Finding the Right Health & Safety Solution for Your Business

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a confusing time for most Americans and a scientific conundrum for world leaders. Businesses no matter the size are forced to grapple with stagnated revenue, changing processes, and evolving state and local government demands. But the bottom line remains that COVID-19 is real, and unfortunately, it has taken many lives prematurely.

For the survival of our country and economy, we needed to figure out how to safely conduct our lives with some normalcy. Technology has played a critical role in the way that we continue operations, particularly in how we return to work.

Human Resources teams have been at the forefront in adopting innovative technologies at all levels, including employee engagement, recruitment, and management processes. As employees return to the workplace, during and post-pandemic, HR teams should be vigilant and have the flexibility to break new ground. In other words, operators should put in place effective, new measures--not just placebos--to keep employees and patrons safe as they return.

So, how do we reopen businesses and optimize risk management efforts without further hindering the economy?

Electronic Health passports have been a major part of the conversation on returning to normalcy, and though proof of vaccination is a good idea on paper, stringent requirements are implemented around compliance, and it can become more onerous for businesses to manage. In other words, managing a new generation of vaccination recipients calls for new protocols in monitoring their wellness too.

This is where eConnect has focused its energy. Since March, eConnect, a global leader in designing, developing, and distributing technologies that automate organizational processes, has shifted its efforts to offer businesses a holistic approach to combating the pandemic.

Since the start of the pandemic, eConnect has designed automated systems that allow organizations to open and stay open. In March, we deployed a contactless safety automation system, eClear®, which serves as a touch-less, all-in-one tool that digitizes entire pre-screening and contact tracing processes. Technology like eClear also offers businesses the ability to load vaccination records into existing HR applications like UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group), Paychex, ADP, Paycom, and more.

The verdict is still out on what can be legally mandated on vaccine compliance, but the evidence is clear that herd immunity is imperative to reinvigorating many industries. Though the new year may still not look “normal” in terms of capacity restrictions, HR management teams should take a lead in adopting secure strategies and processes that get us back to normal.

Such processes should include record keeping of vaccinated individuals via QR code scanning and recording, or by filling out pre-screener questions to capture state vaccination records. Regardless of the approach, operators need to ensure the safety of employees and the workforce. In return, they can deliver on the workplace experience.

Not only can vaccine record-keeping be done digitally, but the transfer of information can trigger rewards to incentivize compliance. Organizations should consider employee perks, like offering extra HSA funds when a vaccine is completed, for instance. Adding on to these existing programs can boost confidence in the safety of workplace environments.

Four areas that HR management teams should automate when considering next steps in the fight against Covid-19 include:

--Digital Pre-Screening (Symptoms Questionnaire)

Every business should have a first line of defense to keep their buildings safer. They should install a HIPPA-compliant pre-screening application that can be deployed on any internetenabled device. This allows employees, vendors, and customers to quickly answer a few basic questions about their current health before entering a building.

--Thermal Screening (Elevated Temperature Check)

Install a self-serving thermal screening process. These types of systems can prompt the individual to don their face mask and even use face-matching technology to authenticate them for access to a door, turnstile, or time punch, all with zero touching of the device.

Remember, not all thermal screening devices are created equal. There have been many pop-up companies selling copy devices that lack customer support, pose cybersecurity risk, and come pre-loaded with different languages.

--Occupancy Control (Adherence to Social Distancing)

It’s no secret that overcrowded buildings become a breeding ground for COVID-19, also known as super-spreader events. Recently, cities and states have rolled out mandates about occupancy levels – some have reduced thresholds up to 25 percent. Implement a system that keeps tight controls over the number of people who can occupy a space at any one time.

--Contact Tracing

Finally, adopt a system that is capable of tracking all people who have entered the building, collect their contact information, and associate that information with their photo. This allows rapid communication to take place when someone else tests positive for COVID-19. One of the best ways to mitigate the spread is to keep everyone aware of the virus and prevent one person from transmitting it to one or many people.

Together, these tactics arm management teams with the tools that they need to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases while keeping employees safe and facilities clean. eClear® uniquely combines all four capabilities, ensuring that businesses are prepared for future outbreaks.

Overall, integrations are the secret sauce to fast implementation. HR management teams should look for turnkey solutions that can quickly plug into their existing systems and provide benefit in the era beyond the coronavirus. Scaling up operations into typical busier months will be essential to surviving in 2021.