Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | June 8, 2020 | Worcester Business Journal 11 the rules clear. She said everyone who enters the building is aware of safety requirements and ready to follow them. "I haven't come across anybody that's fighting it for sure," she said. "Every- body's pretty compliant because they want their hair done." It helps, she said, people got used to the routine of wearing masks and main- taining distance while visiting essential businesses like grocery stores during the shutdown. Making in-person meetings safe Like hair salons, most office spaces are part of Phase 1 and are now allowed to be open as long as they remain at no more than 25% of their regular maxi- mum occupancy. Robert Cox, managing partner of Bowditch & Dewey, said the law firm is resuming in-person operations with an abundance of caution. e firm has offices in Fitchburg and Worcester, as well as Boston, where office openings are on a more delayed schedule. "We've been continuing to provide services throughout the pandemic," Cox said. "It is really seamless in that we were able to switch to remote working pretty quickly." Cox said it helps a great deal of legal work is conducted over email anyway, and the firm already allowed employees to conduct some of their work from home. But, he said, in-person meetings are a traditional part of the business, and the firm sees the need to resume them, with careful attention to safety measures. "e reopening part is a lot more complicated than getting people to work remotely," he said. Cox said Bowditch's operations team looked closely at the use of office space. To remain below 25% of maximum occupancy, it's now limiting the number of conference rooms in use at any given time. It's spacing out seating within rooms for social distancing purposes, getting rid of pens and papers in com- mon spaces so people are not touching objects, and cleaning shared rooms before and aer they're used. To ensure clients follow safety guide- lines, Cox said, the firm will inform them of its protocols ahead of time. When they check in at reception, an employee will make sure that they're wearing masks. "We are protecting one another, protecting our employees, and we are going to require that our protocol be followed," he said. Cox, like O'Connor and Ream, said he and his colleagues recognize they'll have to keep watching the situation with the pandemic and adjusting as things change. "We do expect at some point to get back to the point where we'll have meetings as we have in the past," he said. "But that's not going to happen for a while." • If possible, explain your company's safety policies before your customer or client arrives, for example when setting up an appointment. • Clearly post establishment rules. • Train employees on safety precautions and procedures in responding to customers who fail to abide by the rules. • Use visual markers and physical barriers to encourage physical distancing, for example by labeling six-foot distances. Preparing your customers for COVID-19 restrictions Brendan O'Connor, owner of O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar in Worcester, fields takeout orders. The restaurant is preparing to reopen its dining room this month. W PHOTO/COURTESY OF O'CONNOR'S Closer Coverage SM means more value, delivered with a personal touch. It's easier to protect a customer when you can see them from your window. That's how we work, too. We live and work in the same communities your clients do, so our local underwriters understand their needs firsthand. At Acadia Insurance, our consultative experts listen first and are ready to help by providing fast, responsive service, tailored coverage, and a consistent appetite. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WORKING WITH ACADIA INSURANCE, VISIT US ONLINE: AC ADIAINSURANCE.COM

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