How to Organise an Effective and Safe Meeting in the Times of a Pandemic?

Although the Covid-19 pandemic stopped the whole world for a while, our working lives have to go on and the need to meet with colleagues is as important, as it was back in the pre-pandemic days. How to fulfill it in these strange times?

The first and the most logical answer to the question how to stop the spreading of coronavirus during a work meeting is obvious – organise the whole meeting online, using applications such as Zoom, Teams and Skype. Everyone joins the meeting from the comfort of their homes and a risk of infection is basically non-existent. However, such solution only works for some companies. People working in a variety of other businesses simply have to meet in person at least a couple of times during a month. How to deal with such a situation as a manager responsible for the effectiveness of work meetings?

The first step from the perspective of health and safety of all participants comes even before they enter the conference room. Managers are advised to check the body temperature of the employees before they enter the workplace and remind them repeatedly they should stay at home in case they don't feel well. A similar procedure applies to people coming to the meeting from an external environment who should join the meeting only online. If this is not possible, the managers should demand a negative Covid-19 test from such people. In addition, the managers should also communicate the importance of wearing face masks at all times – even in small groups and during the meeting.

As for the meeting, it should be held in the biggest possible room (if it is possible, even more ideally outside) in order for the physical distance between the attendees to be as wide as possible. The meeting should also be interrupted regularly by short breaks. Another piece of advice is to disinfect the room after every meeting – at least all the surfaces such as the tables and chairs as well as to clear the air. What comes natural is the regular hand washing from all participants together with the use of disinfection on hands – not only when the people enter the working place but also in regular intervals.

Although this list may seem like a nightmare to every manager – from both the logistical and financial view – there are two silver linings to this situation. The first one is that this situation is just temporary and the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to get visible. The second is that with the help of an ideal partner, all the inconveniences connected to the organisation of work meetings are much easier to overcome. Slovak Hygienic Paper Group is exactly such a partner. We offer you disinfection dispensers (including the disinfection) as well as a wide variety of hygienic handtowels and liquid soap which will help you organise a safe work meeting.