DIAMOND RESOURCES
Dear Community,
There is so much information about COVID-19, so we’ve decided to distill this for you, offering you the most important and relevant information about navigating this from a business perspective. You’ll find resources here on planning financially, working remotely, helping your employees cope, and leading with excellence during a crisis.
We will continue to update the resources found here as there are new developments and programs available.
As always, I’m here to offer any guidance you need on concerns about your business and business continuity.
This too we shall overcome!
Dedicated To Your Success,
Cora Park
President & CEO
Business Resources
NON-PROFIT CORNER
A Message from Linda M. Czipo President & CEO
A NEW GUIDE: Going Forward: Best Practices and Considerations for Non-Profit Reopening
The Center for Non-Profits hopes you and your team are safe and healthy. We thank all who have provided care, comfort and healing during the COVID-19 emergency, and for continuing to serve our communities in other ways. While the crisis is far from over, we're encouraged that our state and many organizations are taking steps toward re-opening or resuming some in-person activities.
The Center has partnered on a new guide that we hope will make the process a little easier - Going Forward: Best Practices and Considerations for Non-Profit Reopening. This FREE compilation guide covers many factors you may want to consider, such as workplace safety, human resource issues and more, with plenty of links to more detailed information. It will be updated periodically as circumstances warrant.
REMOTE COLLABORATION TOOLS
Protective Actions For Zoom Meetings
Create a more secure VTC environment with these ZOOM Tips
Zoom, has been a target of threat actors taking advantage of weaknesses in the platform’s default security and privacy settings. There have been recent incidents of VTC-hijacking, also known as Zoom-bombing, in which unauthorized persons gain access to a teleconference and display lewd, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate images and language. Zoom is taking steps to address these issues.
In the meantime here are some tips we can share to create a more secure VTC environment with Zoom. View or Download Our Tips
Read Full Article Blog Post;
Microsoft Teams for Instant Messaging and Video Conferencing:
We use this at Diamond. We hold a daily huddle each morning at 8:30AM for 8 minutes to align for the day and we get to see each other. Then I stay on Teams at my workspace all day to be available if someone needs something. We keep our team communication OUT OF OUR INBOXES.
This tool is Included in your Microsoft Office 365 Licensing a the Business Essentials, Business Premium, E1, and E3 levels.
Slack Instant Messaging:
Slack is also a great tool to use in house to communicate in real time about internal and client facing items.
Fast Company & A LOT MORE – ‘How to manage virtual meetings – best practices’
As we move to more remote working have ‘good’ and ‘frequent’ meetings will become highly valuable.
- https://www.fastcompany.com/90304194/best-practices-for-virtual-meetings
- https://hbr.org/2016/04/what-everyone-should-know-about-running-virtual-meetings
- https://hbr.org/2017/03/how-to-raise-sensitive-issues-during-a-virtual-meeting
- https://www.inc.com/guides/2010/12/5-tips-for-conducting-a-virtual-meeting.html
- https://hbr.org/2012/05/the-right-way-to-run-a-virtual
- https://www.nten.org/article/9-best-practices-engagement-virtual-meetings
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Aeglaw0DYPXoM9L4WE6ftK3g1PgEorTIoCprjW-jMhI/edit
How To Get Financial Relief
The SBA is offering small business loans at very low rates. Here’s where you can apply.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
Certain states are offering assistance to small businesses, but it varies by state. Here’s a link to the National Governor’s Association where you can see what relief your state is offering.
Links to More Helpful Information
NEW JERSEY - COVID-19 Information Hub
Emergency Assistance Eligibility Wizard
NJ Labor Department Urges Businesses to Keep Employees on the Payroll through COVID-19
(NJCCIC) is the State's one-stop shop for cybersecurity information sharing, threat analysis, and incident reporting. Current threats and COVID-19 Alerts to watch for’
Resources for Non-Profits in Response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Outbreak
OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Latest Press Releases from New Jersey's Governor Phil Murphy
Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Plan, Prepare and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019
COVID-19 live tracker – ‘This is a comprehensive, as close to real time as I have found, tracker of the global to local impact’
I suggest you book mark this so you have access to data should there be a need.
McKinsey – ‘This is the single most comprehensive set of information I have found on this topic including actionable insights’
There is a lot in this so take it slow, but look for things that may apply to you and specifically look at the ‘actions’ that are suggested
Littler – ‘What we should be doing with teams during this time’
Take a look, there is a ton of information in here, find the ones that meet your needs right now.
CDC – ‘What to do if you think you may have COVID-19’
This should likely be in everyone’s communication to their teams
World Health.net – ‘High dose Vitamin C and a prevention and/or a treatment’
Obviously we are not medical professionals, but in my personal opinion I believe that High Dose Vitamin C is a preventative in general by boosting the immune system. Judge completely for yourself but here is some data.
OSHA – ‘Guidance on preparing the workplace for COVID-19’
Leadership teams should review this and ensure they are doing what is needed to be prepared
Asaf Bitton, MD, MPH – ‘Why social distancing is needed and how to best go about it’
Consider the impact of being a ‘node’ in the distribution of the virus and how you can limit the spread.
NBC News – ‘Video covering several areas of the virus – overall very good information’
Consider sharing or even watching this as part of your meeting rhythms – you can do this virtually as well.
US Chamber of Commerce – ‘Top 20 Tips for building business resilience’
Take a look at this list, not all will apply to you and your business but some will and some will just spur your thinking. Biggest take away is that you need to create a plan of action and, in my opinion, update it frequently, maybe daily in some cases.
Sequoia Capital – ‘A look at the financial implications of COVID-19 from a business perspective’
Managing the financial health of your business is paramount. This article gives some good insights on how to think about doing this.
McKinsey – ‘General implications for Business’
This is a few days old but after rereading this weekend I felt it is still very relevant and is one of the most comprehensive overviews I have seen to date. There is a checklist at the end of the article that gives a very good overview of what to be doing to mitigate risk.
90 Day Financial Planning:
Meet with your CPA and/or Controller/Accountant and create a financial plan for the next 90 days. Re-evaluate this plan every 1-2 weeks to see if you need to adjust.
Consider adding an expense line item called COVID-19 and dump off all expenses in there including your staff and personal time spent dealing with a crisis – this 30 second video by Ron Lovett, author of Outrageous Empowerment, will explain why it will make it easier to apply for government assistance if and when it comes available.
Stabilizing Your Business: Improvise, Adapt, Overcome.
With constant changes brought on by the pandemic of COVID-19, your business may be presented with cash flow challenges and opportunities you may have never faced before. To respond to these changes, look no further than a motto with which you are familiar: Improvise, Adapt, Overcome. The slogan used by the United States Marine Corps outlines steps you can take to combat the challenges you are facing as you make decisions that will be key to the survival of your business.
