AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDEPreparing to Open Your Business in the Age of COVID-19

For the Workplace• Deputizeworkplacecoordinator(s)chargedwithaddressingCOVID-19issues.•Maintainregularhousekeepingpractices,includingroutinecleaninganddisinfectingofsurfaces,equipment,andotherelementsoftheworkenvironment.

• Frequentlycleananddisinfectsurfacescommonlytouchedbymultiplepeople.Thisincludesdoorhandles,desks,phones,lightswitches,andfaucets.

• Promotefrequentandthoroughhandwashing,includingbyprovidingworkers,customers,andworksitevisitorswithaplacetowashtheirhands.

• Implementpoliciesandpractices,suchasflexibleworksites(e.g.,telecommuting)orflexibleworkhours(e.g.,staggeredshifts),toincreasethephysicaldistanceamongemployeesandbetweenemployeesandothers.

• Increasephysicalspacebetweenemployeesandcustomerssuchasopeningadrive-through,installingpartitions,andmarkingfloorstoguidespacingatleastsixfeetapart.

• Provideprotectivegearsuchasfacemasksandgloves,iffeasible,andencourageappropriateuse.

For Employees• Activelyrequiresickemployeestostayhome.• Informandencourageemployeestoself-monitorforsignsandsymptomsofCOVID-19iftheysuspectpossibleexposure.

• Ensurethatsickleavepoliciesareflexibleandconsistentwithpublichealthguidanceandthatemployeesareawareofthesepolicies.

• Discourageworkersfromusingotherworkers’phones,desks,offices,orotherworktoolsandequipment,whenpossible.

• Considerschedulinghandwashingbreakssoemployeescanwashtheirhandswithsoapandwaterforatleast20secondsorusehandsanitizer.

• Phaseshiftsandbreakstoreduceemployeedensity.• Connectemployeestocompanyorstatebenefitsproviders.•Wearprotectivegearsuchasfacemasksandgloves,andencourageappropriateuse.

To Protect Your Customers• Providecustomersandthepublicwithtissuesandno-touchtrashreceptacles.• Encouragerespiratoryetiquette,includingcoveringcoughsandsneezes.• Encouragetheuseofprotectionlikefacemasksandgloves.• Providehandsanitizeratbusinessentranceandhighcontactareassuchasthecashregisterorfrontdesk.

• Installpartitionsorbarrierswherepossiblebetweencustomersandemployees.• ConsiderofferingspecialhoursforpatronsatahigherriskofsevereillnessfromCOVID-19.• Encourageandfacilitate6-footdistancinginsideofthebusiness.

BEST PRACTICES FOR ALL BUSINESS

What should I do if I have an employee who refuses to return to work without good reason? Iowans who refuse to return to work when recalled by their employer will lose unemployment benefits, except for certain circumstances. Employees in any of the following positions are encouraged to work with their employer to determine the best way to handle the situation:

• IfyouhavetestedpositiveforCOVID-19andareexperiencingsymptoms;• Ifyouhaverecoveredbutitcausedmedicalcomplicationsrenderingyouunabletoperformessentialjobduties;

• IfamemberofyourhouseholdhasbeendiagnosedwithCOVID-19;• IfyouareprovidingcareforamemberofyourhouseholdwhowasdiagnosedwithCOVID-19;• IfyoudonothavechildcareduetoCOVID-19reasons;or• IfyoudonothavetransportationtoyourplaceofworkbecauseofCOVID-19.

Refusingtoreturntoworkwhenrecalledforanyotherreason,orinanattempttocontinuetodrawunemploymentbenefitswillbeconsidereda“voluntaryquit”whichwoulddisqualifyaclaimantfromreceivingbenefits,includingtheFederalPandemicUnemploymentCompensationbenefitof$600/weekly.Anemployeewhoisrecalledonapart-timebasismaycontinuetobeeligibleforbenefitsdependingontheamountofwagestheyearn.Theyshouldcontinuefilingtheirweeklyclaimsandreportthegrosswagestheyearnedeachweek.

BusinessesshouldreportemployeeswhorefusetoreturntoworkwithoutgoodreasonorwhoquittheirjobsassoonaspossibletoIowaWorkforceDevelopment.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP! The Ames Chamber of Commerce is offering technical assistance to businesses in

Story County. Businesses who opt-in will participate in a one-hour video conference with a member of the Business Development Team to discuss their current challenges and then the realities of opening up. Our team will share some best practices and tie it

directly to their business so they have some true actionable items.

Contact our offices at 515.232.2310 or by email at john@ameschamber.com to sign up for this FREE program.

304MainStreetPhone515.232.2310

Ames,Iowa50010www.AmesChamber.com

State Fire Marshall Occupancy Requirements

• dps.iowa.gov/divisions/state-fire-marshal

United States Department of Labor• osha.gov

Center for Disease Control (CDC)• cdc.gov

World Health Organization (WHO)• who.int

Iowa Department of Public Health• idph.iowa.gov

Iowa Department of Revenue• tax.iowa.gov

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)• irs.gov

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• iowaosha.gov

IMPORTANT WEBSITES TO MONITOR