COVID-19

A ‘Between Waves’ Planner for Small Businesses

3. Communications

  • Create a mechanism for keeping employees informed of the status of your business should you need to suspend or cease operations.
  • Make sure that your teams have updated cell phone numbers and personal email addresses so you can stay in contact remotely if the business is closed or operations curtailed.
  • Identify the point person for internal communications and external communications. In a crisis, you may not want to the primary media contact as your hands will already be full.
  • Prepare basic key messages ahead of time. You want to have internal and external messaging that you can adapt to match anticipated situations without having to think them up on the fly.
  • Coordinate your responses with appropriate public health officials and emergency response agencies when required.
  • Develop internal and external information channels that are targeted to specific audiences. Be sure that the messaging you create is tailored to each audience or stakeholder.
  • Prepare health and prevention messages ahead of time and use the break to reinforce good hygiene practices, the importance of social distancing and the protocol for reporting COVID-19 symptoms, isolating staff with symptoms and seeking appropriate health care.
  • Prepare additional messaging that keeps your employees and stakeholders informed of actions you are taking if there is a confirmed case or an outbreak in your place of business in a second wave.