Working During COVID-19: What It's Really Like

Working During COVID-19: What It’s Really Like

May 19, 2020

Living through a pandemic is not something anyone expects to do. Pandemics are the things of movies, not something that happens in real life. Without having any real-world experience with anything remotely similar to this, there are many questions about what to expect and just as much uncertainty about working during a time like this. Even with all of this, essential businesses remain open and people continue to go to work on a daily basis.

Every business within the United States is required to follow guidelines set in place to maintain a safe work environment. These guidelines have grown tremendously in the last few months with temporary measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. The way these guidelines are followed is different for each business depending on the company size and the nature of the business. Based on conversations with both current essential workers and the employers they work for, here’s what to expect when returning to work.

Symptom Awareness: Many businesses have implemented daily temperature checking routines. The majority of this is done on the arrival of all employees and guests, while other companies have multiple checks throughout the day. At some businesses, a COVID-19 questionnaire must be completed by new employees and visitors upon arrival asking if they are showing any of the current symptoms identified by the CDC and if they have been exposed to anyone diagnosed with Coronavirus. Only those who pass both of these checks are allowed to enter the business.
Social Distancing: All businesses are required to enforce social distancing, ensuring employees maintain a distance of six feet whenever possible. In the most extreme cases, entire companies have emptied their sites of workers, forcing many employees to work from home. Of those who are able to continue working on-site, they are doing so with adjusted operations. Companies have created new shifts or modified work hours to allow for less staff to come in direct contact with each other. Breaks are now staggered or break areas have been expanded to spread out workers. Warehouses have adjusted the way work is completed, with the number of employees operating a machine or working on a line decreasing significantly. In some locations, visual pieces have been added to the manufacturing lines to assist in maintaining a six-foot distance.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): With the latest state mandate, every company open to the public within Pennsylvania now must require all essential staff and visitors to wear a mask while on site. Some may also require employees to wear gloves, which are to be frequently changed or cleaned. These are generally provided by the company and are to be worn at all times within the business.
Cleaning: Businesses have started implemented more rigorous cleaning. In larger companies, extra staff has been hired to ensure that all surfaces are being disinfected regularly throughout the workday. Smaller businesses have provided staff with cleaning supplies that can be used to disinfect work stations or communal areas.
Atmosphere: With everyone in our community going through this together, there is a stronger sense of unity. Employees are working more as a team than ever before to ensure work is being completed efficiently and safely. People who remain working are thankful for the position they have and have a positive outlook on each and every day.

There are many fears surrounding starting a new job and those fears have only grown with COVID-19. Having the knowledge of what to expect on your first day and the information on what is being done to keep employees safe makes things much easier.

Although things are nowhere near what they were a few months ago, people are adapting to the current way of life. This new sense of normalcy has taken time to get used to, but it is manageable. People and companies continue to function and life carries on.