Restore Chester County
Economic Action Steps — Office Setting
Offices include a very wide array of different types of businesses, and not all businesses that use office settings have been affected the same way. Under stay-at-home orders, workers who had the ability to telecommute pivoted quickly to working from home, and business meetings, conferences, and seminars went online. A long-term reduction in traditional commuting patterns has also affected businesses that cater to office workers, such as coffee shops, drycleaners, and bars.
Current Office Business Practices
The following practices are being implemented by various offices around the county and nation to address COVID-19-related disruptions. These practices may be helpful for offices not currently using them.
- Stagger shifts for office workers and utilize videoconferencing for client and staff meetings.
- Offer continued voluntary work-from-home options for employees.
- Repurpose hotel rooms as remote work offices.
- Provide employees with childcare voucher and connect them to available providers and/or provide on-site childcare for employees.
- Provide opportunities for virtual staff interaction.
Actions to support office businesses
The following actions by governments, economic development organizations, trade organizations, and others would provide support to offices during the current COVID-19 crisis.
- Provide technical assistance with social media/marketing, COVID-19 testing, and navigating federal assistance/tax policies.
- Facilitate a safety 'self-certification' program that features consistent branding and signage.
- Identify and match up underutilized office space with businesses that need more room in order to socially distance employees.
- Enhance business focus of government websites with tips and tools on how to open and operate safely.
To see recommendations for other industries, click on the industry link below:
