Even though the peak is behind us and despite taking extreme safety measures, clients still refused to open doors for service pros. Many service businesses were hit hard by that, and they have yet to recover.
Since your client’s home is still your office, you can’t really afford to stay away just because there’s a deadly variant of the Covid virus. You’ll just have to comply with the strictest Covid protocols to make everything as safe as possible for you, your team, and your client base.
The best and most encouraging way of keeping your work safe is getting vaccinated or at least tested 72 hours before a home visit. 2+ years into the pandemic, many services offer mobile covid-testing that you can even perform at home, accompanied by health professionals. This is a great solution for people who are older, pregnant, or recovering from severe illnesses. Those who use Workiz can also see a doctor online for a reduced rate due to our partnership with Antidote.
That being said, in today’s complicated times, even all of these solutions aren’t enough. Service pros should also take more straightforward, common-sense precautions to stay as safe as possible.
We asked Antidote’s health care experts for tips on delivering quality services during this time of great challenge. Here’s what they had to say.
How to stay safe during the spread of Omicron?
Here are 5 ways for service pros to protect themselves from the Covid variant while still providing their clients with the best possible on-site home care:
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Make sure that everyone on your team is vaccinated or tested before visiting homes.
If you’re working with subcontractors, ask to see their vaccine or test certificate with your own eyes. Also, make sure the people you work with or for aren’t supposed to be in quarantine, even if they lack any symptoms. You cannot afford to become Covid-positive in terms of workdays, revenue, and health.
Then again, don’t overdo it. Not everyone who coughs on your team has Covid. Maybe it’s just a medical condition, air pollution, or something related to the winter.
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Allow yourself to keep some distance.
For the most part, keeping 20 feet from your clients shouldn’t be a problem, except when they want to lend a hand or monitor anything you’re doing more closely. In that case, ask them politely to keep their distance and their masks on. If you still need some space, have an open window nearby to keep fresh air coming in.
Regardless, make sure your clients don’t touch your equipment or anything else that belongs to you. Ask them to wear protective gloves if they have to come into contact with it.
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Disinfect equipment and wash your hands.
Equipment like multimeters, oscilloscopes, etc., should be disinfected whether you believe there are any risks of being infected by something stuck to it or not.
In any case, handwashing with waterless alcohol is a great way to kill any germs and viruses on your hands. If it’s comfortable during the job, you can also wear protective gloves to reduce the chances of accumulating germs.
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Wear a protective mask at all times.
Even if someone in your team has Covid, the chances of infecting others with it are significantly lower if they wear a mask. Yes, we know that masks can be uncomfortable to wear. They can make breathing difficult, and they’re especially troublesome with beards. But they’re also the best protective solution we have.
If you absolutely can’t wear masks on the job, try to keep an even more considerable distance from others, and have an open window nearby.
If you have any open wounds or sores that could infect your clients, even if you’re wearing a mask, pay attention to them first (or see a doctor) before seeing any client in person.
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Avoid visiting clients who are confirmed to have the Covid variant.
Some clients are more Covid-aware, while others believe wearing a mask is unnecessary. You know your most loyal clients personally, but others are more difficult to predict.
Before visiting clients’ homes, have your dispatchers ask about their medical conditions and preferences. Whenever you see a client with a sensitive medical condition, enforce Covid protocols more strictly. Likewise, if you hear that a client has the variant, cancel the appointment and reschedule it.
Most importantly, if you’re sick with Covid-like symptoms, stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible. Once again, ask to perform a Covid test to rule out other medical conditions.
If you must help a client urgently, talk to them over the phone and even start Zoom chats to explain how they can do minor repairs themselves. If the issue is significant, you can refer them to colleagues or subcontractors until it is safe for you to go outside. But beware of the temptation to visit homes while having Covid. There is no point in risking your or your client’s health, not to mention your business reputation.
Final thoughts
All service business owners face challenges these days, especially those with health issues other than Covid. However, you can still keep business as usual. One might even say that you have a better shot at increasing revenue since a growing number of people are stuck at home or working from home.
But even if demand is high, better be safe than sorry. Make sure to follow health protocols. Ask your team and subcontractors to pay a visit to the doctor whenever necessary. If they’re afraid to leave their homes or feel too sick, have them see a doctor using Antidote or some other health solution. Antidote’s professionals can also treat mental-related conditions such as depression and PTSD, as unfortunately also occurred throughout the pandemic.
We’re providing 20% off for six months at Antidote. Simply download the app and use code WORKIZ to get started.
We hope you don’t lose any work days due to Covid. However, if that happens and jobs get canceled (as they might), Workiz can help you follow up until the job is done. You can use Workiz’s Automation Center to reach out to clients who canceled their bookings and offer them to reschedule once their quarantine period has ended. The app can also be used to send an automated message to your clients with a list of safety measures taken to prevent the spread of a pandemic. Here’s how.
