We’ve had so much going on, I think we missed a week or two of blog posts. So, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, and that room is your workplace ‘Break Room’. Just this past week, Gina Raimondo abruptly ordered manufacturing workplace break rooms closed for 90 days to slow down the COVID surge.
We’ve had a LOT of conversations with Rhode Island companies, and the one thing they almost unanimously agree on is closing the break rooms is terrible for morale. No one is going to argue that point. It’s hard enough working at a physically demanding job, but now you’re also wearing a face mask? And now they’ve taken your coffee machine away? That’s a serious bummer. Adding insult to injury is the weather turning, and with most manufacturers starting up as early as pre-dawn, no one can expect the team to be happy.
Ultimately, it’s really an issue of personal non-compliance on the part of some employees which is causing a ripple effect through RI companies. Is it hard to follow the rules? No, not really. But it would seem (also in our conversations with companies) that some folks are still trying to politicize this virus. One conversation which was overheard, a person went on at length about how the one party is behind the pandemic, and attempted to thwart the election by making people sick. Honestly, I was more hoping they were joking than expressing an opinion, and it turns out people will risk their health, and yours, and mine, and their families, co-workers, and community in some misguided attempt to be a zeitgeist for political commentary. Say it with me —- SILLY.
One thing COVID19 and all public health emergencies have in common? THEY DON’T VOTE. These infectious agents wreaking havoc globally actually don’t have an agenda. They just want to proliferate. COVID doesn’t care if you can’t have your Gardetto’s snack mix at 11AM, and it certainly isn’t sad you’re chugging along without caffeine.
There are some steps people can take to help minimize the exposure, but we all are very much aware of what they are. Wear your mask, wash your hands, stay socially distant. If your company has opted not to have professional services brought in like OSS, then opt for the consumer applied version of SD90 and ensure your vending machines, coffee pots, etc… are protected. If you’re one of the first people to contact us and say you saw the blog, we’ll give you a 10oz bottle of SD90 on the house! This too shall pass. But in the meantime, we’ve got you covered.
