COVID-19: Checklist for businesses



COVID-19: Checklist for businessesThe following checklist outlines a range of low-risk, low-cost actions you can take across three areas of business operations in relation to the impact of COVID-19. For further information and support, please visit .scot or contact Find Business Support (Scotland) on 0300 303 0660, Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5.30pm.Business planningNot StartedUnderwayMonitoringAppoint a senior member of your team to oversee your response.Develop, review and continuously update your business action plan as circumstances change and new information emerges. In times of high uncertainty, flexibility and adaptability are essential. Keep up to date with the latest business guidance advice in Scotland on .scot.Find up to date information on sources of finance, business rates and tax, business insurance, protecting your workforce, and more. Create a business continuity plan.Identify and quantify your exposure to the potential risks of COVID-19 across all areas of your business. Define the extent and likely timing of any impacts and create an action plan in response to any forecasted scenarios.Business Gateway and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) have put together guides on how to create a business continuity plan. Map your supply chain. It’s important to understand the parts of your supply chain which are or could be disrupted, and to prioritise risks both at home and internationally. For advice on mapping your supply chain, contact the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS).Identify alternative suppliersIf your supply chain has been disrupted, you may wish to find alternative suppliers. Our page on supply chain mapping has directories that can help you identify and assess alternative suppliers from Scotland, the UK and the rest of the world.You can also contact the Scottish Enterprise Research Service to help you identify and assess potential new suppliers, and examine the potential impact of COVID-19 on your market.EmployeesNot StartedUnderwayMonitoringKeep up to Date with the Latest Scottish Government advice for businesses and employers, includingCOVID-19: Business and Social Distancing GuidanceCOVID-19: Social Distancing in Non-Healthcare Public ServicesCOVID-19: Phase One – Returning to Work SafelyScottish Enterprise has also published ‘Getting back to Work – How to thrive in a post-COVID-19 world’ which outlines the steps your company can take now to transition from survival to growth once COVID-19 lockdown measures are eased. This includes planning innovative ways of working to help your employees return to work safely, and how to adapt to the changing business municate and Engage with EmployeesEmployees will feel anxious and may be faced with conflicting information. Communicate your approach promptly, clearly and in a balanced manner.When planning a safe return to work, it is important to involve your workforce in understanding the potential issues and identifying solutions in reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace. Healthy Working Lives has put together some guidance on engaging your staff in planning their return to work. Carry out a Risk AssessmentHealthy Working Lives have also put together guidance on how to carry out a risk assessment for managing the risk of transmission in your workplace. Consider flexible working arrangements and the impacts of possible employee absences.Where it is possible, consider the technical requirements of working from home or other resources required to help employees in self-isolation. Consider the consequences for your business if employees need to care for others while schools and other establishments are closed.Ensure that you have policies in place for sick-leave and compassionate leave, reflecting on situations of self-isolation which may not fall under traditional settings. Companies are encouraged to adopt the fair work approach set out in the Scottish Business Pledge when managing the implications of COVID-19.Mental Health ResourcesEnsure that employees have access to mental health and wellbeing resources. The Scottish Government has outlined additional mental health support services to help people look after their mental health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. FinanceNot StartedUnderwayMonitoringAssess the potential risks of municate with suppliers and customers to identify potential impacts and implications. This may include assessing if your suppliers are likely to be impacted themselves, current inventory levels and any contractual obligations likely to impact cash flow (e.g. payment deadlines). Define the extent and timing, and plan to mitigate any impacts.Consider financial implications on cash flow.Consider how you may manage cash flow more effectively through a cash flow forecast. Review outgoing payments for essential and non-essential items and communicate with suppliers on the possibility for flexible terms. If you identify potentially serious impacts on your cash flow, speak to your bank or funder who may have further support options available. For the latest information on funding support in Scotland, please visit .scot.Contact the Department for International Trade.The Department for International Trade (DIT) can also provide support to businesses impacted by COVID-19 including offering advice on customs authorities, export plans, and dealing with agents and distributors.Further resources:Scottish Government – Coronavirus in ScotlandBusiness Gateway – Coronavirus Business Support Across ScotlandACAS - Advice for Employers and EmployeesCIPD – Advice for UK EmployersFSB - Advice and Guidance for Small Businesses and the Self-EmployedHealth Protection Scotland - Guidance for Non-Healthcare SettingsVisitScotland - Coronavirus Support and Information ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download