MY OWN LAW PRACTICE
As a result of COVID-19, I had to temporarily close my thriving criminal defense/personal injury Law Practice. I employ four people and the office is in a converted 1920’s era house. The next few blog entries contain excerpts from my own best practices memo to my staff. I hope it helps you in your own practice.
Best Practices in the Age of COVID-19
As we begin the process of reopening the office, let me thank each of you for your hard work over the last couple of months. It has been a strange and stressful time, and we have a long road ahead until things even get close to a new normal. In an effort to make our workplace as safe as possible for both us and our clients, we will strive for the best practices possible. These are based on my research of the recommendations of various government agencies, the CDC, and knowledge of the intricacies of our office. I encourage each of you to offer your thoughts and advice on how to improve this protocol.
BACKGROUND
COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory illness that is easily spread from person to person. Most likely it is spread via microscopic water droplets originating in the lungs of an infected person. These droplets are coughed or sneezed into the environment. From there it can infect others.
COVID-19 has a higher infection rate than the flu, and is also more deadly than the flu. Symptoms can be severe in certain individuals. That being said, many people may contract the disease, but be symptom free. Those people will then continue their life in a normal manner. However, they will, unknowingly, be spreading the disease to others. If they come in contact with an at-risk person, the results can be catastrophic. Until COVID-19 testing reaches an acceptable level, we will be in unknown territory on a daily basis. Eventually, a vaccine will be created, and this should help our country return to some sort of normalcy. However, for the foreseeable future, we will not be living a normal life.
REOPENING THE OFFICE
Multnomah County has applied to Governor Brown to enter Phase 1. Based on this, we will “re-open” upon her approval. By re-open, I do not mean “go back to normal.” I encourage any one that wants to work from home to continue to do so. For myself, I recently had a video appointment with my doctor and she confirmed that, because of my heart condition, I suffer a higher risk of serious problems if I were to become infected with COVID-19. For this reason, I will continue to spend probably just 4-5 hours at the office, and then work remotely. As stated earlier, if you also prefer to work from home, just let us know.
SANITIZER STATION
The most effective way to rid yourself of the coronavirus is soap and warm water and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds. So, please wash your hands when you first come to the office, after you have sneezed or coughed, after putting on or removing masks, etc.
For clients, we have set up a sanitizer station in the hallway. It has hand sanitizers and tissues. This area is to remain fully stocked at all times. Also, we have a supply of facemasks for clients/staff. Mimi will be able to hand a mask to the client through the pass-through window.
FACE MASKS
We will all wear face masks whenever another person (e.g. client, water delivery, shredder guy) enters the office and we are in close proximity to them. Also, if we are unable to stay six feet apart from each other, then we should wear masks. An example would be where Sonny and I are going over a file in his or my office.
If it is just three or four of us in the office, then mask use is discretionary. Remember, masks generally do not protect you from others, but instead protect others if you are a symptom free carrier of the coronavirus.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
We will practice social distancing by keeping at least six feet of distance between each of us. We will use masking tape markers on the floor to give us an idea of the six feet separation. We may have to move some of our desks to make this happen.
Contact me for complimentary 30 minute session to discuss reopening your practice in the age of COVID-19.
Photo by mctic.gov.br on Foter.com / CC BY