What happens when the economy reopens?
Many of us are asking the same questions right now: When will businesses reopen after COVID-19? How can we reopen safely? What should employees know about personal protective equipment?
We’ve been asking these questions for a while. Last month, KTM president Paul Kumler published an article in South Carolina Manufacturing addressing these and other concerns, which are just as relevant today. The following list is an excerpt giving a brief overview of his take on why the economy might take longer to recover than we hoped:
Supply chains across the globe have been impacted. When the big manufacturing companies decide to re-open, how long will it take for their supply chain to restart? Will the supply chain restart at the same time?
Recalling laid off workers will happen with extreme caution. Employers will not know how long it will take to get up and running or how the shutdown has impacted their demand. There will be concern that the virus will cause additional issues and employers will be reluctant to bring back laid off workers. This means unemployment will continue for many.
Will companies be ready to meet the health requirements when the economy reopens? The health care professionals and government officials are recommending certain PPE and other changes be in place before reopening. How many companies have begun this planning and are getting their places of business ready to open?
Continued social distancing and fear will impact businesses, particularly the service industry. Corona is going to be with us for a while. How will restaurants and industries that require close proximity to customers get back to normal How will these changes impact consumer pricing on an economy where personal purchasing power has been impacted?
How can businesses prepare?
Numbers 3 and 4 from this list are the areas where we can take action right away. Both the CDC and OSHA have provided guidelines for businesses reopening their doors. In addition to frequent hand washing and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces, they recommend barriers to separate employees working in close proximity to each other or to customers.
What kind of partitions does your business need to help reduce the spread of this coronavirus? KTM Solutions offers partitions in a variety of materials, including acrylic and polycarbonate. These translucent materials allow clear communication without obstructing light. Our partitions can be customized to fit the size and layout of your space, whether you need dividers between desks, in the middle of a room, on a tabletop, or in some other location. These partitions can provide a safeguard in offices, workshops, schools, retail or food-service establishments, and many other venues.
Let us help
If you are looking for ways to keep employees or customers safe during the coronavirus outbreak, contact us to discuss your partition needs and let us develop a custom solution.