Here’s How Banks Can Enable A Hygienic And Safe Environment For Employees And Customers

Introduction 

Hygiene is an often ignored yet crucial aspect of any business or enterprise, yet most organizations have long ignored it. However, with the changing times and the emergence of health hazards like Omicron and other COVID variants on the rise, it is now imperative for organizations of all sizes to pay attention to hygiene and ensure the safety of not just the customers but the employees as well.

Banks are one such office where maintaining hygiene has become extremely important for the safety of users. Here are a few ways in which hygiene can be followed in a bank environment, and the safety of every user can be ensured. 

1. Why Should Banks be Worried about Hygiene?

Unlike retail businesses, banks fall under the service sector. This makes it difficult for banks to opt for otherwise pandemic-appropriate models of work such as work from home, delivery, or curbside pickup. Banking is an essential service, and hence even during the pandemic, banks were allowed to function for their customers. This entails a stream of interactions between consumers, staff, and security personnel in the bank, making banks more susceptible to becoming a hotbed of infections, especially with the more contagious Omicron covid variant. 

Inherently, since the bank premise cannot avoid this customer influx, it becomes all the more important for banks to care about hygiene and regular cleaning and sanitization of their premises.

2. How Can Employees Maintain Hygiene and Cleanliness At The Workplace?

Employees can resort to a standard hygiene and cleaning protocol for every employee to ensure that there is no spread of COVID or other pathogens amongst each other in the office. Here are some simple ways to maintain hygiene and cleanliness at the workplace

• Employees must clean their desks and sanitize high touchpoints at regular intervals
• Ensure that social distancing norms are strictly followed
• Wash your hands at regular intervals
• Keep work interactions at a minimum
• Take breaks at different intervals to avoid crowding.
• Do not go to work if any symptoms persist
• Use a mask at all times
• Make use of screens at your desk to minimize interaction with colleagues or customers

3. How Can Customers Maintain Hygiene and Cleanliness At The Bank?

As a responsible customer, one must ensure that proper hygiene and sanitation are followed when visiting banks or other public places. Essential service providers have a higher risk of contracting viruses, germs, and other infections if customers expose them due to a lack of hygiene. Here are some tips to follow cleanliness and avoid putting others at risk

• Ensure not to visit the bank if you have any symptoms.
• Always use your elbow or feet to push doors and avoid touching handles.
• Use sanitizer before touching any surfaces at the bank
• Use a mask always
• Avoid leaning on or touching the furniture
• Wash your hands and face properly after returning from the bank
• Avoid using public restrooms unless necessary
• Maintain social distancing 
• Use electronic services where ever possible.

4. How Can Banks Ensure Hygiene In Their Premises?

The onus of ensuring proper hygiene and cleanliness is followed in the premise lies with the bank. As an employer, it becomes your duty to care for and protect customers as well as employees. Therefore, banks must adhere to strict Covid guidelines and cleanliness protocols to keep interaction to a minimum and keep the environment safe for everyone. Here are simple ways banks can ensure their premises are clean and hygienic. 

• First and foremost, educating staff regarding standard hygiene protocols to be followed and providing them with necessary equipment like PPE kits, masks, sanitizers, etc.
• Mandatory temperature checks for employees every day
• Educating the customers with proper posters, instruction leaflets, and guided pathways to avoid unnecessary interactions
• Maintaining utmost cleanliness and high standards of sanitization in the restrooms
• Avoid the use of a central Air conditioner unless necessary
• Giving employees regular breaks for hand washing and cleaning their desks
• Scheduling daily, weekly and monthly sanitization and disinfection of the entire premises after work hours
• Encouraging bank customers to use electronic services where ever possible
• Sanitizing high-touch areas like desks, common stationery, doorknobs, telephones, etc.
• Temperature monitoring and regular health checks for customers
• Ensuring extended sick leaves for employees who are primary caregivers for a sick family member 

Conclusion

Hygiene is beyond the cleanliness of the premises and the state mandate requirements. It is about ensuring that the banks are safe and free from disease-causing bacteria, germs, and viruses. While safety, health, and hygiene have always been a concern, there is an increased awareness now as the world is still reeling from the effects of the pandemic COVID-19. So, it is important for organizations to take measures to ensure cleanliness and the free flow of air during the course of business activities.