Slow-go on RTO (Return to Office)

Businesses slow to reopen despite governor's May 1 kickstart date

Edmond optometrist Steve Moyer wasted no time reopening Memorial Eye Clinic on Friday, the official start to Phase Two of Gov. Kevin Stitt's plan for reopening the state economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the past five weeks, Moyer has seen patients only in emergencies, his wife Kim Moyer said on Thursday.

“But we`re going full time starting May 1,” she said.

Despite the now-relaxed rules, the eye doctor, his partners and associates are returning to the office with extra-protective precautions.

“Steve will wear gloves and, unless its cares patients, a mask also,” Kim said. “He'll scrub up and show patients how to wash their hands, and give them their own masks."

Patients' temperatures will be taken before they're seen, and exam rooms will be sanitized after every visit, which are being scheduled one hour apart, starting half- days at first.

Monday, Monday

Other businesses across the metro — including TeamLogic IT, Contemporary Sounds and OKIE811 — are waiting until Monday to return to the office, but with similarly stringent protocol and sanitizing.

The 11 employees of Team Logic IT, who've primarily worked from home since March 18, will work on a rotating basis May 4 through May 31.

“We' ll have a limit of five in the office at one time ,” said Davis Mer rey, owner-president.

Employees also have been provided thermometers, sanitizers, gloves and masks, and instructed when to use them, Merrey said.

“Even though we were considered an essential business, we closed, and chose to shelter in place, because so many of our employees and customers were at high-risk for COVID-19,” said David Treadway of Contemporary Sounds.

“But, we have kept lines of communication open and have a list of people to visit as soon as everyone feels safe,“he said. Each installation team will visit only one household a day to keep cross contamination at a minimum, and all tools and trucks will be cleaned daily.

OKIE811 executive director Susan Bohl said, starting Monday, those employees who once worked from the NW 67 and Broadway offices of the safe-digging agency can self- select when to return to the office full time — but only in phases: three at a time, with two weeks in between.

A f t e r t h e Ma r c h 1 1 Thunder game was canceled due to a opposing player infected with the coronavirus, 85% of her 63-member staff started working from home, as 25 workers already did. She stayed put in the office alongside three workers who lacked home internet service, and a few others.

“Those who are returning on Monday are all extroverts,” she said. "But new protocols require that all of us remain 6 feet apart, with no more than two employees at a time in the kitchen, walkways and restrooms. Returning employees also are being asked to conduct self-wellness assessments, including taking their temperature, before coming to the office each day.

“Employees who have compromised immune systems have been instructed to continue working from home until all executive orders have been lifted and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines proclaim it is safe."

A little more time

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, which employs nearly 450, is formulating gradual return-to-work plans for possibly later this month, but “doesn't expect to have a full onsite staff any time in the near future,” said Adam Cohen, senior vice president and general counsel.

“We'll prioritize science and laboratory operations, but we'll do it in a way that will keep our onsite population as low as possible,” Cohen said. “We'll only bring more staff back onsite when we feel confident, based on available health data, that we can do it in a way that keeps them safe.”

The skeleton crew who occasionally reports to the OMRF office to maintain mechanical systems or process payroll come on staggered or reduced shifts, Cohen said, “with everyone required to wear masks and practice social distancing in offices and labs."

Business as usual

Wayne Pettigrew, president of Vanguard Benefits Group LLC, said it was business as usual on Friday, as it has been for his company throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

“We never closed ,” Pettigrew said. “Vanguard processes medical appointments and assists with medical claims, so we are considered essential,” he said.

Ditch Witch of Oklahoma owner Gary Bridwell said his business, which employs 51 at two Oklahoma locations, also has remained fully open with halted commercial air travel, extra cleaning precautions and requests of employees to maintain social distances with each other and customers, and frequent hand washing.

“We haven't missed a day, and have avoided any sickness in all of our stores,” Bridwell said. “Things did slow a bit, but we still have had work in the shop and parts sales have been decent. Whole goods are at about 80%.”

“We are ready to go full speed,” he said.