Handling a new normal in the workplace

Never in a million years did I think we’d have a serious business conversation about how many lawyers should be allowed to use the bathroom at once.

What’s the right number? Is it two? Four? Even six? Do we need to investigate the matter and do a little research? Maybe count stalls, measure floor plans, even (God forbid!) do a comparative analysis of the mens’ and ladies’ rooms?

For argument’s sake, let’s say we find the right number. The perfect number. Let’s say it’s three.

How in the world can you tell whether or not there are one, two, three, six or zero people in there at one time? Do you have a system? Some type of punch in, punch out sign? Or do you just ask people holler in there and have the folks using the restroom sound off? Do you need a sign-up sheet? A reservation system?

These topics are as ridiculous as they sound, almost like the start of a really bad joke. Something like, “How many lawyers does it take to use the restroom?”

But in the world of coronavirus, these topics aren’t a joke. They are deadly serious. And in the midst of all this, you have to make decisions within an environment that is supposed to be a place of business.

These are the kinds of moments and discussions that define 2020. It feels like the Twilight Zone.

I am one of many owners of a small business, a law firm in Denver. Moye White LLP employs a total of 134 people, including 66 attorneys. I’m one of five partners charged with managing the firm. When I was asked by my partners to help manage the firm several years ago, I anticipated all kinds of management challenges with business, the law, human resources and all the various issues which pop up and need to be handled on a daily basis.

What I never anticipated was having to have a serious management conversation with my partners about how many lawyers can use the restroom at the same time. It seems unreal, but it is a reality for my business and for businesses across Colorado and around the country.

Like countless other businesses, we took our office completely remote in the middle of March. If you had told me then that it would be harder to return to the office than it was to leave it, I wouldn’t have believed you. But that has proven to be true.

There are a plethora of issues, from the obvious to the mundane to the unreal, to tackle in order to return to the office safely. Everything needs to be handled effectively so people can come back to the office and work as they have for years until now.

Let me share another fun detail. Coffee. The elixir of life, particularly in a law firm. I shudder to think of the sheer volume of coffee that our law firm goes through on a daily basis. Coffee is the fuel that we lawyers use each and every day to operate. We brew it in huge dispensers, multiple times a day, at four different locations in the office.

And now, we simply can’t. We can’t have the huge dispensers. We can’t have people swing by and pump themselves some coffee. We can’t have several people congregating and chatting by the coffee station like before. Coffee is gone.

These new realities have made me rethink everything I know about a workplace. But I’m learning that just because something is crazy doesn’t mean it’s not real. And it doesn’t mean we don’t have to deal with it. And if that isn’t 2020 in a nutshell, I don’t know what is.

There are also countless details that are less humorous. People are scared, and rightfully so. Individual people have individual circumstances regarding health or family or other factors. The spectrum of viewpoints on COVID-19 and its relative risks spans a wide range, making conversations and decisions especially complicated.  

And the hardest part about these conversations is that there is no undoubtedly perfect answer. We don’t know enough to make the perfect decision. We don’t have any previous experience in dealing with these types of issues. We’re just going to have to take it one step at a time, doing our best and hoping for the best.

I really don’t know if we’ll ever figure out the perfect number of lawyers who can use the restroom at the same time. We’ll make a guess, and we’ll devise a system. And it may work, or it may not. We may get lucky and pick the perfect number. Or we may pick a number and system that we use for 15 minutes before we realize we made the wrong choice. 

One way or the other, we’ll figure it out, day-by-day and bit-by-bit. The only thing I know for certain is that somehow we will all find a way to get through this together, so long as no more than three lawyers in our office have to pee at the same time.

Billy Jones is a partner at Denver-based Moye White where he focuses on complex civil litigation and business disputes. He can be reached at [email protected] or 303.292.7930

Staying safe while working in client homes

While many Coloradans maintain social distance and stay safer at home, “essential workers” continue to serve their communities.

The term might bring to mind health care workers and grocery store staff, but small-business owners know they’re not alone. Contractors, real estate agents, home health aides, social workers and housekeeping staff are just some of those on the front lines. Many of these workers must enter client homes as part of their jobs, leaving them with little control over their work environment.

While the health and safety of these workers has always been a top concern, the uncertainty of the pandemic makes protecting your employees even more critical. The tips below can help minimize their risk and help keep them safe.

Tips for employees working in client homes

1. Get details on the situation prior to arrival.

Find out whether anyone in the home is sick or under quarantine and, if so, aim to postpone the visit if possible. If everyone appears healthy, use email and phone conversations to find out as much about the project as you can in order to minimize time spent in the home. Also request online payment for services to reduce in-person interaction.

2. Keep your distance.

Greet the customer verbally, but don’t shake hands. Let the customer know that you will be keeping a 6 foot distance from everyone throughout the job.

3. Wear proper protective gear.

Many jobs already require gear such as masks and gloves. Even if your role typically doesn’t require them, consider wearing them now to keep yourself and others safe.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending that everyone wear a mask; a homemade mask is acceptable if a manufactured respirator/mask is not available.

4. Bring your own tools.

Whether it’s a mop for washing the floor or a pen to sign paperwork, bring your own equipment to avoid having to touch the homeowner’s belongings. Make sure to sanitize all tools upon leaving the home and before placing them in your vehicle.

5. Practice proper hygiene.

Clean and disinfect all work surfaces before beginning the task. Wash your hands when you arrive, before you leave and any other time it feels prudent. Bring paper towels to dry your hands rather than using a hand towel provided by the client. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.

6. Keep your vehicle sanitized.

If you share a vehicle, make sure to use an approved sanitizer to wipe down all surfaces between uses. If you are driving your own vehicle, wash your hands or use sanitizer after exiting a client’s house and before entering your vehicle.

7. Wash your clothes as soon as you arrive home.

Change out of your work clothing and take a hot shower immediately after getting home—before you relax or greet family members. You may choose to wash the clothing you wore on the job in hot water separately from other garments.

Tips for specific types of personnel

In addition to the advice above, here are some tips specific to the situations faced by professionals in certain industries.

Construction Guy Turq (2)

Construction workers:

  • To avoid close contact with others, complete as much of the job outside or off-site as feasible, such as building and assembling components or staging materials.
  • If you will be returning to the same site for several days, rope off the area where you’re working and ask clients to avoid using it if possible.
  • If you are working as part of a team, maintain distance and take breaks on rotating schedules.

Housekeeping staff:

  • Maintain strict hygiene protocols throughout the visit.
  • Avoid certain tasks, such as changing sheets, if possible. Explain that the less time you spend touching clients’ personal items, the safer everyone will be.
  • To help avoid spreading contaminated dust, use vacuums with a HEPA filtration system.

The most important thing you can do as an employer is place a high priority on your workers’ health and safety. Encourage them to bring their concerns to you, and do whatever you can to mitigate risks while still meeting clients’ needs.

Access more expert tips from Pinnacol on how to keep essential workers safe, and schedule a free virtual safety consultation at covid.pinnacol.com.

(This sponsored content was provided by Pinnacol Assurance)