Here’s how some Whatcom businesses maintain safe environments for workers, customers
Several local businesses shared how they are connecting with their younger employees about COVID-19 to keep their communities safe during a Whatcom business forum on Thursday, July 30.
The forum, organized by the county-wide Safer Stronger Together campaign, focused on how employers can ensure younger employees follow COVID-19 related health guidelines in and out of the workplace. Such actions can limit the spread of the virus among their workforce, families and communities.
Though younger people have been less at risk for hospitalization and death, they can still spread the virus to higher-risk people if they do not follow safety guidelines.
Steve Bennet, a professor of public health at Western Washington University, said behaviors can change if people have the opportunity, ability and motivation to engage. He added younger people are less inclined to follow health guidelines because the prevailing narrative has minimized their concerns.
“Getting younger people to be motivated to protect themselves is a real challenge now because the perception is, ‘I’m not going to get it and if I do get it, it won’t be that bad,’” Bennet said.
At 39%, people ages 20 to 39 make up a plurality of confirmed cases in Whatcom County and people ages 0 to 39 make up a majority at 51%, according to data from the Washington State Department of Health reported Thursday, July 30.
Despite having more confirmed cases, people up to 39 years old are just 15% of hospitalizations and account for zero deaths, according to the data.
Bennet said there has been some evidence COVID-19 could cause chronic, long-lasting symptoms but added health is not a good motivator for young people.
He said employers should refrain from using fear or shame to motivate young people. Instead, employers can focus on immediate consequences and use emotional appeals.
Trail Blazin’ CEO Danielle Rosellison said she has created clear and consistent policies around COVID-19 to ensure the employees at her cannabis business follow health guidelines. She said she tries to empathize with employees who can no longer socialize but stands firm on the rules.
“I know this sucks but under no circumstances should you be at a party with people you don’t know,” Rosellison said. “You have to be able to trust other people… We’re not asking you to go to war, we’re asking you to like binge Netflix and stay at home.”
Rosellison said she has to tell an employee to quarantine for two weeks because they attended a Black Lives Matter protest in Seattle. She added such actions can have immediate consequences on individual employees and the whole team.
“She’s now financially strapped and I’m now down a team member for two weeks,” Rosellison said. “This has been my life for the last five months. It is repetitive and constant.”
Robert Solomon, general manager at the Nooksack Market Center and Nooksack Indian Tribe Council member, said he has put up many signs communicating the need for masks.
“We had a whole marketing campaign for the mask-wearing here at the market center,” Solomon said. “We got pump toppers, we got stickers, we got signage as you walk in the door and I got t-shirts for my entire staff that basically says you know everybody has to wear a mask.”
Solomon said he does frequent health checks on his employees including a questionnaire and temperature measurement. He said it’s important to communicate to employees that they shouldn’t feel penalized for potentially testing positive.
His tribe has so far reported no confirmed cases of COVID-19 even after conducting hundreds of tests, he said. The success has motivated them to keep doing their due diligence, he added.
Trevor Smith, a business agent at Laborers Local 292, said some construction workers have been skeptical of the health guidelines. However, he found it helpful to focus on deescalating and avoid shaming workers.
“It’s not your employer’s fault, it’s not our fault, it’s not anybody’s fault but this is the reality so let’s just do this and let’s all just go to work,” Smith said. “Let’s get home. Let’s keep ourselves safe and keep our families safe. That is not a miracle bullet that kills this conversation, but it at least ameliorates it long enough that we can easily get through the day.”
Janet Lightner, general manager at Boundary Bay Brewery, said the median age of her employees is around 20 years old. She said those that have come back to work have been receptive to COVID-19 related training and are frequently screened for symptoms.
“There’s a lot of testing,” Lightner said. “If there’s a sniffle I get a call, ‘I’m going to go test, I’ll quarantine.’ It’s all very self-engaging. They’re being very responsible about it.”
Lightner said part of their success with COVID-19 comes down to emotional motivation. Being a restaurant, there is a lot of social interaction going one between customers and team members that can satisfy some of their social needs.
“It’s been a combination of commitment and education,” Lightner said. “We’re back at work and we’re enjoying each other’s company again. That is such a blessing. We don’t want to lose that. That’s kind of been our key to success so far.”
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