As Connecticut slowly moves closer to community immunity, many reopening businesses may wonder whether the benefits of corporate COVID-19 testing are worth the expense. But there may be some unexpected benefits to testing beyond preventing an outbreak at your place of business. Read on to learn more.
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Staying a step ahead of the virus
Obviously, the goal of regular employee testing is to prevent COVID-19 and related variants from entering the workplace and infecting others. But a carefully planned COVID-19 safety strategy can help you enhance the benefits and help ensure you stay open.
One example of this is scheduling staff in teams. This means that if staff from one team are exposed you have backup staff ready to take over operations while exposed employees isolate. Not only will this policy make it easier to deal with employees who can’t work because of COVID-19, it also creates a policy that allows flexibility for employees with other chronic conditions or health concerns.
Strengthening relationships with employees, vendors, and the community
Investing in a strong COVID-19 Safety Plan will give your employees confidence that you value them and are prioritizing their safety. At a time when low-wage workers have more leverage than they have had in decades, making sure employees feel heard and respected is vital to retention and growth. Testing not only helps keep staff safe, it also helps them keep their families safe.
Consumers have also become more aware of the challenges of the traditional workplace; doing what they can to be more conscious of businesses’ practices and not supporting businesses who mistreat or neglect their staff. Advertising your corporate testing policy is a sign to patrons that you recognize your employees as humans who deserve to have their safety put first.
Customers who can’t benefit from full immunity or who have not yet been vaccinated will also appreciate your efforts regarding their safety. Children under 12 are not yet eligible for vaccinations, which can be a struggle for families with children of mixed ages. Making it known you are taking precautions in excess of the bare minimum could make your business an attractive refuge for those who don’t have immunity.
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Legal liability defense
The legal ramifications of the pandemic won’t be defined for years. Connecticut passed a protection law in March 2021 which lays out the same conditions as many laws passed in other states and localities – that businesses must be following guidelines and regulations in good faith to avoid liability.
While this is good news for businesses, it doesn’t mean you are entirely protected from lawsuits. Anyone could file a lawsuit against your business even if they lie and have never visited your store – you would still have to follow the legal procedures necessary to prove your case.
Anyone tempted to target a business for a COVID-19 liability case is unlikely to choose a business that advertises itself as going above and beyond the bare minimum safety requirements. A case would have a much higher chance of success at a business known to be lax in their COVID-related procedures. This is an especially good protection to have as the Delta variant, a more contagious and dangerous form of COVID-19, has entered the US and is now circulating.
Utilizing mobile testing services
If you are an employer looking for corporate COVID testing in Connecticut, a mobile medical testing service is your most convenient option. These services will send nurse(s) to your worksite or event to administer rapid COVID-19 tests. They handle bringing all the materials, administering the tests to employees, and processing samples onsite.
As healthcare providers, many also offer insight and assistance on navigating the various forms and disclosures required by law when conducting employee testing – allowing you to fully focus on your business.
Even better, incentives for corporate testing can include progressive group discounts, or discounts for ongoing service agreements, which make protecting your staff affordable.