Returning to Work Post-Pandemic – a Q&AAs the restrictions from social distancing start to ease and we move into the next phase of recovery, it’s natural for you to wonder how to proceed. Here are a few questions and answers to help you start to figure out what “recovery” means.

Q: What’s the most important thing to remember from a bookkeeping perspective?

A: Staying current with your paperwork and record keeping. We know no one wants to hear this and you hate us for bringing it up, but seriously, stay on top of your paperwork. And even when it’s truly painful, try to stay on top of payments as best as you can.

Q: How are we going to deal with social distancing in our 1,000 sq ft office with 8 desks?

A: It’s important to remind your staff (and yourself) that this return to work stage is not “business as usual”. Some changes are going to have to be made for everyone’s safety. Here are some of our best social distancing tips for the office:

  • Install a mandatory mask policy
  • Implement a no visitor policy
  • Create flexible work hours or rotational/staggered shifts
  • Revise seating arrangements and install partitions between desks
  • Continue with virtual meetings whenever possible, even when onsite
  • If possible, direct the flow of foot traffic with social distancing floor stickers.

Q: Wow, that sounds like a lot of work and people may feel a little raw right now. What can I do to make things easier?

A: You can make things easier for your employees with a little ingenuity. Provide free masks, sanitizer and gloves for your team. Virtually any promotional products company can source and brand face masks with your company logo. Make it a “we’re all in this together” moment! Here are a few of the masks we’re considering for our office:

     

Q: Okay, but what do we do with George in our office who always speaks with lots of spitting?

A: That’s a tough one. Maybe you can provide him with a little more protection? You can buy this snazzy number online. A little pricey, but everyone in the office is sure to pitch in.

Q: We applied for government assistance. What does that mean for my bookkeeping and/or accounting process?

We have helped and are still helping several clients with the CEWS application, making sure they qualify and help them with the subsidy calculations and we have applied successfully for the CEBA application for ourselves and advised several clients how to apply.

Contact us if you need help with any pandemic-related programs, such as:

  • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
  • Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)
  • Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

For the last 25 years, Black Tulip has been a provider of client-focused, administrative back office services. One of our key strengths is that we are forward thinking, but adaptable. If your business would like one less thing to worry about in these uncertain times, contact us to help you with your bookkeeping and back office service needs during COVID-19 and beyond.