should be stocked beforehand to prevent customer frustrations over sold out items and lack of choices. Check prior years to make sure your popular items are readily available.

Increased number of shoppers means increased inventory needs. To avoid long wait times and frustrated customers finding out their must-have gift if out of stock or on back-order, check with suppliers now to make sure you’re appropriately stocked, especially for likely gift items.

Showcase your holiday products. Start by determining which products you’re going to sell this holiday season. Are there specific holiday bundles your target audience has been wanting? What about seasonal favorites?

Next, consider how you’ll display these seasonal items on your site. For example, you could have a holiday-specific category in your site navigation. Make shopping easy by organizing gifts in one place.

Site Speed (Speed = Revenue)

Jon Provisor, CIO of Guidance recommends as the key thing to prepare for the holidays: “Work on speed and security.  There is a direct relationship between page load speed and revenue.”

Your website needs to have the scalability and stability to handle increased demands on your web infrastructure.

Optimize Checkout

  • Simplify checkout to 1 page
  • Enable guest checkout
  • Offer several payment options
  • Let shoppers select preferred shipping option

To test how your site is performing, you can check your site’s speed here: Google Speed Test

Online selling tips

  • Keep in mind that your online store doesn’t have to have every item in your storefront.
  • Select items which you have a good quantity of to ship.
    • Pre-wrap them to fulfill orders quicker.
  • Items with the best profit margins should be highlighted.
  • Make sure to mix in some trendy items and market them as “Get it before it’s gone” to create a sense of urgency.
  • Anticipate shipping problems and urge your customers to order early to avoid delays.

 

I’ll Have What She’s Having…And Other Memorable Tips (Offer Perks):

  • Create memorable packing and unboxing experience
  • Offer buy online, in-store pick up option
  • Discounts for first time buyers
  • BOGO free option

 

For additional resources on retail holiday sales strategies, or other tips for growing your small business, please contact us at the  ParisSmall Business Development Center – SBDC – serving Paris area:  Lamar, Hunt, Hopkins, Delta, and Red River counties.