Finding the New Normal

Almost overnight, employees were told to work from home, students were e-learning, restaurants were pivoting to curbside pick up or delivery, and recreational activities were closing.  As a country we celebrate the HEROs that continued to provide essential services as we hoped we would soon be able to safely venture out of the house.  As businesses and schools are reopening after months of planning, we are all trying to embrace our ‘new normal’. 

The ‘new normal’ can have very different meanings from one person to another but one thing we all have in common is at the end of the day we all want to be safe and healthy.  Because we all have varying comfort levels as we enter this new phase, a simple wristband is an effective way to easily communicate personal comfort level when interacting with another person.  For example:

GREEN – comfortable with standard social distancing procedure 

YELLOW – uneasy about contact, happy to no longer be working from home 

RED – no contact, please keep your distance 

These Tyvek wristbands are available in plastic and paper like material, spunbonded olefin.  Plastic wristbands are ideal for multi-day wear as they are made from durable, water and stretch resistant plastic.  Standard Tyvek wristbands are disposable, lightweight, tear resistant and waterproof.  These wristbands are great for same day meetings, building visitors, or easily changing a comfort level based on the situation.

While communicating your personal preference through verbal communication or a visual option like the wristbands, business still need to take certain steps to encourage a safe environment for employees, customers, and visitors. 

We are commonly seeing businesses marking six foot distances for those waiting in line, wanting to speak to a receptionist, or just wanting to keep personal distance.  These floor markings can easily be achieved with floor tape.  Colored vinyl floor tape allows for easy identification while resisting oil, moisture, grease, scuffs and more.  You can also consider anti-slip tape for inclines or slippery surfaces.

Keeping facilities and high touch points clean is also an important part of keeping those around you safe.  Hands-Free trash cans provide extra precaution while eliminating the need to sanitize garbage cans.  Toilet seat covers provide an extra layer of protection in public restrooms and of course hand washing is always important.  We are stocking up on antibacterial soaps and sanitizers, cleaners and other janitorial items to keep your workplace clean.

When navigating your new normal, it is imperative that all employees, customers and visitors feel a sense of comfort.  Stay safe and remember, even Batman wears a mask!