How one local business has responded to COVID-19
While businesses have had to rapidly adapt to the COVID-19 situation, we spoke to Mackay’s Bolden Electrical about how they’ve responded.
How is your business adapting to the COVID-19 situation?
Initially we restricted everyone to 38 hour weeks. We saw a massive downturn in new work coming in but still had an overflow of work prior to the COVID crisis so we used that and tried to spread the work out and make it last. We are fortunate to be in the line of work we are at the moment as electricity hasn’t stopped and we are considered an essential service. Apart from restricting hours, I guess the other biggest adaptation is implementing strict hygiene procedures, especially for the guys in the field.
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What procedures/operations have you changed and why?
New procedures were brought in to protect both our employees and customers. Things like an automated text message sent to the customer before we attend where they had to confirm they were not currently self-isolating, feeling unwell or had recently been in contact with someone who tested positive before we attended. If any of our employees showed any symptoms they were asked to stay home until they felt better or request a test and return a negative result to return to work. The office was spread out and the field guys were asked to not enter the office unless absolutely necessary. All the team also now carried hand sanitiser and P2 masks in the work utes and used as required. The list goes on but basically a massive improvement in our hygiene standards which we will most likely carry with us moving forward even after this pandemic ends.
What has the response been from clients/community to these adjustments?
It’s been positive. I believe everyone’s on the same page when it comes to people’s health and safety. Everyone has been accommodating to the changes that have had to be made and understand the reasons for them.
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What is one thing you’d like the Mackay community to know about your business?
We now offer financing for new solar installations. In a time where people are looking at ways to save money we have seen a large increase in this type of work. We are able to generally offer packages for the customers that are cash positive (loan repayments are less than the savings on power bills). An added bonus is normally we don’t even need to enter the property at all to complete the install making maintaining social distancing rules for the customer a breeze.
To learn more or contact Bolden Electrical, see their Facebook page here.
