(Nicole Reis/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Nicole Reis

NEW RETAIL GUIDELINES

Meadow Lake Chamber of Commerce considers virtual gathering to help businesses with re-open plan

May 7, 2020 | 2:24 PM

Hiring staff is not top of mind for some employers in Meadow Lake however, the local Chamber of Commerce is entertaining ways to prepare businesses for what could be a drastically different way of doing business and interacting with the public.

Trevor Dignean, Meadow Lake and District Chamber of Commerce administrator, told meadowlakeNOW he is gauging interest toward the local business community about a virtual job fair. He said the event would contain an educational component on post-pandemic provincial guidelines coming into effect for retailers on May 19.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” Dignean said. “On May 19, a lot of retailers will be opening and there will be a new normal. I thought, the sooner [retailers] could prepare themselves and get [employees] trained [now] so when they hit the ground, they’ll be set up for the new normal that is in place.”

Hiring will depend on individual businesses and a majority of business owners in the community are not thinking about hiring new staff, he said, as a number of employers in the city have laid off nearly half of their workforce within the last two months.

The Chamber administrator hopes to prepare the community for new standards of operation as hefty fines could be imposed if businesses are found in violation of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan workplace guidelines.

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“I know there have been a lot of layoffs and some staff are being retrained on a new normal and when they open the gates, [businesses are] ready for it and that’s what I’d like to do — make sure we’re ready for it,” Dignean said.

Jessica Martodam, manager of Martodam’s Clothing, said her retail business has been operational during pandemic through online orders and deliveries. She said she is apprehensive about opening the store to the public.

“Before the government came out with any guidelines, we already had [safety] procedures in place,” she said. “If people return or exchange items to the store, we put the item in quarantine for a week which is beyond the provincial recommendation of 72 hours.”

Martodam expressed concerns about making her customers feel uncomfortable.

“We have a big store with a lot of stuff, how do you tell people not to touch merchandise without following them around?” she said. “We also sanitize change rooms after every use which may seem a bit excessive, but we’ve been discussing how to proceed with [policy] changes for a few weeks already.”

Clear plastic barricades are in place at the store to provide a service from a distance for customers who wish to see a product before purchasing. The store’s manager is considering additional procedures including mandatory face masks, though struggles with the fine life of isolating customers in her store who want to shop freely as restrictions are gradually lifted.

Martodam said the Chamber of Commerce’s objective to educate business owners could be useful so business owners are on the same page in terms of operational guidelines. The business owner expressed concern about the public’s willingness to comply with upcoming retail restrictions.

“If we’re prepared by May 19, we’ll open but we still have to put up plexiglass and map out the store to make sure people are using one door to enter and exit. We’ll have limits to how many customers in the store and a number of adjustments we’ll have to implement before May 19. Hopefully we’re prepared. If not, we’ll delay [opening],” she said.

Kevin Conrad, assistant manager of The Source said his store has been open during the last two months and is already operating under precautionary guidelines. He said while hiring new staff may not be an option quite yet, some business owners may find a virtual educational piece about new operation procedures useful to some businesses who have closed as a precaution.

“Any store who has been shut down, that would be a good idea. More information is always a bonus,” he said. “Continuity between businesses is never a bad idea.”

General Guidelines

According to the province, businesses operating in Saskatchewan must operate according to the following COVID-19 response guidelines. This will apply to all workplaces in Saskatchewan as restrictions are lifted and businesses are brought back into service.

• Workplaces are exempt from the restriction on indoor and outdoor gatherings of 10 or more people. However, two-metre distancing between individuals should still be maintained. If this is not possible, other measures should be used, such as self-monitoring of personal health or supervision by Infection Prevention and Control or Occupational Health and Safety staff in the workplace.
• Operations may need to be altered or postponed to maintain distancing. Where this is not possible (i.e. for safety reasons, transport situations or production lines), staff should wash hands often and practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (e.g. coughing into elbow).
• Besides customers, limit business-related visitors to essential services only. This may include tradespeople, pest control or compliance officers. Schedule visits to eliminate people gathering in reception areas.
• Customers should be encouraged to use credit or debit cards for payment. Limit contact by allowing customers to scan/tap/swipe their own cards.
• Employees who handle cash or credit cards should practice proper hand hygiene. When hands are not visibly soiled and between customer interactions, alcohol-based hand sanitizers approved by Health Canada (DIN or NPN number) can be used. Employees should wash their hands with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled, before and after any breaks, at the beginning and end of their shift, and before preparing food.
• Conduct business remotely (e.g. conference calls, video conferences, email), whenever possible.
• Limit the exchange of papers (e.g. signing contracts). If documents must be exchanged, leave them on a clean surface while maintaining a two-metre distance. Avoid sharing pens and office equipment. Disinfect after each use.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722