COVID-19 restrictions mean businesses, more than ever, need to be entrepreneurial, flexible and responsive. We have created a range of resources to help you navigate this.
Adapting operations
COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions mean business, more than ever, needs to be entrepreneurial, flexible and responsive.
- Review, update, communicate and enact your industry and workplace-specific hygiene and isolation guidelines regularly.
- Get a grasp on your cash flow and financial situation.
- Recognise and respond to consumer shifts – both reduced demand and new openings.
- Develop new markets and supply opportunities, internationally and locally.
- Explore your technological capability and build your contingency for digital acceleration.
- Consider your current and future workforce requirements and understand your contractual obligations.
Building resilience
You may need to reconsider your existing workforce structure. Always seek legal advice before restructuring.
- Get across your obligations as an employer, including enterprise agreements, contractual terms and the temporary flexibility available in some limited circumstances.
- Discuss options with your workforce. Employees may agree to reduced hours, or job sharing, in preference to job losses.
- If you have exhausted all other options, know what you must do to meet your obligations in case of redundancies.
- Look ahead – how are you training and developing staff to meet your future business needs?
- Stay up-to-date on hiring and training incentives that may be available.
Leading through change
Business has a role to play in the community’s resilience — not just by helping keep staff safe at work, or by generating economic opportunity, but by showing leadership through difficult times.
- Review and revise your COVID-19 communication and incident response plan.
- Be transparent and keep staff and other stakeholders up-to-date with your COVID-19 response.
- Make a mental health and wellness plan, take time to check-in, and help support more vulnerable staff members.