15 Strategies For Safely And Successfully Reopening Your Business

By: Expert Panel®, Forbes Councils Member

With vaccination rates increasing, more entrepreneurs are gearing up to return to some semblance of normal. However, the world is not the same as it was pre-pandemic, and past routines and expectations may not work the way they once did.

With this in mind, business owners must thoughtfully move toward reopening while considering the needs of their customers and teams. To help, 15 members of Forbes Business Council shared their recommendations for fellow entrepreneurs looking to safely reopen—and thrive in—their business.

1. Empower Employees To Take Charge Of Their Health

Make sure your employees know that your priority is their well-being and the well-being of the entire team. Then, create the ability for them to make the best decisions for preserving their health and the health of the entire business by providing flexible sick leave, remote working capability and a standard of wellness for the entire office. Lean into mental and physical well-being as a mission. - Christopher White, Eques, Inc.

2. Continue Taking Safety Precautions

I've encouraged all Peninsula employees to get vaccinated, with paid time off during the workday to get jabs and free transport to nearby clinics. Record proof of vaccination, use one-way systems, social distancing, extra deep-cleaning and regular testing. It’s crucial to recognize your duty of care to keep staff, clients and suppliers as safe as possible. We owe it ourselves not to get complacent now. - Peter Done, The Peninsula Group

3. Develop Individualized Employee Plans

Our recommendation to entrepreneurs is to listen to their employees and work with HR to develop individualized plans. Each employee may be facing their own challenges, and it is important in order to retain employees to listen to their concerns and requirements. If you can, take a slow and phased approach to ease employees into the reopening and adapt based on their comfort levels. - Bernadette Butler, StoryTap

4. Ensure Employees Are Vaccinated And Protected

While vaccination rates are increasing, we are still a long way before we declare final victory over the pandemic. My recommendation is to ensure people returning to the place of work are actually vaccinated and to stay diligent in ensuring the place of work has all of the necessary tools and policies to protect employees. - Samir Zabaneh, TouchBistro

5. Have Flexible Working Arrangements

It is my belief that a return to normality is vital to the continued growth of many businesses. I believe that flexibility in remote, office and hybrid work must be considered for staff to adapt to the "new normal." The world has changed a good deal since 2019 and promoting a flexible workforce is a necessity to overcome any possible future issues and pandemics. - Iain Borner, The Data Privacy Group Ltd.

6. Remain True To Your Purpose

Stay true to your higher purpose. Margins may be thin but the "why" or your unique purpose is needed in this world more than ever before! Stay true. Don't chase the money. Profit will come through purpose. Your employees will bring your cause to life and heal while they work together with you to create a movement. - Margo Jay, 365 Integrated

7. Understand Employees' Needs

Team members need to feel safe in the work environment, and that means understanding people’s needs and concerns and customizing solutions to achieve those goals. Leaders must remember that a fearful team member will not be happy nor productive and will likely not be retained. Returning to work can be an opportunity to reconnect and recommit to team members to grow together safely. - Jacob Kupietzky, HCT Executive Interim Management & Consulting

8. Give Notice And Communicate

Give employees ample notice prior to making any changes or requirements. At the same time, make sure you are surveying or gathering feedback from employees regularly on how they feel about certain situations or changes. Communication is critical during these times and it's the only way to ensure your company is aligned with employee sentiment. - Michael Lucarelli, RentSpree

9. Focus On Employee Confidence And Happiness

It's critical to focus beyond just the recommended health and safety measures, but on employee confidence and happiness. Covid has taken an emotional toll on many, especially those who've lost loved ones. Employees need to feel respected, safe and confident to return back to work to ensure workforce satisfaction and productivity remain. - Oscar White, Beyonk

10. Don't Wait To Take Action

Use empathy to understand what everyone's concerns are, but don't let it stop you from getting back out there and making moves. I am watching so many business owners lose millions in opportunities from "waiting" to take action. And I am seeing the most successful business owners take action and win. It doesn't need to be aggressive; it can be kind, but you can't wait if you want to succeed. - Brian Cristiano, Bold CEO

11. Talk To Your Customers

One of the recommendations I would have for entrepreneurs is to talk as much as possible to customers. I believe that values changed during this time of social exclusion. In order to stay ahead of the competition, you need to talk to your customers. They will pave the path you walk. - Kaj Leroy, CustomX B.V.

12. Host An Informational Bootcamp

From business type to industry to geographic location, there are many variables to consider before safely reopening. One solid practice that can be applied across the board is the creation of a quick bootcamp for existing and new employees to go over old practices and introduce new ones. This needs to be done in a respectful manner that will purely inform the team without offending anyone. - Ido Wiesenberg , Voyantis

13. Make The Right Decision For Your Business

Make sure you open up the correct way for your business. Some businesses will likely need to go quickly back or continue being in person, others may benefit from a more hybrid approach and others still may have learned they are better off remote. Make the right decision for your own business and don't just follow the crowd! - Ada Liu, ShareCreators

14. Plan For The Worst

Having a distributed team, it’s important for us to have a plan of action that our entire team can feel comfortable about. Planning for the worst and knowing you have a plan in place will make everyone feel safe, employees and customers alike. Your plan must address in-person employees, remote employees and a hybrid mix. - Finn Kelly, The Go Game / Weve

15. Establish Two-Way Accountability

As more companies return to in-office settings, leaders will need to create initiatives that encourage employees to set boundaries, establish balance while remaining productive and reduce talent turnover. One recommendation I have is to make informed decisions on employees’ new benefit needs based on internal feedback and establish a two-way street of accountability for executives and employees. - David Reid, Ease

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Previously published on Forbes.