How are we working through the pandemic?
31st March, 2020
As the main supplier to companies that are still operating, the team at Aquaseal Rubber has been continuing to operate throughout the current Coronavirus pandemic. We’ve taken the time to reflect on the changes that we’ve made so far and hope that we can help other businesses with our own experiences and advice.
In order to safeguard our staff, we’ve implemented some key changes throughout the workshop. All deliveries coming in and going out are now carried out via the reception area where hand sanitizer is used. The handling of these deliveries is now only done by one member of staff (our Managing Director, Jason) to reduce the risks to others. We’re also in the process of introducing a split shift which will involve staff being in for two weeks and having two weeks off – this should mean that employees are interacting with fewer people to reduce the chance of infection.
Our sales representative is usually out and about meeting clients, but we have stopped all face to face meetings and encouraged working from home. We’ve also started daily updates between the team at home and at the workshop, this keeps everyone in the loop with projects and will hopefully make their transition easier when things go back to normal.
Not only are daily updates useful for work-related chat, but it’s also a great way to check in on our staff and their families throughout this time. Last week, Jason went out to the local farm shop to buy some fresh fruit and vegetables for the workers to prevent them from having to go out into public spaces. Without the Aquaseal team, the business wouldn’t be where it is today and we’re trying to keep morale up as best as we can.
Currently, we’re feeling lucky that we still have a good order book, with enquiries and orders arriving daily. We’re a supplier to a lot of food industries who need our gaskets and seals to keep production going and feed the nation. We’re also a major supplier to wastewater companies, chemical plants and pharmaceutical manufacturers who must continue to operate so that households continue to get clean water and medication.
Our advice to others in the industry is to “keep calm and carry on”, stick together in the trade and we will get through this together. Make cutbacks where you can as the future is unknown and we do not know how long we will be operating in this way. We also advise employers to make staff their main priority. Understandably, our employees are concerned about the situation but we’re keeping them informed as best as we can and abiding by the current rules and recommendations provided by the government.
