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How to create a COVID-19 policy for your intranet

As the threat of coronavirus continues to spread, communications professionals are being tasked with creating a specific coronavirus policy. Here is what to include:

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COVID-19 policy
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As the threat of COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread, many communications professionals are being tasked with communicating critical and relevant information about the disease to employees. 

One way of communicating this information is through a dedicated policy on a corporate intranet

If you are wondering where to start with this, you aren’t alone. There is a lot of advice and material circulating on this topic, so we’ve collated some of it for you. We’ve outlined some key topics to include, as well as some examples or links to other sources. 

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What to include in your COVID-19 policy

Trusted Links

The content on your intranet is viewed as the single source of truth. This helps to prevent misinformation from spreading, while providing employees a consistent and trustworthy source of information. It also points people to the official sources of health guidance. For this reason it is important that your policy contains links to trusted and credible sources. Here are a few worth sharing: 

Also, the site for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists each accredited state health department, which can be helpful for finding state specific information. 

And similarly in Canada, the Canada Health Act site contains links to Provincial and Territorial Health Care Web Resources.

How COVID-19 spreads

There is still an abundance of misinformation relating to the spread of COVID-19. The World Health Organization provides some excellent information for exactly how the disease is transmitted, and how someone can potentially catch the virus. It is also important to outline the age groups and conditions that are most vulnerable to COVID-19. 

How to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace

Hygiene may feel like common sense to some, but it’s important to reiterate how low cost measures will help prevent the spread of infections throughout the workplace and in your community. 

Circulate important information on handwashing and hygiene, as well as how often and when surfaces may need to be cleaned. This may include posters throughout your workplace, as well as having sanitizer dispensers in prominent places. If you require more information on this, reach out to your local public health authority for more information on hand washing and disease. 

As a general rule, here are some steps that you can take to limit the spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses):

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

As part of a cohesive communications strategy, it’s important to also ensure all occupational health and safety officers are informed and educated so they can promote hygiene to other employees and contractors. 

FAQ

No matter how much information is on your policy, your employees are still going to have questions. Ensure you have a list of frequently asked questions on your COVID-19 policy page. Include questions such as:

  • What is COVID-19?
  • What do I do if I think I have contracted it?
  • What should I do if I am schedule to travel to an at-risk country? 
  • What should I do if I have just returned from an at-risk country?
  • Where can I access updated information?
  • How can I reduce my risk of contracting the virus? 
  • Will wearing a mask protect me from COVID-19? 
  • If I have to self isolate, will I still have access to be able to work from home? 
  • What if I exceed my allotted sick days? 

Mental health

It’s a good idea to remind employees to also take care of their mental health. The spread of COVID-19 has circulated a trough of misinformation–most resulting in unnecessary worry. Remind employees to continue normal routines, get some fresh air, eat healthy food, keep active, and get enough sleep. 

Equipping employees to work from home 

Like many organizations, we’ve also taken significant steps to ensure employees who need to work from home have all the resources and technology the need to remain productive. From video conferencing technology (are we surprised that shares of Zoom doubled last week?), to shareable documents, and access to subject matter experts, it’s critical to ensure your employees have every opportunity possible to work from home when necessary. . 

Hopefully the above information will assist you in drafting a policy to review with other stakeholders. One final bit of advice: as the information surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, so should your policy. Make sure to check links and articles from trust sources regularly, and ensure your employees always have access to an updated document. 

Some examples of policies

If you still need some guidance on starting your COVID-19 policy, here are a few policies worth emulating, or at least providing you with some guidance. 

World Health Organization Policy for Getting your Workplace Ready

ACAS: Advice for employers and employees

United States Department of Labour