The economy is reopening, with the government introducing new regulations aimed at preventing the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. To protect the health of employees and customers while restoring the financial well-being of business, regulations by themselves may be insufficient.
We need a “whole system” approach to the problem, rapid learning and a positive workplace culture. Successful methods come to us from “improvement science” in health care and other fields.
They suggest that we need clear, measurable aims, including, no worker infected on the job, no customer becomes ill, low absenteeism rates and a shared understanding of the major system “drivers” — behaviours or interventions — linked to those aims.